Breakdown of É fundamental prestar atenção aos conselhos do médico.
ser
to be
de
of
a
to
fundamental
essential
prestar atenção
to pay attention
o conselho
the advice
o médico
the doctor
Questions & Answers about É fundamental prestar atenção aos conselhos do médico.
What does É fundamental mean in this context?
It means “It is essential” or “It is crucial.” The phrase emphasizes that paying attention to the doctor's advice is of utmost importance.
How is the idiomatic expression prestar atenção used here?
Prestar atenção literally translates to “to pay attention.” It is a fixed expression in Portuguese that functions similarly to its English counterpart. In this sentence, it follows the impersonal adjective fundamental, indicating that giving due consideration to the advice is necessary.
Why is the phrase written as aos conselhos instead of something like aos conselho?
In Portuguese, the preposition a (to) combines with the masculine plural definite article os to form aos. Since conselhos (advice) is a masculine plural noun, the contraction aos conselhos correctly means “to the advice.”
What role does do médico play in the sentence?
Do médico is a contraction of de + o médico, which translates to “of the doctor.” It indicates possession, specifying that the advice belongs to the doctor.
Can É fundamental be replaced by É importante? What is the difference between the two?
Yes, you could say É importante prestar atenção aos conselhos do médico (meaning “It is important to pay attention to the doctor's advice”). However, fundamental conveys a stronger sense of necessity or indispensability, whereas importante suggests significance without the same level of urgency.
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