Ela tem uma voz clara.

She has a clear voice.

Breakdown of Ela tem uma voz clara.

• ela: she
• ter: to have
• uma: a
• claro: clear
• a voz: the voice

Questions & Answers about Ela tem uma voz clara.

What is the function of the verb tem in this sentence?

Tem is the third person singular present form of the verb ter, which means "to have." In the sentence, it indicates possession, translating to "She has."

Why is the article uma used instead of um?

Uma is the feminine form of the indefinite article. Since voz is a feminine noun in Portuguese, the article must agree in gender, so uma is used rather than the masculine um.

How does the adjective clara agree with the noun it modifies?

In Portuguese, adjectives must agree with the noun in both gender and number. Here, voz is a feminine singular noun, so the adjective takes its feminine singular form clara (the masculine form would be claro).

What tense is used in the sentence and what does it indicate?

The sentence uses the simple present tense. This tense states a current condition or a general truth, which in this case means that currently, "she has a clear voice."

Are there any notable irregularities with the noun voz that learners should be aware of?

Yes, voz is notable because although many Portuguese nouns ending in -o are masculine, voz is an exception—it is feminine. This irregularity explains why the feminine article uma and the feminine adjective form clara are used with it.