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A árvore é verde.

A árvore é verde.
The tree is green.
FromLesson 21inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of A árvore é verde.

ser
to be
a árvore
the tree
verde
green

Questions & Answers about A árvore é verde.

What does A in A árvore é verde represent?
A is the feminine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to the in English. Portuguese generally uses definite articles before nouns in descriptive statements, and since árvore is feminine, we use a rather than o.
Why is é used here instead of está?
É is the third‐person singular present form of ser, used for permanent or inherent characteristics. Saying a tree is green describes a typical, lasting attribute, so you use ser (é). Estar (está) would imply a temporary state (e.g., if it were painted green).
Why does árvore have an accent on the a?
Portuguese words stressed on the antepenultimate (third‐to‐last) syllable are called proparoxytones and must carry an accent mark. Árvore is stressed on ÁR-vo-re, so the accent on the first a shows where the emphasis falls.
Why does the adjective verde come after the noun instead of before it?
In Portuguese, adjectives normally follow the nouns they modify (noun + adjective), unlike in English. So you say árvore verde rather than verde árvore. Placing an adjective before the noun can be poetic or change emphasis.
Does verde change form to agree with árvore?

No, verde is invariable in gender but does inflect for number.

  • Singular (masculine/feminine): verde
  • Plural (masculine/feminine): verdes
    Because árvore is singular, we keep verde.
How would you say “The trees are green” in Portuguese?

You make all parts plural:
• Definite article: As (feminine plural)
• Noun: árvores
• Verb: são (third‐person plural of ser)
• Adjective: verdes
Altogether: As árvores são verdes.

Why is árvore a feminine noun when it doesn’t end in -a?
Noun gender in Portuguese doesn’t always follow endings. Many words ending in -e can be either masculine or feminine; árvore happens to be feminine. It’s a matter of memorization or checking a dictionary.
Can you drop the article and say Árvore é verde?
Usually you keep the definite article in general statements. Árvore é verde sounds like a newspaper headline or incomplete thought. If you want to speak generally, you could say Uma árvore é verde (“A tree is green”) or keep the article: A árvore é verde.
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