Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about O filme é divertido.
What is the English translation of O filme é divertido?
It translates to The film is fun in English.
Why is the definite article O used in the sentence?
Because filme is a masculine noun in Portuguese, the masculine singular article O is used to mean the. In Portuguese, articles must agree in gender (and number) with the noun they accompany.
Why is the adjective divertido in its current form?
Divertido is in the masculine singular form to agree with filme. If the noun were feminine (for instance, a história), the adjective would change to divertida to match the gender and number.
Why is the verb é used instead of, say, está?
The sentence uses é, which is the third person singular of the verb ser. In Portuguese, ser is used for inherent, defining qualities or characteristics—in this case, that being fun is an intrinsic quality of the film—while estar is reserved for temporary conditions or states.
How does the word order in the sentence help clarify its meaning?
The sentence follows the standard Portuguese structure: subject (O filme), then verb (é), and finally the predicate adjective (divertido). This clearly indicates that the adjective divertido is describing the subject, establishing that fun is a characteristic of the film.
Is there a difference between using divertido and engraçado when describing a film?
Yes. Divertido generally means fun or enjoyable, suggesting that the film is entertaining as a whole. On the other hand, engraçado means funny in the sense that it evokes laughter. While a film can be both, the choice between them highlights a subtle difference in the type of enjoyment.