Breakdown of Eu ressalto a importância da amizade.
eu
I
de
of
a importância
the importance
ressaltar
to emphasize
a amizade
the friendship
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Questions & Answers about Eu ressalto a importância da amizade.
What does the verb ressalto mean in this sentence, and why is it conjugated as it appears?
Ressalto is the first person singular, present indicative form of the verb ressaltar. It means “I emphasize” or “I highlight.” The conjugation shows that the speaker is personally stressing or drawing attention to the importance of friendship right now.
Why is the definite article a used before importância?
In Portuguese, importância is a feminine noun. The definite article a (which translates as “the”) is used to specify that it is the particular importance being mentioned. This is similar to saying “the importance” in English when referring to a well-understood or specific idea.
What does the contraction da in da amizade represent, and why is it necessary?
Da is a contraction of the preposition de (meaning “of”) and the feminine definite article a. Since amizade (friendship) is feminine, de + a becomes da. This contraction neatly expresses the idea of “of the” in English, linking the importance to friendship.
How does the structure of Eu ressalto a importância da amizade compare to its English equivalent?
The sentence structure in Portuguese is quite similar to English. In English, it is “I emphasize the importance of friendship.” Both sentences follow a subject-verb-object pattern. The main difference is the use of the contraction da in Portuguese, where the preposition and the article merge, a feature not present in English.
Are there alternative verbs that can be used instead of ressalto without changing the overall meaning of the sentence?
Yes, you could also use verbs such as destaco or enfatizo, which carry similar meanings. All of these verbs indicate that the speaker is drawing attention to something important. However, there can be slight nuances—ressaltar often implies pointing out or bringing focus to a specific quality, while destacar and enfatizar might lean more toward marking or stressing significance in different contexts.