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Questions & Answers about Despesa alta preocupa-me.
Why does the adjective alta come after the noun despesa instead of before it?
In Portuguese, descriptive adjectives typically follow the noun when they describe an objective quality or measurement. In this case, despesa alta literally means “high expense,” and placing the adjective after the noun is the standard structure. Adjectives placed before the noun often add a more subjective or evaluative nuance.
Why is the object pronoun me attached to the end of the verb preocupa rather than coming before it?
European Portuguese commonly uses enclisis, where the object pronoun is attached to the end of the verb in affirmative declarative sentences. That’s why you see preocupa-me. In contrast, in Brazilian Portuguese, it’s more typical to place the pronoun before the verb (resulting in me preocupa).
What is the English translation of Despesa alta preocupa-me?
It translates to “High expense worries me.” This conveys that the fact the expense is high is causing worry.
What tense and mood is the verb preocupa in?
The verb preocupa is in the present indicative. It indicates a current, ongoing state where the high expense is causing concern.
Why is there no definite article before despesa? Shouldn’t it be “A despesa alta preocupa-me”?
While including the article (as in “A despesa alta preocupa-me”) is grammatically correct in standard speech, omitting it can be a stylistic choice—especially in headlines or concise statements. This omission is acceptable in contexts where brevity or a particular tone is desired.
How does the word order in this sentence compare to typical English structure?
In English, adjectives generally come before the noun (e.g., “high expense”), whereas in Portuguese, they usually follow the noun (e.g., “despesa alta”). Additionally, the placement of the object pronoun at the end of the verb in preocupa-me is a feature of Portuguese that differs from the English structure, where the pronoun would precede the verb (as in “worries me”).