Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about O jantar é nosso.
What is the role of O in the sentence O jantar é nosso?
O is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to "the" in English. It specifies that the noun jantar (dinner) is a particular, known meal.
Why is the possessive nosso placed after the verb é instead of directly before the noun?
In Portuguese, there are two common ways to indicate possession. You can place the possessive adjective directly before the noun (e.g., nosso jantar, meaning "our dinner"), or you can use it as a predicate complement after the linking verb, as in O jantar é nosso ("The dinner is ours"). Both structures are correct, and the latter emphasizes the state of possession.
How does nosso agree with jantar in terms of gender and number?
In Portuguese, adjectives and possessives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Since jantar is a masculine singular noun, the correct form of the possessive is nosso. If the noun were feminine or plural, the possessive would change accordingly (for example, nossa for feminine singular, nossos for masculine plural, or nossas for feminine plural).
Why is the verb é (from ser) used in this sentence? Could está be used instead?
The verb é is the third person singular form of ser, which is used to describe inherent characteristics or permanent states. In O jantar é nosso, it means that the dinner inherently belongs to us. Using está (from estar) would instead imply a temporary state, which is not appropriate when expressing possession in this context.
Are there any differences between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese in using this sentence structure?
For this sentence structure, there is no significant difference between European and Brazilian Portuguese. Both variants follow the same grammatical rules regarding the use of definite articles, forms of the verb ser, and agreement of possessive adjectives. The sentence O jantar é nosso works correctly in both varieties, although other vocabulary or pronunciation differences might appear in other contexts.