Breakdown of Eles estão felizes agora, porque têm bolo.
o bolo
the cake
estar
to be
agora
now
feliz
happy
porque
because
eles
they
ter
to have
Questions & Answers about Eles estão felizes agora, porque têm bolo.
Why do we use estão instead of são to say they are happy?
In Portuguese, ser (as in são) refers to a more permanent or inherent quality, whereas estar (as in estão) refers to a temporary state or condition. Saying Eles estão felizes implies that their happiness is a current, possibly changing state, rather than a permanent trait.
What is the difference between têm and tem?
Both come from the verb ter (to have). Tem is the singular third-person form (ele/ela/você tem), while têm is the plural third-person form (eles/elas/vocês têm). Since the sentence is talking about "they," we must use têm.
Is it necessary to use the pronoun Eles at the beginning of the sentence?
In Portuguese, using subject pronouns is often optional because the verb form can show who is performing the action. However, it is perfectly correct and sometimes helpful for clarity or emphasis to include Eles.
When do I use porque versus por que?
Porque is usually translated as “because,” used to give a reason. Por que (two words) can mean “why” in a question (as in Por que estão felizes?) or can sometimes appear in certain fixed expressions. In this sentence, porque is used to explain the reason for their happiness.
Could we say Eles estão felizes agora, pois têm bolo instead of using porque?
Yes. Pois can function similarly to porque meaning “because,” although pois is often considered slightly more formal or literary. Both are acceptable ways to express the cause of their happiness.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning PortugueseMaster Portuguese — from Eles estão felizes agora, porque têm bolo to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions