Breakdown of Ela comprou um vestido novo para a festa de aniversário.
comprar
to buy
de
of
para
for
novo
new
ela
she
a festa
the party
o vestido
the dress
o aniversário
the birthday
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Questions & Answers about Ela comprou um vestido novo para a festa de aniversário.
What is the English translation of the sentence “Ela comprou um vestido novo para a festa de aniversário”?
The sentence translates to "She bought a new dress for the birthday party."
What does the word "Ela" mean, and what is its role in the sentence?
"Ela" means "she." It functions as the subject of the sentence, indicating that a female person performed the action of buying.
What is the tense of the verb "comprou" and how is it formed?
"Comprou" is the simple past (preterite) form of the verb "comprar." It is conjugated for the third person singular (she/he/it), which is used to describe a completed action in the past.
Why is the adjective "novo" placed after the noun "vestido", and what does this tell us about adjective placement in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, adjectives like "novo" generally come after the noun they modify. This is a common structure when describing inherent qualities, so "um vestido novo" follows the typical noun–adjective order, contrasting with English where adjectives usually precede the noun.
What is the function of the preposition "para" in this sentence?
The preposition "para" means "for" in English. It indicates purpose or intended use, showing that the dress was bought specifically for the birthday party.
How does the indefinite article "um" agree with the noun "vestido" in this sentence?
The article "um" translates to "a" in English and agrees in gender and number with the noun "vestido," which is masculine and singular.
How is the phrase "festa de aniversário" structured, and why is the preposition "de" used?
The phrase "festa de aniversário" literally means "party of birthday," which we understand as "birthday party." The preposition "de" links the two nouns, indicating possession or association between "festa" (party) and "aniversário" (birthday).
Are there differences in sentence structure between Portuguese and English that are reflected in this sentence?
Yes. One key difference is adjective placement—in Portuguese, adjectives like "novo" often follow the noun (as in "vestido novo"), whereas in English they typically come before (as in "new dress"). Additionally, Portuguese requires agreement in gender and number between articles, nouns, and adjectives, which is not a feature of English grammar.