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Questions & Answers about A água está ligeiramente fria.
Why is the verb está used instead of é in this sentence?
In Portuguese, estar is used to describe temporary states or conditions, such as the current temperature of the water. Since the water being "slightly cold" is a temporary or changeable state rather than an inherent quality, está is the appropriate choice instead of é.
How does the adverb ligeiramente function in this sentence?
The adverb ligeiramente modifies the adjective fria by indicating a lower degree of coldness. It tells us that the water is not very cold but only "slightly" or "a bit" cold, adding nuance to the description.
Why does the adjective fria end with an a rather than an o?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since água is a feminine noun, the adjective takes the feminine form fria to match it.
Is it necessary to include the article A before água in this sentence?
Yes, it is necessary. In Portuguese, most nouns—including those that refer to substances like water—require a definite article. A is the feminine singular article that properly accompanies água, emphasizing that we are referring to a specific or conceptual instance of water.
Could the structure A água está ligeiramente fria be altered if I wanted to express a different degree of coldness?
Yes, you can adjust the adverb to change the intensity. For example, using muito would make it A água está muito fria (The water is very cold), or um pouco would yield A água está um pouco fria (The water is a little cold). These changes allow you to scale the description of the water’s temperature as needed.