Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Feriado é divertido.
What does Feriado mean in English?
Feriado translates to “holiday” (or “public holiday”) in English. In contexts like this, it refers to a day off or holiday period in general.
Why is there no article before Feriado even though in English we would usually say “The holiday is fun”?
In Portuguese, when making a general statement about a concept, it’s common to omit the definite article. Here, Feriado is used in a general sense. If you were referring to a specific holiday, you might say “O feriado é divertido.”
What is the role of é in this sentence?
É is the third person singular present form of the verb ser, which means “to be.” It links the subject Feriado to the adjective divertido, indicating an inherent quality of the holiday.
How does divertido agree with feriado in terms of gender and number?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe. Since Feriado is masculine singular, the adjective appears in its masculine singular form divertido (notice the ending -o).
Why is the verb ser (expressed here as é) used instead of estar?
The verb ser is used to express inherent, general, or permanent qualities. Since the sentence makes a general statement about holidays being fun, ser (with é) is appropriate. Estar is reserved for temporary states or conditions.