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Questions & Answers about Primavera é bonita.
What does Primavera mean in English?
Primavera translates to spring (the season) in English.
Why is there no definite article (like a) before Primavera in this sentence?
In Portuguese, when making general statements about seasons or similar concepts, it is common to omit the definite article. Although you might also see A primavera é bonita, dropping the article is acceptable and emphasizes the general idea of the season rather than a specific instance.
How is the adjective bonita used in this sentence, and does it agree with the subject?
The adjective bonita follows the noun Primavera, which is typical in Portuguese sentence structure. It agrees in gender (feminine) and number (singular) with Primavera. If the subject were masculine, you would use bonito instead.
What role does the verb é play in this sentence?
É is the third-person singular form of the verb ser (to be). It serves as the linking verb that connects the subject (Primavera) with the predicate adjective (bonita), indicating a characteristic quality of spring.
How does the structure of Primavera é bonita compare to English sentence structure?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Predicate adjective order, similar to English. In English, the sentence would be spring is beautiful, where spring is the subject, is is the linking verb, and beautiful is the adjective describing the subject.
Why is ser used instead of estar in this sentence?
Ser is used to express essential, inherent, or generally accepted qualities—here, describing spring as inherently beautiful. Estar would imply a temporary state or condition, which is not the intended meaning in this general statement about the season.