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Questions & Answers about Esta versão é boa.
Why is the demonstrative adjective esta used in this sentence?
Esta means this in English and is used because the noun versão is feminine. In Portuguese, demonstrative adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, so because versão is feminine, esta is the correct form.
What does the noun versão mean and why is it considered feminine?
Versão translates to version in English. In Portuguese, nouns have genders, and versão is inherently a feminine noun. This gender assignment affects the entire noun phrase by requiring any adjectives or demonstratives (like esta and boa) to also be in the feminine form.
Why is the verb é (from ser) used instead of está (from estar) in the sentence?
Portuguese distinguishes between two verbs for “to be.” Ser (with the form é) is used for inherent, essential qualities or characteristics, whereas estar is used for temporary or changing states. Because the sentence implies that being good is an inherent quality of this version, é is used.
Why is the adjective boa placed after the noun versão?
In Portuguese, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe as part of the standard word order. While adjectives can sometimes appear before the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons, the usual placement is after the noun. That’s why the sentence is structured as Esta versão é boa rather than placing boa before versão.
Can other demonstrative adjectives like essa or aquela be used instead of esta, and what differences would that make?
Yes, you can use essa or aquela, but each choice changes the spatial reference. Esta indicates something close to the speaker (this version), essa usually refers to something closer to the listener or already known in context (that version), and aquela points to something more distant from both parties (that version over there). The selection depends on the context and what you want to emphasize.
How does the sentence structure of Esta versão é boa compare to its English counterpart?
The structure is very similar to English. Both languages follow a subject-verb-adjective pattern—in English, This version is good. This similarity can help English speakers recognize the basic sentence construction while they adjust to the gender and adjective placement rules in Portuguese.