Breakdown of A investigação confirmou o erro.
o
the
o erro
the error
confirmar
to confirm
a investigação
an investigation
Questions & Answers about A investigação confirmou o erro.
Why is it a investigação and not just investigação?
Portuguese often uses the definite article more than English does. In A investigação confirmou o erro, a investigação means the investigation.
If you removed the article and said just Investigação, it would usually sound incomplete or unnatural in this sentence. The speaker is referring to a specific investigation, so a is needed.
- a investigação = the investigation
- uma investigação = an investigation
So this sentence is talking about a particular investigation, not just any investigation.
Why is it o erro?
Erro is a masculine singular noun in Portuguese, so it takes the masculine singular definite article o.
- o erro = the error / the mistake
This is something learners simply have to remember with the noun:
- erro → masculine
- singular → o erro
- plural → os erros
What tense is confirmou?