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Questions & Answers about O Pedro responde bem.
Why is the definite article O used before Pedro in the sentence?
In European Portuguese, it’s customary to use the definite article before proper names. O is the masculine form meaning “the” and adds specificity or a touch of formality when referring to Pedro.
What tense is responde in, and how does it agree with the subject?
Responde is the third-person singular form of the verb responder in the present indicative tense. It correctly agrees with the singular subject Pedro, translating to “responds” in English.
What part of speech is bem and what role does it play in the sentence?
Bem is an adverb of manner. It modifies the verb responde by describing how Pedro responds—“well,” in this case.
How does bem differ from bom, and why is bem used here?
Bem is an adverb meaning “well,” whereas bom is an adjective meaning “good.” Since the sentence is describing the manner in which Pedro responds rather than his inherent quality, bem is the correct choice.
Is it acceptable to omit the article O and simply say Pedro responde bem?
While omitting the article is common in some variations of Portuguese (especially in informal Brazilian Portuguese), in European Portuguese it is standard to include the article before proper names. Therefore, O Pedro responde bem is preferred in Portugal.
How can this sentence be negated?
To negate the sentence, insert não before the verb. The negative form becomes O Pedro não responde bem, which means “Pedro does not respond well.”
Does the positioning of the adverb bem always follow the verb in Portuguese?
Yes, in this context the typical structure is Subject + Verb + Adverb, which is why bem follows responde. Although adverbs can occasionally be repositioned for emphasis, placing bem immediately after the verb is the most natural and common construction in Portuguese.