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Questions & Answers about O escritório é amplo.
What does the article O signify in this sentence?
O is the masculine definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to "the" in English. It indicates that we are referring to a specific office in the sentence "O escritório é amplo."
How is the sentence structured in terms of subject, linking verb, and adjective?
The sentence follows a common structure: subject + linking verb + predicate adjective. Here, "O escritório" is the subject, "é" is the linking verb (the third-person singular form of "ser", meaning "is"), and "amplo" is the predicate adjective that describes the inherent characteristic of the office.
Why is the verb ser used instead of estar in this sentence?
In Portuguese, ser and estar both mean "to be" but are used in different contexts. Ser is used for inherent, permanent, or defining qualities, while estar indicates temporary states or conditions. Since amplo describes an intrinsic quality of the office (its spaciousness), the permanent characteristic is expressed using ser.
How does gender agreement affect the adjective amplo in this sentence?
Adjectives in Portuguese must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. Since "escritório" is a masculine singular noun, the adjective is also in its masculine singular form "amplo." If the noun were feminine, the adjective would change accordingly (e.g., "ampla").
Can the adjective amplo be positioned before the noun, and if so, does the meaning change?
Yes, adjectives in Portuguese can sometimes be placed either before or after the noun. In a sentence like "O escritório é amplo," amplo is used predicatively after the verb ser to describe an inherent quality. Placing the adjective before the noun—as in "o amplo escritório"—is also correct but can carry a slightly different nuance, often adding extra emphasis or a more subjective impression about the office.
How would you form the plural version of "O escritório é amplo"?
To create the plural form, change the article, noun, verb, and adjective to their plural forms. The plural sentence is: "Os escritórios são amplos." Here, "Os" replaces "O" (the masculine plural definite article), "escritórios" is the plural of "escritório," "são" is the plural form of "é," and "amplos" is the masculine plural of "amplo."