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Questions & Answers about Verão é quente.
Why is there no definite article (like o) before verão in the sentence "Verão é quente"?
In Portuguese, when making general statements—especially about seasons—it is common to omit the definite article. Although you might also say O verão é quente, leaving out o emphasizes that you are referring to the concept of summer in general rather than a specific instance of it.
What role does the tilde in verão play, and how does it affect pronunciation?
The tilde over the a in verão indicates that the vowel is nasalized. This means that when you pronounce verão, you produce a nasal sound on the ão ending. This diacritical mark is essential in Portuguese as it distinguishes pronunciation from similar words without a tilde.
Why is the verb é used in this sentence instead of está?
The verb é is the third person singular form of ser, which is used to describe inherent, defining qualities or permanent characteristics. In the sentence "Verão é quente," ser is appropriate because it expresses a general, enduring quality of summer. Although temperatures can vary, the statement refers to a typical characteristic of the season.
How does the adjective quente agree with the noun verão in this sentence?
In this context, quente means "hot" and is an adjective that remains the same for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. Since verão is masculine and singular, quente is correctly used without any modification. In cases where the adjective might change for gender or number, quente happens to have an identical form in the singular for both genders.
Are there alternative ways to express the same idea in Portuguese?
Yes, you can vary the sentence depending on context or emphasis. For example, including the definite article, you could say O verão é quente, which is equally correct. Additionally, if you want to specify the time context, you might say Durante o verão, o tempo é quente ("During the summer, the weather is hot"). Each variation is acceptable and can be chosen based on stylistic preference or the context of the conversation.