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Questions & Answers about Este minuto é importante.
What does the word este mean in this sentence and how should I use it?
Este is a demonstrative adjective that means “this” in English. It’s used here to point to a specific minute—one that is immediately relevant or present in the current context. Essentially, it specifies which minute is being talked about, much like saying “this minute” in English.
Why is the noun minuto masculine, and how does that affect the other words in the sentence?
In Portuguese, every noun has a grammatical gender, and minuto is inherently masculine. This means that any words modifying it, such as demonstratives and adjectives, must agree in gender. That’s why este (the masculine form of “this”) is used, ensuring proper grammatical agreement with minuto.
What is the function of the word é in this sentence?
É is the third person singular present form of the verb ser, which means “is” in English. In this sentence, it serves as the linking verb connecting the subject (este minuto) with the adjective that describes it (importante), effectively stating that “this minute is important.”
Why does the adjective importante not change its form to match the gender of the noun?
In Portuguese, many adjectives do change form to match the gender (and number) of the noun they describe. However, adjectives like importante are invariant in the singular form—they remain the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine. If the noun were plural, you would add an -s (becoming importantes) to match the number, but no gender change is needed here.
What is the difference between demonstratives such as este, esse, and aquele?
These demonstratives all translate roughly to “this” or “that” in English, but they indicate different degrees of proximity relative to the speaker and listener. Este is used for something that is close to the speaker (or very relevant at the moment). Esse is typically used for something relatively near the listener or that was mentioned earlier. Aquele refers to something that is distant from both the speaker and the listener. In the sentence este minuto é importante, the use of este emphasizes that the minute being discussed is immediately relevant or near in context.