Reputação do Pedro é boa.

good

Breakdown of Reputação do Pedro é boa.

• ser: to be
• Pedro: Pedro
• de: of
• a reputação: the reputation

Questions & Answers about Reputação do Pedro é boa.

Why is the preposition do used in the phrase Reputação do Pedro?

Do is a contraction of de + o in Portuguese. This combination is used to indicate possession—similar to saying “of Pedro” or “Pedro’s” in English. In this sentence, de means “of” and o is the definite article that would normally precede a masculine noun, even though it’s part of a fixed expression with a proper name.

Why is the adjective boa in the feminine form?

The adjective boa is in the feminine form because it must agree with the noun reputação, which is feminine. In Portuguese, adjectives change their form based on the gender (and number) of the noun they describe. Since reputação is a feminine singular noun, the appropriate form of “good” is boa instead of bom.

Why is the verb é used here instead of está?

The verb é comes from ser, which is used to describe inherent, lasting qualities. In the sentence, reputação is considered an intrinsic characteristic of Pedro, so é appropriately links the subject to its permanent descriptor boa. The verb estar would be used for temporary states or conditions, which is not the case here.

How is the sentence structured in terms of subject and predicate?

The sentence is structured as follows: • Subject: Reputação do Pedro – This indicates whose reputation is being discussed. • Predicate: é boa – Here, é is the linking verb (present tense of ser), and boa is an adjective describing the subject. This clear subject-predicate division helps convey that Pedro's reputation possesses the quality of being good.

Is it acceptable to include a definite article before reputação, such as in A reputação do Pedro é boa?

Yes, including the definite article A at the beginning is grammatically correct. A reputação do Pedro é boa also translates to “Pedro’s reputation is good.” The original sentence omits the article, which is common in headlines or more concise expressions, but adding it is perfectly acceptable in everyday language.

How does expressing possession in this Portuguese sentence compare with expressing possession in English?

In English, possession is typically indicated by adding an apostrophe and an “s” (e.g., “Pedro’s reputation”). In Portuguese, possession is often shown through a prepositional phrase—in this case, do Pedro («of Pedro»). This demonstrates a key structural difference: English attaches possessive markers directly to the noun, whereas Portuguese uses prepositions combined with definite articles to express the same idea.