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Questions & Answers about O cão corre no jardim.
What does the definite article o signify in this sentence?
In Portuguese, o is the masculine singular definite article equivalent to “the” in English. It must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies—in this case, cão.
Why is the word no used before jardim, and how is it formed?
The word no is a contraction of the preposition em (meaning “in”) and the masculine singular definite article o (meaning “the”). This contraction is standard in Portuguese, so no jardim translates to “in the garden.”
What does the word cão mean, and how does its gender affect the sentence?
The word cão means “dog” in English. It is a masculine noun, which is why it is preceded by the masculine definite article o. The gender agreement is an important feature in Portuguese grammar.
What tense is the verb corre and what does it indicate about the action?
The verb corre is in the present indicative tense. It is the third person singular form of correr (to run), indicating that the action is currently taking place—that is, the dog is running.
How does the sentence structure in Portuguese compare to that in English?
The structure of the sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Complement order, similar to English. O cão (subject) comes first, corre (verb) follows, and no jardim (complement) indicates location. This structure is quite familiar to English speakers.
Are there any pronunciation nuances in European Portuguese for words like cão and jardim?
Yes, there are subtle pronunciation differences. In European Portuguese, cão is pronounced with a distinct nasalized vowel, while jardim features a softer “j” and a shorter vowel sound. Listening to native speakers from Portugal can help you grasp these nuances.