Breakdown of A professora ensina nova gramática todas as semanas.
novo
new
a professora
the teacher
a semana
the week
ensinar
to teach
a gramática
the grammar
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Questions & Answers about A professora ensina nova gramática todas as semanas.
What does the article A in A professora mean?
The A is the feminine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to “the” in English. It specifies that we are talking about a particular teacher.
What tense is the verb ensina and what does it mean?
Ensina is the third-person singular form of the verb ensinar in the present indicative tense. It means “teaches,” indicating an action that the teacher habitually performs.
Why is the adjective nova placed before the noun gramática, and what does this order imply?
In Portuguese, adjectives can be placed either before or after the noun, and their position can subtly affect meaning. Placing nova before gramática often adds a subjective emphasis, highlighting the freshness or newness of the grammar content. While both orders are grammatically correct, this placement stresses that the grammar being taught is new.
Why isn’t there an article before nova gramática in the sentence?
When discussing academic subjects or general topics in Portuguese, it is common to omit the article. In this case, nova gramática functions as the object meaning “new grammar” in a general sense. Including an article isn’t necessary here and mirrors how in English we would simply say “teaches new grammar.”
What is the role of todas as semanas in the sentence?
Todas as semanas is an adverbial phrase that indicates frequency. It literally translates as “all the weeks” but is understood to mean “every week.” This phrase tells us how often the teacher teaches the new grammar.