Breakdown of Comprei novas peúgas de algodão, que são tão macias como as tuas.
ser
to be
de
of
novo
new
comprar
to buy
tua
your
tão
so
como
as
macio
soft
o algodão
the cotton
que
which
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Questions & Answers about Comprei novas peúgas de algodão, que são tão macias como as tuas.
What does "peúgas" mean in this sentence?
Peúgas is the European Portuguese term for socks. In Portugal, while some might also say "meias," "peúgas" is commonly used, and it refers to the same item of clothing.
Why is there a comma before "que", and what is the role of the clause that follows?
The comma indicates that the clause "que são tão macias como as tuas" is non-restrictive. This means it provides additional information about the socks without limiting or defining which socks are being talked about—it merely adds a comment stating that they are as soft as your socks.
How is the comparative structure "tão macias como as tuas" formed, and what does it convey?
Portuguese uses the structure "tão [adjective] como" to express equality, similar to "as [adjective] as" in English. Here, "tão macias como as tuas" means "as soft as yours." The adjective "macias" is in the feminine plural form to match "peúgas", and "tuas" is a possessive adjective referring implicitly to "socks."
What does "algodão" signify in the sentence?
Algodão means cotton. It specifies the material of the socks, so the phrase "peúgas de algodão" translates to "cotton socks."
Why is "novas" used, and how does adjective agreement work in this context?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since "peúgas" is a feminine plural noun, "novas" is the correct feminine plural form of the adjective "novo". This agreement ensures that the description is grammatically correct.
Why does the possessive "tuas" appear without directly mentioning the noun, and what does it imply?
The possessive "tuas" is used in an elliptical manner—this means that the noun it refers to (in this case, "peúgas") is omitted because it is already understood from context. So, "as tuas" effectively stands for "your socks" without repeating the noun.
What is the overall meaning of the sentence?
The sentence "Comprei novas peúgas de algodão, que são tão macias como as tuas." translates as "I bought new cotton socks, which are as soft as yours." It tells us that the speaker purchased a new pair of cotton socks and comments on their softness by comparing them to someone else’s socks.