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Questions & Answers about Praia é bonita.
What does praia mean in English?
Praia translates to “beach” in English.
Why is there no definite article before praia in the sentence?
In Portuguese, definite articles are often used when referring to specific items (e.g., A praia é bonita would be “The beach is beautiful”). However, omitting the article—as in Praia é bonita—can be a stylistic choice, lending the statement a more general or poetic tone by speaking of beaches in an abstract or universal sense.
What is the function of é in the sentence?
É is the third-person singular present form of the verb ser, meaning “to be.” It connects the subject praia with the adjective bonita, establishing the quality of the subject.
Why is the adjective bonita placed after the noun rather than before?
While Portuguese adjectives can sometimes precede the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons, placing bonita after praia is common when describing an inherent quality. This order clearly attributes the characteristic of beauty to the beach.
Do the noun praia and the adjective bonita agree in gender and number?
Yes, they do. Praia is a feminine singular noun, and bonita is the feminine singular form of the adjective, ensuring proper agreement in both gender and number.
What is the overall structure of the sentence in terms of word order?
The sentence follows a simple Subject-Verb-Adjective structure: praia (subject) + é (verb) + bonita (adjective). This structure is typical in Portuguese declarative sentences.