Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O Pedro perdeu a carteira dele ontem e está preocupado. - Pedro lost his wallet yesterday and is worried.

In Portuguese (especially in Portugal), it’s common to place a definite article before personal names. Using "O Pedro" isn’t a mistake—it simply reflects a stylistic and grammatical feature of the language. It functions similarly to an emphasis or familiar reference, and many native speakers naturally include the article in everyday speech.

Why is the possessive pronoun "dele" included after "a carteira" even though it's clear Pedro is the owner?

Portuguese sometimes uses the possessive pronoun for clarity or emphasis, even when the owner is already mentioned as the subject. Although "O Pedro perdeu a carteira ontem" would generally imply that the wallet belongs to him, adding "dele" reinforces the idea of personal ownership. In casual or spoken language, this redundancy is quite common and acceptable.

Why is "ontem" placed toward the end of the sentence instead of at the beginning?

The adverb "ontem" means "yesterday" and indicates when the action happened. In Portuguese, adverbs of time can often be positioned after the main clause without causing confusion. This word order is natural and emphasis can differ based on context; placing "ontem" at the end keeps the focus first on the event (losing the wallet) and then on when it happened.

Why is "está preocupado" in the present tense even though the loss occurred yesterday?

The structure "está preocupado" describes Pedro’s current emotional state. Although the action of losing his wallet happened yesterday, his worry is ongoing, and the present tense effectively communicates that his concern persists. This mix of past and present tenses is common when one event causes a state that continues into the present.