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Questions & Answers about Segundo Pedro, o dia é bom.
What does Segundo mean in this sentence?
In this context, Segundo translates to “according to”. It indicates that what follows—o dia é bom—is presenting Pedro’s point of view or information.
Why is there a comma after Pedro?
The comma separates the introductory phrase Segundo Pedro from the main clause o dia é bom. This punctuation clarifies that the preceding phrase is an attribution of the opinion to Pedro.
How does the adjective bom agree with the noun dia?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since dia (day) is a masculine singular noun, the adjective bom is used in its masculine singular form to match.
Why is the definite article o used before dia even though the sentence conveys a general statement?
In Portuguese, the definite article is often used with nouns even in general statements. Here, dia is masculine, so it combines with the article o to form o dia (“the day”), which is common when expressing general truths or evaluations.
Can Segundo also mean “second” in Portuguese, and how do we distinguish between the meanings?
Yes, segundo can mean “second” when referring to numerical order. However, in this sentence it clearly means “according to” because it introduces a person’s name (Pedro), signaling that the following statement is based on his opinion. Context determines which meaning is intended.
Is it acceptable to omit any punctuation if I wanted to express the same idea in Portuguese?
While the sentence Segundo Pedro, o dia é bom correctly uses a comma to indicate the introductory attribution, omitting the comma might lead to confusion. In Portuguese, proper punctuation helps clarify that Segundo Pedro is the source of the statement, so it’s best to include it.