Breakdown of A distração faz o trabalho difícil.
difícil
difficult
o trabalho
the work
fazer
to make
a distração
the distraction
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Questions & Answers about A distração faz o trabalho difícil.
What is the literal translation of "A distração faz o trabalho difícil," and how is the sentence structured?
It translates literally as "Distraction makes work difficult." The sentence is structured in a typical Portuguese style with the subject "A distração" (the distraction) followed by the verb "faz" (makes - third person singular of "fazer") and finally the object "o trabalho difícil," where "trabalho" (work) is modified by the adjective "difícil" (difficult).
What is the function and conjugation of the verb "faz" in this sentence?
"Faz" is the third person singular present indicative form of the verb "fazer," which means "to make" or "to do." In this sentence, it is used in a causative sense indicating that distraction is the force that makes work difficult.
Why are the articles "A" and "o" used with "distração" and "trabalho" respectively?
In Portuguese, almost every noun is accompanied by an article. "A" is the feminine singular definite article used with "distração" (a feminine noun), while "o" is the masculine singular definite article used with "trabalho" (a masculine noun). Their use helps indicate gender and definiteness in the sentence.
Why is the adjective "difícil" placed after the noun "trabalho" instead of before it?
In Portuguese, descriptive adjectives typically follow the noun they modify. Here, "difícil" comes after "trabalho" to naturally describe the quality of the work. Placing the adjective after the noun is the standard word order in such descriptive statements.
Does the adjective "difícil" change its form based on gender or number in Portuguese?
No, "difícil" is an invariant adjective. It remains the same regardless of whether it modifies a masculine or feminine noun or whether the noun is singular or plural. This is why it appears unchanged even though "trabalho" is masculine.