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O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas ele lhe pede o endereço completo.

O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas ele lhe pede o endereço completo.
The bank's app works, but it asks you for the full address.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Portuguese (Brazil)

Breakdown of O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas ele lhe pede o endereço completo.

mas
but
do
of the
pedir
to ask for
o banco
the bank
o endereço
the address
lhe
you
o aplicativo
the app
funcionar
to work
ele
it
completo
full

Questions & Answers about O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas ele lhe pede o endereço completo.

What does the pronoun ele refer to here?

It refers to o aplicativo (masculine noun), not to o banco. Both nouns are masculine, but the closest and most logical antecedent is the app. To avoid any chance of ambiguity, you can simply drop the subject pronoun:

  • O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas pede o endereço completo.
What does lhe mean here, and is it natural in Brazil?

Lhe is an indirect object pronoun meaning “to you / to him / to her.” In Brazilian Portuguese, using lhe to mean “you” (i.e., você) often sounds formal, old-fashioned, or regional. More typical BP alternatives:

  • …mas pede seu endereço completo.
  • …mas pede o seu endereço completo. (article before the possessive is optional in BP)
  • …mas pede o endereço completo para você / a você.
  • …mas pede que você informe o endereço completo.
  • …mas pede para você informar o endereço completo. (very common in BP, though some style guides prefer a você)
Is lhe ambiguous between “to you” and “to him/her”? How can I clarify?

Yes, lhe can mean “to you,” “to him,” or “to her.” To disambiguate, replace it with a full phrase:

  • …pede o endereço completo a você / para você. (to you)
  • …pede o endereço completo a ele / a ela. (to him/her)
Can I omit ele?

Yes. Portuguese allows dropping subject pronouns when the subject is clear:

  • O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas pede o endereço completo. Keeping ele is also fine, but not required.
Why ele lhe pede and not ele pede-lhe?
In Brazil, clitic pronouns normally go before the verb (proclisis), so ele lhe pede is the everyday pattern. Formal grammar and European Portuguese often prefer ele pede‑lhe (enclisis) when there’s no word that attracts proclisis. In Brazil, both are understood; ele lhe pede sounds more natural.
What verb patterns does pedir take?
  • pedir + algo + a alguém: Ele pede o endereço a você.
  • pedir + para + alguém + infinitive (very common in BP): Ele pede para você informar o endereço completo.
  • pedir + que + alguém + subjunctive: Ele pede que você informe o endereço completo. Note: Prescriptive sources may prefer a você over para você, but para você is widespread in BP.
Why do we say do banco?
Do is the contraction of de + o. It marks possession/origin: o aplicativo do banco = “the bank’s app.” Other contractions: da (de + a), dos (de + os), das (de + as).
Why funciona instead of está funcionando?
Portuguese often uses the simple present for current, general, or habitual states. Funciona = “it works/it is working (generally).” Use está funcionando to stress a right-now, possibly temporary state.
Is the comma before mas necessary?

Yes. Mas is a coordinating conjunction joining two clauses, and a comma is standard before it:

  • …funciona, mas ele lhe pede… You could also write a more formal alternative with porém: …funciona; porém, ele pede…
Why o endereço completo instead of seu endereço completo?

In contexts like requests affecting the listener, Portuguese can omit the possessive because it’s understood:

  • …pede o endereço completo. (= your full address from context) Adding the possessive is also fine in BP: seu or o seu endereço completo.
What’s the difference between completo and inteiro?
  • Completo = “full/with all required parts” (correct collocation with endereço).
  • Inteiro = “whole/not divided.” You wouldn’t say endereço inteiro for “full address.” Use endereço completo.
Is aplicativo the normal word for “app” in Brazil?
Yes. Aplicativo (or just app) is standard in Brazil. Aplicação is not typically used for phone apps in BP (it’s more general/technical); in European Portuguese, aplicação can be more common.
Could ele be misread as referring to the bank?

It’s unlikely in context, but possible since banco is also masculine. To be extra clear, either drop the pronoun or rephrase:

  • O aplicativo do banco funciona, mas pede o endereço completo.
  • O app do banco funciona, mas o app pede o endereço completo. (redundant but crystal clear)
How would this look if I’m using tu?
  • Brazil (common colloquial mix): …mas ele te pede o endereço completo. (verb often stays in 3rd person: ele te pede)
  • Portugal/standard with full agreement: …mas ele pede‑te o endereço completo. (or: ele te pede… in proclisis contexts) With possessives for tu you’d typically use teu: …pede teu endereço completo.
Can I use lho to say “asks you for it”?

Grammatically, lho = lhe + o (to you + it), so “ele lho pede” = “he asks you for it.” But in Brazil this is very formal/old‑fashioned. Prefer:

  • Ele pede isso a você.
  • Ele pede o endereço (if the thing is named).
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