Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O meu cunhado ofereceu-me um livro interessante, mas ainda não o li. - My brother-in-law gave me an interesting book, but I haven’t read it yet.

In European Portuguese it’s customary to include the definite article with possessive adjectives. So while English simply uses “my brother-in-law,” Portuguese uses o meu cunhado. This article–possessive construction is standard and helps specify the noun more clearly.

What does the word cunhado mean?

Cunhado means “brother-in-law.” If you were referring to a female in the same context, you would use cunhada, which means “sister-in-law.”

How does the placement of object pronouns differ between ofereceu-me and não o li?

In the affirmative clause ofereceu-me, the object pronoun is attached to the verb (an example of enclisis). In contrast, in the negative clause não o li, the negative element (“não”) triggers a shift to proclisis, placing the pronoun before the verb. This is a typical rule in Portuguese clitic placement.

What tenses are used in ofereceu and li, and what is their significance?

Both ofereceu and li are in the simple past tense (preterite). Ofereceu is third person singular and means “offered” (or “gave” a book, in this context), while li is first person singular meaning “I read.” This tense is used to indicate completed actions in the past.

Why is the adjective interessante placed after the noun livro, and could it alternatively come before the noun?

In Portuguese, adjectives like interessante commonly follow the noun when describing inherent qualities, yielding um livro interessante. While some adjectives can precede the noun for stylistic or emphatic reasons, placing interessante after livro is the natural and expected order in this case.

What is the function of ainda in the phrase mas ainda não o li?

The word ainda means “still” or “yet” and is used to emphasize that the action (reading the book) has not occurred up to the present moment. It adds a sense of continuity to the negative statement.

Why is the object pronoun o used in não o li instead of repeating um livro interessante?

Using the object pronoun o avoids repetition by substituting for um livro interessante. In addition, in negative sentences like não o li, it is grammatically required to position the pronoun before the verb (proclisis), following standard Portuguese clitic rules.