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Questions & Answers about Eu seguro o copo com a mão.
What is the conjugation of the verb segurar in this sentence, and how is it formed in the first-person singular?
Seguro is the first-person singular present form of the regular -ar verb segurar. In Portuguese, to conjugate a regular -ar verb for eu (I), you remove the -ar ending and add -o. Hence, segurar becomes seguro, meaning I hold or I grip.
Why is the definite article used with copo in the phrase o copo instead of an indefinite article?
Portuguese uses definite articles when referring to a specific object already understood by both speaker and listener. In this sentence, o copo translates to the cup or the glass, implying a particular item. Using the definite article o (masculine singular) matches the gender and specificity of copo.
Why is the prepositional phrase com a mão used instead of a possessive construction like with my hand?
In Portuguese, when referring to body parts, it is common to use the definite article rather than a possessive pronoun—provided the possessor is clear from the context. Here, com a mão is understood as with [my] hand. This construction avoids redundancy and is standard practice in Portuguese.
How does gender agreement work in the phrases o copo and a mão?
In Portuguese, every noun has a gender, and the articles must agree with that gender. Copo is a masculine noun, so it takes the masculine article o. Conversely, mão is a feminine noun and therefore requires the feminine article a. This agreement ensures grammatical consistency throughout the sentence.
How should the word mão be pronounced, particularly regarding its nasal sound?
The word mão is pronounced with a nasal sound at the ending ão. Although there isn’t an exact equivalent in English, it is somewhat similar to saying "mown" with a distinct nasal quality. Listening to native speakers and practicing will help you master this nasal vowel sound.