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Questions & Answers about O livro é grosso.
What does grosso mean in the context of "O livro é grosso"?
In this sentence, grosso translates to thick, describing the physical characteristic (i.e., the book having a large number of pages or a substantial build).
Why is the definite article O used before livro?
The article O is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to "the" in English. It signals that you are talking about a specific book.
Why is the verb ser (i.e., é) used instead of estar in this sentence?
Ser is used to describe inherent or permanent characteristics. Since the thickness of the book is seen as an intrinsic quality rather than a temporary state, ser (é) is appropriate, unlike estar, which is used for temporary conditions.
Does the adjective grosso change its form based on the noun's gender or number?
Yes, adjectives in Portuguese agree with the noun in gender and number. Since livro is masculine singular, the adjective takes the form grosso. If the noun were feminine the adjective would change (e.g., grossa), and for plural nouns, an -s would be added (e.g., grossos for masculine plural and grossas for feminine plural).