Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): O contrato do novo apartamento foi assinado ontem pela minha irmã. - The contract for the new apartment was signed yesterday by my sister.

O contrato do novo apartamento foi assinado ontem pela minha irmã.

The contract for the new apartment was signed yesterday by my sister.

Breakdown of O contrato do novo apartamento foi assinado ontem pela minha irmã.

Questions & Answers about O contrato do novo apartamento foi assinado ontem pela minha irmã.

Why does Portuguese use do in O contrato do novo apartamento?

Do is a contraction of de + o:

de = of / from / about / for (depending on context)
o = the (masculine singular)

So o contrato do novo apartamento literally means the contract of the new apartment (often understood as the contract for the new apartment).

Why is it O contrato and not A contrato?

Because contrato is a masculine noun in Portuguese:

o contrato = the contract
um contrato = a contract

Gender is grammatical, so it doesn’t always match English intuition—you just learn it with the noun.

What is the grammar behind foi assinado?

foi assinado is the passive voice in the past:

foi = ser (to be), pretérito perfeito (simple past): was
assinado = past participle of assinar: signed

So it’s literally was signed.

Why is assinado masculine—shouldn’t it agree with minha irmã?