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Questions & Answers about Paulo está todo feliz hoje.
Why do we use está instead of é in this sentence?
In Portuguese, está is used to express a temporary state or condition. When we say "Paulo está todo feliz hoje," it indicates that Paulo is feeling happy right now, but that feeling might change. Using é would make it sound like a permanent characteristic, which doesn’t fit well with “today.”
What does todo mean here, and how is it different from muito?
Here, todo is used to emphasize how completely or entirely happy Paulo is. It’s a colloquial way of saying he’s “totally” or “completely” happy. Muito emphasizes quantity or degree (e.g., “very happy”), while todo can add a sense of “through and through” or “completely.” Both can work, but “todo feliz” has a bit of extra expressiveness.
Why don’t we use an article (like O Paulo) before the name?
In Brazilian Portuguese, it’s more common to use just the person’s name without an article. Saying “O Paulo está todo feliz hoje” can still be understood, but it often sounds old-fashioned or more formal in certain regions. Simply using “Paulo” is the standard, especially in everyday speech.
Can we say "Paulo está todo feliz hoje" and "Paulo está muito feliz hoje" interchangeably?
In most contexts, yes, both are correct ways to say Paulo is very happy. The difference is slight: "todo feliz" carries more of an informal emphasis, suggesting an all-encompassing happiness. "Muito feliz" is more neutral, simply stating that he is very happy.
Can we change the word order, for example, "Hoje Paulo está todo feliz"?
Yes. Portuguese word order is relatively flexible. "Hoje Paulo está todo feliz" shifts the focus to the time (“today”), but the meaning remains the same. Both orders are correct and commonly used in everyday speech.
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