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Nossas mesas são grandes.

Nossas mesas são grandes.
Our tables are big.
FromLesson 7inHardcore Portuguese (Brazil)

Breakdown of Nossas mesas são grandes.

ser
to be
grande
big
a mesa
the table
nossas
our

Questions & Answers about Nossas mesas são grandes.

Why is the possessive adjective nossas used instead of nosso?
Nossas is the feminine plural form of nosso. Since mesa is a feminine noun and the sentence refers to more than one (mesas), the possessive adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun.
What does são represent in this sentence?
São is the present tense, third person plural form of the verb ser. It translates to are in English and is used here to link the subject (nossas mesas) with its adjective (grandes).
How does the adjective grandes function, and does it change with gender?
Grandes is the plural form of the adjective grande. In Portuguese, adjectives like grande do not change between masculine and feminine in the singular form; they simply add an -s to form the plural. Thus, for both masculine and feminine nouns, the plural is formed as grandes.
How does the word order in nossas mesas são grandes compare to its English equivalent?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Predicate structure, similar to English. Nossas mesas is the subject, são is the linking verb (equivalent to are), and grandes is the predicate adjective, much like in the English sentence Our tables are big.
Why is the verb ser used instead of estar in this sentence?
The verb ser is used to describe inherent or permanent qualities, whereas estar is reserved for temporary states or conditions. Since describing the size of the tables is a general, lasting characteristic, ser (and therefore são) is the appropriate choice.
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