Breakdown of A superfície da mesa está limpa.
de
of
estar
to be
a mesa
the table
limpo
clean
a superfície
the surface
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Questions & Answers about A superfície da mesa está limpa.
Why is the contraction da used in the phrase da mesa?
Da is a contraction of the preposition de (of) and the feminine definite article a (the). Since mesa (table) is a feminine noun, you must use a rather than o. Thus, de + a becomes da, which translates to "of the" in English.
Why is the verb está used instead of é in this sentence?
Portuguese distinguishes between ser and estar even though both can mean "to be." Estar is used for temporary states or conditions, while ser describes permanent or defining characteristics. In this sentence, limpa (clean) describes the current condition of the table’s surface, so está is the appropriate choice.
How does the adjective limpa agree with the noun in the sentence?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. The noun superfície (surface) is feminine and singular, so the adjective must also be in its feminine singular form, which is limpa. If the noun were masculine, you would use limpo.
What is the grammatical structure of the noun phrase A superfície da mesa?
The phrase is structured as follows: A superfície is the main noun phrase with A serving as the definite article, and da mesa is a prepositional phrase indicating a relationship (specifically possession or part-whole relationship) with mesa (table). Together, the phrase means "the surface of the table."
What tense is está in, and what does it indicate about the state of the surface?
Está is the third-person singular form of estar in the present indicative tense. It indicates that the surface is currently in a temporary state of being clean, emphasizing that this condition might change over time.