Breakdown of Eu prefiro um bife malpassado, mas também gosto de carne bem passada de vez em quando.
eu
I
um
a
gostar de
to like
também
also
mas
but
preferir
to prefer
a carne
the meat
o bife
the steak
malpassado
rare
bem passado
well done
de vez em quando
occasionally
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Questions & Answers about Eu prefiro um bife malpassado, mas também gosto de carne bem passada de vez em quando.
What do the adjectives malpassado and bem passada mean in this sentence?
Malpassado describes meat that is lightly cooked or rare, while bem passada refers to meat that is well done. In the context of this sentence, the speaker is saying they prefer a rare steak but also enjoy well-done meat occasionally.
Why do malpassado and bem passada have different endings?
The endings change to agree with the gender of the noun they modify. Bife is a masculine noun, so the adjective remains malpassado (masculine form). On the other hand, carne is a feminine noun; therefore, the adjective is bem passada (feminine form). This agreement is a key feature of Portuguese grammar.
What is the function of the adverb bem in bem passada?
The word bem functions as an intensifier that modifies the adjective passada. It strengthens the meaning, indicating that the meat is cooked thoroughly. Without bem, the adjective would merely describe something as cooked, but bem passada clearly conveys a high degree of doneness.
Why does the sentence use the indefinite article um before bife?
The use of um (meaning "a" in English) indicates that the speaker is talking about a type or example of steak rather than a specific one. This choice emphasizes a preference for steak cooked a certain way in general, not a particular steak.
What does the phrase de vez em quando mean?
De vez em quando translates to "once in a while" or "occasionally." It conveys that the speaker sometimes enjoys well-done meat, even though their primary preference is a rare steak.
How does the conjunction mas contribute to the sentence’s overall meaning?
The conjunction mas means "but" in English and is used to introduce a contrast. It sets up a comparison between the speaker’s main preference for a rare steak and their occasional enjoyment of well-done meat, highlighting both tastes within the same sentence.