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Questions & Answers about O balanço é importante.
Why is the definite article O used at the beginning of the sentence?
In Portuguese, O is the masculine singular definite article meaning the. It indicates that the noun balanço is masculine and specific. Just like in English we say the balance, in Portuguese the article must agree in gender and number with the noun.
What does the noun balanço mean in this context?
Balanço typically translates as balance. Depending on the context, it can refer to physical equilibrium, a state of affairs, or even a financial statement. In this sentence, since the meaning is already provided to the learner, you can understand it as the idea of balance being important, whether literally or figuratively.
Why is the verb é used in the sentence?
É is the third-person singular form of the verb ser, which is used for characteristics or qualities that are seen as essential or permanent. In O balanço é importante, é functions as a linking verb similar to is in English, connecting the subject with the predicate adjective.
Why is the adjective importante not modified to match a different form?
In Portuguese, adjectives ending in -e like importante do not change between masculine and feminine in the singular. Thus, since balanço is masculine, the adjective remains importante. (In the plural, it would change to importantes to match the noun’s number.)
What is the overall structure of the sentence O balanço é importante?
The sentence follows a standard subject-linking verb-predicate adjective structure. O balanço is the subject (complete with its definite article), é is the linking verb derived from ser, and importante is the predicate adjective describing the subject’s essential quality.