Breakdown of O chefe diz que hoje o trabalho é fácil.
ser
to be
hoje
today
que
that
o trabalho
the work
fácil
easy
dizer
to say
o chefe
the boss
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Questions & Answers about O chefe diz que hoje o trabalho é fácil.
What tense are the verbs diz and é, and how are they used in this sentence?
Both diz (from dizer) and é (from ser) are in the present indicative. Diz means “says,” indicating that the boss is currently reporting something, while é means “is,” describing the present state of the work as being easy.
What is the function of the conjunction que in the sentence?
Que acts as a subordinating conjunction, linking the main clause (O chefe diz) to the subordinate clause (hoje o trabalho é fácil). It serves a similar role to the English “that” in reported speech, even though in English we often drop “that” in casual usage.
Why is hoje placed before o trabalho in the subordinate clause, and can this word order be changed?
Hoje is an adverb of time that specifies when the work is easy. In Portuguese, it's common to position such adverbs at the beginning of the clause for emphasis. Although you could also say "O chefe diz que o trabalho é fácil hoje," both orders are grammatically correct; the choice depends on what the speaker wants to emphasize.
How does the structure of reported speech in this sentence compare to English?
In English, reported speech frequently uses quotation marks or the word “that” to introduce the subordinate clause (e.g., “The boss says, ‘today the work is easy’” or “The boss says that today the work is easy”). In Portuguese, however, quotation marks are not required; the subordinate clause is smoothly introduced by que. Understanding this difference is important for mastering the flow of Portuguese sentences.
Do the punctuation rules differ regarding the use of commas before que in such sentences?
Yes, they do. In Portuguese, when a subordinate clause is directly appended to the main clause with que, a comma is not typically used before que. This contrasts with some English practices where a comma might sometimes be inserted before a conjunction introducing a clause. The absence of a comma helps maintain the natural flow of reported speech in Portuguese.