Meu trabalho é difícil.

to be

Breakdown of Meu trabalho é difícil.

• meu: my
• difícil: difficult
• o trabalho: the work

Questions & Answers about Meu trabalho é difícil.

What does the possessive adjective meu indicate, and why is it used with trabalho?

Meu means my in Portuguese. It is a masculine singular possessive adjective, and it’s used here because trabalho (work/job) is a masculine singular noun. If the noun were feminine, you would use minha instead.

What role does the verb é play in this sentence?

É is the third-person singular form of the verb ser, which means to be. In this sentence, it acts as a linking verb that connects the subject (meu trabalho) to the adjective (difícil) that describes its inherent nature.

Why is ser (and thus é) used instead of estar in this context?

In Portuguese, ser is used to describe inherent or defining characteristics, while estar is used for temporary states or conditions. Since difícil describes a fundamental quality of the work rather than a transient condition, ser (conjugated as é here) is the appropriate choice.

How does adjective agreement work in the sentence, particularly with difícil?