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Questions & Answers about Ela venceu o jogo difícil.
What tense is the verb venceu in, and what does it indicate about the action?
The verb venceu is in the simple past tense (pretérito perfeito) in Portuguese. This tense indicates that the action—winning the game—was completed in the past.
How does the adjective difícil agree with its noun in the sentence?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Here, jogo (meaning “game”) is masculine and singular, and difícil is correctly in its masculine singular form. If jogo were plural or feminine, the adjective would need to adjust accordingly.
Why is the definite article o used before jogo in the sentence?
The article o is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese. It is used here because jogo is a masculine singular noun, similar to using the with a specific noun in English. This signals that the speaker is referring to a particular game.
Why is the adjective difícil placed after the noun jogo, and could its position change the meaning?
In Portuguese, adjectives can appear either before or after the noun, though their placement sometimes alters the nuance. Placing difícil after jogo is common for adjectives that provide a literal description. If the adjective were placed before the noun, it might convey a slightly different emphasis or stylistic effect, but in this context the post-nominal position offers a straightforward descriptive quality.
Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun ela in this sentence, or can it be omitted?
Including the subject pronoun ela (meaning “she”) is not strictly necessary in Portuguese because the verb conjugation already implies the subject. However, it is often included for clarity or emphasis. Omitting it is common in informal contexts if the subject is understood from the conversation.
Are there any notable differences in how this sentence might be constructed in European Portuguese versus Brazilian Portuguese?
For this sentence—Ela venceu o jogo difícil—the structure, verb conjugation, and adjective placement are standard and apply to both European and Brazilian Portuguese. While there are differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and some grammatical preferences between the two varieties, this sentence is universally acceptable in both.