Eu acho que essa música é bonita.

I think this music is beautiful.

Breakdown of Eu acho que essa música é bonita.

• eu: I
• ser: to be
• bonito: beautiful
• a música: the music
• achar: to think
• que: that

Questions & Answers about Eu acho que essa música é bonita.

What's the difference between eu acho que and eu penso que in Portuguese?

Both eu acho que and eu penso que roughly mean "I think that" in English. The verb achar is more common in everyday speech, and it sometimes implies a slightly more subjective opinion. The verb pensar can sound a bit more formal or analytical, focusing on the act of thinking rather than just having an opinion. However, in many contexts, they are interchangeable.

Why do we use essa instead of esta in this sentence?

In Brazilian Portuguese, essa is typically used to refer to something that is not immediately close to the speaker, but also not very far away. By contrast, esta can suggest that the object is right here, close to the speaker. In many everyday situations, Brazilians often use essa quite widely, even when referring to something relatively close. So, essa música means "that song" in a fairly neutral way, indicating it's not right here but still within context.

What is the role of que in eu acho que essa música é bonita?

The word que in this sentence acts as a conjunction that introduces the clause essa música é bonita. In English, this would be like using "that" in "I think that this song is pretty." Including que is important in Portuguese to link the main clause (eu acho) to the subordinate clause (essa música é bonita).

Why do we use é instead of está before bonita?

The verb ser (here, é) in Portuguese is used for characteristics that are seen as permanent, inherent, or defining traits. By saying essa música é bonita, you’re describing the song’s quality—it's fundamentally a beautiful song. If you used está, it would suggest a temporary state, which is less common for describing something's inherent beauty.

Could we say canção instead of música?

Yes, canção literally translates to "song," often implying a piece with lyrics or a more traditional sense of a "song." Música is a broader term covering any kind of music, including instrumental. Brazilian Portuguese speakers frequently say música to mean "song," so essa música is perfectly natural in everyday speech. Essa canção is also correct but sounds slightly more formal or poetic in many contexts.