Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): É importante explicar à menina que ler um livro pode ser divertido. - It is important to explain to the girl that reading a book can be fun.

É importante translates as “It is important.” In Portuguese, this impersonal construction doesn’t specify a concrete subject—instead, it serves as a general statement about the significance of the action (explaining). This form is common when expressing ideas that apply broadly rather than referring to a particular person.

How does the verb explicar function in this sentence?

The infinitive explicar (“to explain”) acts as a complement to importante. It indicates the specific action that is being deemed important. In English, this is similar to saying “It is important to explain…” where the infinitive phrase describes the action connected to the adjective.

Why is à menina written with an accent, and what does this contraction indicate?

In à menina, the preposition a (“to”) combines with the feminine singular definite article a (used before menina) to form the contraction à. The accent marks this contraction, ensuring both correct spelling and pronunciation. This phrase tells us that the explanation is directed to the girl.

What role does the conjunction que play in this sentence?

The word que functions as a complementizer that introduces the subordinate clause. This clause—que ler um livro pode ser divertido—provides the content of what needs to be explained, similar to the use of “that” in English (“…to explain that reading a book can be fun”).

How does the phrase ler um livro operate within the subordinate clause, and why is the infinitive form used here?

In the clause que ler um livro pode ser divertido, ler um livro (“to read a book”) is used as a verbal noun, effectively serving as the subject of the clause. The infinitive form is employed to refer to the general action or activity, a common practice in Portuguese when an action is treated abstractly—much like using a gerund in English.