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Questions & Answers about O nosso carro é rápido.
What does the article O represent in this sentence?
O is the masculine singular definite article, equivalent to "the" in English. It agrees with the noun carro (which is masculine) and is required even when a possessive adjective like nosso is used.
Why is there both a definite article and a possessive adjective in O nosso carro when English simply says “our car”?
In Portuguese, it’s standard to include the definite article alongside the possessive adjective. While English drops the article (using just our car), Portuguese requires o nosso carro, where O agrees with the noun in gender and number and helps specify the reference.
What does nosso mean and how does it change with different nouns?
Nosso means "our." It is a possessive adjective that must match the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Since carro is masculine singular, nosso is used. For a feminine noun, you’d say nossa; for plural, it would be nossos (masculine) or nossas (feminine).
Why is the verb é (from ser) used instead of está (from estar) in this sentence?
The verb ser (here, é) is used to describe inherent or permanent qualities. Describing the car as rápido is stating a defining characteristic. In contrast, estar would be used for temporary conditions or states. Since speed is seen as an intrinsic quality of the car, ser is appropriate.
What does rápido mean, and why is there an accent on the á?
Rápido means "fast." The accent on á indicates that the stress falls on the first syllable, ensuring correct pronunciation. This follows Portuguese accentuation rules that help distinguish pronunciation and meaning.
Is the word order in this sentence typical for Portuguese, and why?
Yes, the sentence follows the standard Subject-Verb-Predicate order in Portuguese. O nosso carro is the subject, followed by the linking verb é, and then the predicate adjective rápido, which describes an inherent quality of the subject.
Would this sentence be understood or used the same way in Brazilian Portuguese?
Absolutely. The sentence O nosso carro é rápido is grammatically correct and commonly used in both European and Brazilian Portuguese. While there might be slight differences in pronunciation and some vocabulary in informal settings, the structure and meaning remain the same.