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Questions & Answers about A bateria é nova.
What does the article "A" mean here?
It’s the feminine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to English “the.” So A bateria = “the battery” (or “the drum kit,” depending on context).
Why is bateria feminine, and how can I tell?
Grammatical gender is a property of each noun. Many nouns ending in -a are feminine, and bateria is one of them. You learn the gender with the noun: a bateria (feminine), not “o bateria.” The matching indefinite article is uma bateria (“a battery”).
Does bateria mean “battery” or “drums”?
Both, depending on context:
- Battery (rechargeable pack): a bateria do celular (the phone battery), a bateria do carro (the car battery).
- Drum kit / drum section: ele toca bateria (he plays drums), a bateria da escola de samba (the samba school’s drum section). For small disposable cells (AA/AAA), Brazilians usually say pilha, not bateria.
What exactly is é, and how is it conjugated?
É is the 3rd person singular of the verb ser (“to be”) in the present tense.
- Present of ser: eu sou, você/ele/ela é, nós somos, vocês/eles/elas são. In the sentence, é = “is.”
Why é nova and not está nova? What’s the difference?
- é nova (with ser) states a characteristic or classification: the battery is new (just bought/unused; considered “new” in essence).
- está nova (with estar) describes current condition: the battery is in like-new condition, still fresh, or recently replaced. It can imply temporariness or evaluation of state. Both can be correct; the nuance depends on what you want to convey.
Can I say “A bateria está nova”? What does that imply?
Yes. It usually means “the battery is (still) like new” or “looks new,” focusing on its present state rather than labeling it as new by nature.
Why is it nova (not novo), and how does adjective agreement work?
Adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun:
- Masculine singular: novo (ex.: o carro é novo)
- Feminine singular: nova (ex.: a bateria é nova)
- Masculine plural: novos (ex.: os carros são novos)
- Feminine plural: novas (ex.: as baterias são novas)
How do I make the sentence plural?
Change the article, noun, verb, and adjective to plural:
- As baterias são novas. = “The batteries are new.”
What’s the difference between a nova bateria and a bateria nova?
Position changes nuance:
- a nova bateria: often “the new/different battery” (new to the owner, a replacement, another one).
- a bateria nova: emphasizes that it’s brand-new/unused. In practice, both are common; context clarifies the intended nuance.
Could I say “Uma bateria é nova”?
It’s grammatical but uncommon as a stand-alone sentence because it sounds like a generic statement (“A battery is new”). Usually you’d say:
- Tenho uma bateria nova. (I have a new battery.)
- Comprei uma bateria nova. (I bought a new battery.)
Can I omit the article and say “Bateria é nova”?
In normal speech, no. You’d keep the article: A bateria é nova. Dropping the article is seen in headlines, lists, labels, or notes (e.g., a sticker saying Bateria nova).
How do I pronounce “A bateria é nova”?
One common Brazilian pronunciation: [a ba-te-REE-a eh NO-va].
- r in bateria is a light tap (like the “tt” in American “butter”).
- é is an open “eh” sound.
- Stress: ba-te-RI-a; NO-va. IPA (one common Brazilian realization): [a bɐ.te.ˈɾi.ɐ ɛ ˈnɔ.vɐ].
What’s the difference between é and e?
- é (with an acute accent) = “is” (3rd person singular of ser).
- e (no accent) = the conjunction “and.”
Is bateria spelled with an accent like Spanish “batería”?
No. In Portuguese (Brazil), it’s bateria (no accent). The stress naturally falls on the penultimate syllable: ba-te-RI-a.
How do I turn it into a yes/no question?
Just use rising intonation (and a question mark in writing):
- A bateria é nova? (Is the battery new?) You can also use está for the “in new condition” nuance:
- A bateria está nova?
How do I say “My phone’s battery is new”?
- A bateria do meu celular é nova. Note the contraction do = de + o (“of the”). With feminine nouns it’s da (da minha câmera, etc.).
How do I say the battery is dead or out of charge?
Common options:
- A bateria está descarregada. (The battery is discharged.)
- A bateria acabou. / Acabou a bateria. (The battery ran out.) For car batteries, you might also hear regional terms like arriada (flat).