Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Ela recebeu o teu postal e ficou muito contente com a mensagem. - She received your postcard and was very pleased with the message.

Both verbs are in the simple past tense, known in Portuguese as the "pretérito perfeito." This tense is used to indicate actions that were completed in the past, much like "received" and "became" in English.

What does the pronoun "teu" signify in "o teu postal"?

"Teu" is the informal second person singular possessive adjective, meaning "your." It indicates that the postcard belongs to the person being spoken to. In European Portuguese, using "teu" is common in informal contexts.

Why is "ficou" used to express her happiness instead of a verb like "esteve"?

The verb "ficar" (with "ficou" as its past form) is often used in Portuguese to describe a change in state or condition. "Ficou contente" implies that she became happy as a result of the message, emphasizing the transition into that emotional state rather than merely stating that she was happy.

What is the meaning of "postal" in this context, and does it have any additional nuances?

In this context, "postal" means "postcard." It is a common term in European Portuguese for a card, typically sent by mail, that often features an image along with a brief message. While it specifically refers to postcards, its use might be broader in some contexts but is most often understood as a postcard.

Why is the preposition "com" used in the phrase "ficou muito contente com a mensagem"?

The preposition "com" is used here to indicate the cause or source of her happiness. It shows that the message was the reason she felt so pleased. This construction is typical in Portuguese when linking a feeling to its cause.