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Questions & Answers about O Pedro vê a exposição nova.
What is the purpose of the definite article "O" before "Pedro" in this sentence?
In Portuguese, especially in Portugal, it's common to include the definite article before a person's name. "O Pedro" doesn't translate as "the Pedro" in English; rather, it serves as a familiar or stylistic marker that identifies the person. This usage is a traditional nuance of the language and helps signal that the speaker is referring to a specific, well-known individual.
What is the grammatical role and tense of the verb "vê" in the sentence?
The verb "vê" is the third-person singular form of the verb "ver," which means "to see." It is in the present indicative tense, so it translates to "sees" in English. This conjugation tells you that the action is happening now and is performed by a singular subject, in this case, "O Pedro."
Why is the adjective "nova" placed after the noun "exposição" instead of before it, as in typical English word order?
In Portuguese, adjectives often follow the noun they modify. In this sentence, "nova" comes after "exposição" because that is the standard order in Portuguese for descriptive adjectives. While English usually places adjectives before nouns ("new exhibition"), Portuguese syntax tends to position the adjective after the noun, which can subtly affect emphasis or nuance.
What does the article "a" before "exposição" signify?
The article "a" is the feminine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to “the” in English. It indicates that "exposição" is a feminine noun. The article must agree in gender and number with the noun it accompanies, which is an important grammatical rule in Portuguese.
How does the overall sentence structure of "O Pedro vê a exposição nova" compare to English sentence structure?
The sentence follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) order, similar to English. "O Pedro" (subject) performs the action "vê" (verb) on "a exposição nova" (object). However, there are notable differences, such as the inclusion of the definite article with a proper name and the positioning of the adjective after the noun. Being aware of these differences helps in understanding and constructing sentences in Portuguese.