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Questions & Answers about O Pedro responde à pergunta.
What is the role of the definite article O in the sentence “O Pedro responde à pergunta.”?
In European Portuguese, it is common to use the definite article before male first names. The O in O Pedro indicates that you are referring to a specific person named Pedro. In English, we simply say “Pedro,” but in Portugal the article is traditionally included with names.
Why is the contraction à used instead of writing a separately before “pergunta”?
The word à is a contraction formed from the preposition a (meaning “to”) and the feminine definite article a (used with the noun “pergunta”). Since “pergunta” is a feminine noun, the proper prepositional phrase becomes à (i.e., a + a = à), meaning “to the.”
What is the grammatical function of responde in this sentence?
Responde is the third person singular present tense form of the verb responder (to answer). It agrees in number and person with the subject O Pedro. Essentially, it tells us what Pedro is doing—he is answering.
How is the sentence structured compared to an equivalent English sentence?
The structure of the sentence is similar to English in that it follows a subject-verb-object order:
• O Pedro – Subject
• responde – Verb
• à pergunta – Object (expressed as “to the question”)
The differences lie in the use of definite articles and contractions (like à) which do not have direct equivalents in English.
Is using the article before a name always required in Portuguese?
In European Portuguese it is generally expected to use the definite article with male names (e.g., O Pedro, O João). However, usage can vary with context and region. In Brazilian Portuguese, for example, it’s more common to omit the article and simply use Pedro or João, depending on the context.
What would change if the definite article before Pedro were omitted?
Omitting the article (writing “Pedro responde à pergunta”) does not change the basic meaning—it still means that Pedro answers the question. However, in European Portuguese, leaving out the article may sound informal or non-standard, as including it is the norm. It might, however, be acceptable in everyday Brazilian Portuguese.
Does the contraction à occur with all feminine nouns in similar prepositional phrases?
Yes, whenever the preposition a precedes a feminine noun that uses the definite article a, they combine into à. For example, “vou à escola” (I go to school) follows the same rule. This contraction is a standard part of Portuguese grammar and is mandatory in formal writing.