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O computador está ligado.

O computador está ligado.
The computer is on.
FromLesson 13inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of O computador está ligado.

estar
to be
o computador
the computer
ligado
on

Questions & Answers about O computador está ligado.

What is the role of está in this sentence?
Está is the third person singular form of the verb estar in the present indicative. It is used here to indicate the current or temporary state of the noun, telling us that the computer is presently on.
Why is the adjective ligado in its masculine form?
The adjective ligado agrees with the noun computador, which is masculine. In Portuguese, adjectives must match the gender (and number) of the nouns they describe. If the noun were feminine, the adjective would change to ligada.
What is the function of the definite article O in this sentence?
The article O is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to the in English. It indicates that the noun computador is being specifically identified or referenced, following the typical use of articles in Portuguese.
How is the sentence structured in terms of word order?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Adjective order: O computador (subject) + está (verb) + ligado (adjective). This structure is similar to English, helping learners recognize familiar patterns despite the language differences.
How would I express that the computer is off using a similar structure?
To say that the computer is off, you would use the opposite adjective. The sentence becomes: O computador está desligado. The structure remains the same; only the adjective changes to convey the opposite state.
Is ligado being used as a verb or an adjective in this sentence?
Although ligado is the past participle of the verb ligar (meaning "to turn on"), in this construction it functions as an adjective describing the state of the computer. This is a common structure in Portuguese where a past participle, when used with estar, acts as an adjective.
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