Breakdown of O senhor pode sentar-se aqui, neste banco confortável, enquanto espera?
poder
to be able to
este
this
o senhor
you
esperar
to wait
aqui
here
confortável
comfortable
sentar-se
to sit
em
on
o banco
the bench
enquanto
while
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Questions & Answers about O senhor pode sentar-se aqui, neste banco confortável, enquanto espera?
Why is the phrase O senhor used in this sentence?
O senhor is a formal term of address in Portuguese, similar to Sir in English. It is used to show respect and politeness when addressing a man, which is especially common in formal situations or when speaking to someone older or in a position of authority.
Why is the verb written as sentar-se instead of just sentar?
The verb sentar-se is the reflexive form of sentar and means to sit down or to take a seat. The attached se indicates that the subject is performing the action on themselves. In Portuguese, many verbs require a reflexive pronoun to convey the intended action correctly, which is why sentar-se is used here.
What is the function of the hyphen in sentar-se?
The hyphen connects the reflexive pronoun se to the base verb sentar. According to Portuguese clitic placement rules, when the reflexive pronoun follows an affirmative verb (or an infinitive, as in this case with the modal verb pode preceding it), it must be attached to the verb with a hyphen.
What does neste mean, and why is it used instead of este?
Neste is a contraction of the preposition em (meaning in or on) and este (meaning this). In the sentence, neste banco confortável translates to on this comfortable bench. The contraction is used to indicate the specific location where the action (sitting) is to take place.
The sentence appears to have a declarative word order, yet it's a question. How does that work in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, yes/no questions often follow the same word order as declarative sentences. The interrogative nature isn’t indicated by changing the order of words but rather by the intonation in spoken language and the punctuation (the question mark) in written language.
What role does espera play at the end of the sentence, and how is it conjugated?
Espera is the third person singular present indicative form of the verb esperar, meaning to wait. Despite directly addressing someone with O senhor, Portuguese uses the third person singular form for formal addresses. This verb indicates that the person is meant to wait while they are seated.