Breakdown of Ela comprará um vestido elegante, mas ainda não sabe se o usará no jantar de sábado.
ela
she
um
a
de
of
mas
but
o jantar
the dinner
em
in
comprar
to buy
ainda
still
não
not
se
if
saber
to know
o
it
o vestido
the dress
elegante
elegant
usar
to wear
o sábado
Saturday
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Questions & Answers about Ela comprará um vestido elegante, mas ainda não sabe se o usará no jantar de sábado.
What tense is used in “comprará” and what does it indicate?
“Comprará” is in the simple future tense (futuro do presente) of the verb “comprar.” It indicates that she will perform the action of buying in the future—specifically, that she will buy an elegant dress.
What does the conjunction “mas” add to the sentence?
“Mas” means “but” in English. It introduces a contrast between her decision to buy the dress and her current uncertainty (“ainda não sabe”) about whether she will wear it, highlighting a shift in the sentence’s focus.
Why is the direct object pronoun “o” used in “se o usará,” and what does it refer to?
The pronoun “o” is used to replace “um vestido elegante” (an elegant dress), avoiding repetition. Since “vestido” is a masculine noun, the pronoun “o” agrees in gender and number, referring back to the dress that was mentioned earlier.
How does the word “ainda” function in “mas ainda não sabe”?
“Ainda” translates to “still” and emphasizes that her uncertainty continues up to the present moment. It reinforces that even after buying the dress, she remains unsure whether she will wear it at the specified event.
What is the structure and meaning of the phrase “no jantar de sábado”?
The phrase “no jantar de sábado” means “at the Saturday dinner.” It is formed by the contraction “no,” which combines “em” (in/at) and “o” (the), followed by “jantar” (dinner) and “de sábado” (of Saturday). This construction specifies the occasion or event where she might wear the dress.