Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): É importante ser polido ao falar com pessoas mais velhas. - It’s important to be polite when talking to older people.

The contraction ao is formed by combining the preposition a with the masculine singular definite article o. In this context, it functions similarly to "when" or "upon" in English, indicating the moment or condition in which the action occurs—namely, when speaking.

Why is the infinitive form ser used after the expression é importante?

In Portuguese, impersonal expressions like é importante are typically followed by an infinitive verb to express general advice or guidelines. Using ser (to be) in its infinitive form emphasizes that the recommendation applies universally, without targeting a specific subject.

Why doesn't the sentence have an explicit subject, and is that common in Portuguese?

Yes, it's very common. This sentence uses an impersonal construction with é to state a general truth or recommendation. In such constructions, there's no need for a specific subject because the idea is meant to be applied broadly—in this case, the importance of being polite applies to everyone when speaking with older people.

What is the difference between polido and educado, since both can translate as "polite" in English?

Both adjectives relate to politeness, but there are subtle differences. Polido often emphasizes refined manners or courteous speech, while educado generally refers to overall good manners and respectfulness. In this sentence, ser polido highlights the need for refinement in speech when talking to older individuals.

How is gender and number agreement handled in the phrase pessoas mais velhas?

In Portuguese, adjectives must agree with the noun in both gender and number. Here, pessoas is a feminine plural noun, so the adjective velhas takes the feminine plural form to ensure grammatical consistency. This proper agreement is essential in conveying the correct meaning.

Is it possible to rephrase the sentence while maintaining the same meaning?

Yes. For example, you could say: É importante manter a polidez ao conversar com pessoas mais velhas. This version replaces ser polido (to be polite) with manter a polidez (to maintain politeness) and swaps falar (to speak) with conversar (to converse). Both sentences convey the idea that one should exhibit polite behavior when interacting with older people.