Breakdown of Discutir novas ideias pode gerar bons resultados.
bom
good
novo
new
poder
to be able to
a ideia
the idea
o resultado
the result
discutir
to discuss
gerar
to generate
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Questions & Answers about Discutir novas ideias pode gerar bons resultados.
What is the literal translation of "Discutir novas ideias pode gerar bons resultados," and how does its structure compare to English?
The sentence translates to "Discussing new ideas can generate good results." In English, we use the gerund “discussing” as the subject, whereas in Portuguese the infinitive discutir is used to express a general action. Both forms convey a general truth, but each language has its own preferred grammatical construction.
Why is the infinitive phrase discutir novas ideias used as the subject of the sentence instead of a conjugated verb form?
In Portuguese, it is common to use an infinitive phrase as the subject when talking about general actions or ideas. Here, discutir novas ideias functions as a single, abstract concept that can perform the action, much like saying “to discuss new ideas” in an impersonal or general statement.
Why is the verb pode in the singular form even though "novas ideias" is plural?
Even though novas ideias is plural, the entire phrase discutir novas ideias is treated as one unified subject—a general idea or activity. Consequently, the verb pode (meaning “can”) is correctly conjugated in the third-person singular to agree with that singular, impersonal subject.
Why does the verb gerar remain in the infinitive form instead of being conjugated?
After the modal verb pode, the following verb remains in its infinitive form. This construction is standard in Portuguese (much like in English, where we say “can generate” with the base form of the verb) and indicates that gerar is not the main verb but rather part of a verbal complement expressing potential.
Is it correct to say discutir novas ideias without any preposition before novas ideias?
Yes, it is correct. The Portuguese verb discutir is transitive and takes a direct object without requiring a preposition. Therefore, you directly attach novas ideias (new ideas) to it, just as in English we say “discuss new ideas” without a preposition.
How does the adjective bons agree with the noun resultados in this sentence?
The adjective bons means “good” and must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Since resultados (results) is masculine and plural, bons is in its masculine plural form. This agreement is a typical feature of Portuguese grammar, ensuring that adjectives match the corresponding nouns.