Breakdown of O professor tentou esclarecer a dúvida do aluno com um exemplo simples.
um
a
de
of
com
with
tentar
to try
o professor
the teacher
o exemplo
the example
simples
simple
esclarecer
to clarify
a dúvida
the doubt
o aluno
the student
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Questions & Answers about O professor tentou esclarecer a dúvida do aluno com um exemplo simples.
What does “tentou esclarecer” mean, and how does the structure with the infinitive work?
“Tentou esclarecer” translates to “tried to clarify.” Here, “tentou” is the past tense (third-person singular) of “tentar” meaning “tried,” and it is followed by the infinitive “esclarecer” (meaning “to clarify”). This structure is common in Portuguese where one verb (in a specific tense) is used with an infinitive to indicate the action attempted.
Why is “esclarecer” not conjugated like “tentou”?
In Portuguese, after a conjugated verb like “tentar” (to try), the following verb is typically used in its infinitive form. This construction shows that the teacher made an attempt to perform the action expressed by the infinitive, in this case, “to clarify.”
What role does the preposition “com” play in this sentence?
The preposition “com” means “with” and here it introduces the tool or method used by the teacher. In this sentence, “com um exemplo simples” specifies that he used “a simple example” as the means to clarify the student’s doubt.
How is the possessive phrase “do aluno” formed, and what does it indicate?
“Do aluno” is a contraction of “de + o aluno,” meaning “of the student.” This construction indicates possession, showing that the doubt mentioned in the sentence belongs to the student.
Why does the adjective “simples” come after the noun “exemplo” instead of before it?
In Portuguese, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify, unlike in English where adjectives usually precede the noun. That’s why the sentence uses “exemplo simples” rather than “simples exemplo.” This word order is a common characteristic of Portuguese syntax.
Does the use of the word “tentou” imply whether the teacher was successful in clarifying the doubt?
No, “tentou” simply means “tried” and indicates the teacher’s attempt to clarify the doubt. It does not provide information about whether the action was successful; it focuses solely on the effort made.