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Questions & Answers about Isso é bom.
What does the demonstrative pronoun isso mean in this sentence, and how is it different from isto or aquilo?
Isso generally translates to “that” or “it” in English, referring to something already mentioned or understood in the context. In contrast, isto is used when talking about something close to the speaker, whereas aquilo refers to something more distant or less immediately present.
What is the role of the verb é in the sentence?
É is the third person singular form of the verb ser (to be) in the present tense. It functions to link the subject isso to the adjective bom, much like “is” does in English in the sentence “That is good.”
Why is the adjective bom in its masculine form here?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun they modify. Since isso is treated as a masculine demonstrative pronoun, the adjective remains in its masculine singular form (bom). If you were referring to a feminine noun, the adjective would change to boa.
Is "Isso é bom" directly equivalent to "This is good" or "That is good" in English?
Yes, the sentence is directly equivalent. The exact translation can depend on the context. Often, isso is interpreted as “that” when pointing to something previously mentioned, but in some contexts it might also be rendered as “this.”
Does the sentence "Isso é bom" follow a similar word order to English, and are additional articles required?
Yes, the sentence follows the same subject-verb-adjective order as in English. There is no article before isso because the demonstrative pronoun itself serves as the subject, so no extra definite or indefinite article is necessary.
How should the accented é be pronounced?
The accented é is pronounced with an open-mid front vowel sound, similar to the “e” in the English word “bed.” In European Portuguese, the accent also helps to distinguish this pronunciation from other, less emphasized forms of the vowel.