O Pedro zanga-se facilmente quando está cansado.

Pedro gets angry easily when he is tired.

Breakdown of O Pedro zanga-se facilmente quando está cansado.

• Pedro: Pedro
• estar: to be
• cansado: tired
• quando: when
• zangar-se: to get angry
• facilmente: easily

Questions & Answers about O Pedro zanga-se facilmente quando está cansado.

Why is there a hyphen in zanga-se, and what does the -se component indicate?

The -se is a reflexive pronoun attached to the verb. In Portuguese, many verbs become reflexive by adding -se to show that the subject is both performing and experiencing the action. Here it means that Pedro gets angry by his own actions or feelings, rather than angering someone else.

What exactly does zanga-se mean in this sentence?

Zanga-se comes from the reflexive verb zangar-se, which translates to “to get angry” or “to become angry” in English. Although the meaning is provided, it’s important to note that the reflexive form emphasizes that the emotion is internally experienced by Pedro.

Why is Pedro’s name preceded by the article O in O Pedro?

In European Portuguese, it is common to use a definite article with proper names. O Pedro is the standard way to refer to Pedro in everyday conversation and writing, and it doesn’t change the meaning—it’s simply a grammatical convention.

What role does the adverb facilmente play in this sentence?

The adverb facilmente means “easily” and it modifies the verb phrase zanga-se. It tells us that Pedro gets angry easily, highlighting the manner or frequency with which he becomes angry when he is tired.

Can the reflexive pronoun -se be positioned differently in a sentence?

Yes, the placement of clitic pronouns like -se can vary depending on the sentence structure and the rules of Portuguese grammar. In this sentence, it is attached after the verb in its conjugated form. In other contexts—such as with compound tenses or in affirmative commands—the pronoun might precede the verb or attach to an infinitive form, but here the current placement is standard.

Is there a difference between using zangar and zangar-se?

Yes, there is a significant difference. Zangar-se is the reflexive form meaning “to get angry” (reflecting an internal state), which is the proper usage when describing an emotion that affects the subject. Using zangar without -se can imply a transitive action (to anger someone else), which is not the intended meaning in this sentence.

Why does the sentence use está cansado instead of é cansado?

In Portuguese, estar is used to describe temporary states or conditions, while ser is used for more permanent characteristics. Since being tired is a temporary condition, está cansado (“is tired”) is the correct choice here.