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Ele é médico.

Ele é médico.
He is a doctor.
FromLesson 8inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Ele é médico.

ser
to be
ele
he
o médico
the doctor

Questions & Answers about Ele é médico.

What does the word Ele mean in this sentence?
The word Ele means "he." It is the masculine singular pronoun used to refer to a male person.
Why is the verb é used in this sentence, and what tense is it in?
The verb é is the third person singular form of the verb ser (meaning to be) in the present tense. In this context, it links the subject Ele to his defining quality—his profession. Portuguese uses ser to express permanent or essential characteristics.
Does médico function as a noun or an adjective here, and what does it mean?
In the sentence Ele é médico, médico functions as a noun that means doctor (a medical professional). While the word can sometimes be used as an adjective in other contexts, here it specifically names his occupation.
Why is there no article before médico in this sentence?
In Portuguese, when stating someone's profession using the verb ser, it is common to omit the article. So instead of saying Ele é um médico or Ele é o médico, simply saying Ele é médico is both natural and grammatically correct. In English, the indefinite article a is used, but in Portuguese it is typically left out.
How does the sentence structure of Ele é médico compare to the English sentence "He is a doctor"?
Both sentences share a similar structure: a subject (Ele/He), a linking verb (é/is), and a predicate noun (médico/doctor). The main difference is that Portuguese usually omits the article before the profession, while English includes the indefinite article a in the phrase "a doctor."
Could one also say Ele é um médico in Portuguese, and if so, what difference does it make?
Yes, it is possible to say Ele é um médico, but this construction is less common when simply stating a profession. Including um might suggest he is one doctor among many or bring a slightly different nuance. Typically, Ele é médico is preferred for a straightforward statement of occupation.
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