Breakdown of O livro está encostado à parede.
estar
to be
o livro
the book
a
to
a parede
the wall
encostado
leaning
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Questions & Answers about O livro está encostado à parede.
Why is está used here instead of é?
In Portuguese, estar is used to express temporary conditions, including location. Here the position of the book is seen as a state, so we use está. The verb ser (é) describes more permanent or defining characteristics, not location.
What does encostado mean in this sentence?
Encostado is the past participle of encostar used as an adjective. It literally means “leaning” or “resting against” something. So O livro está encostado means the book is leaning or pressed against whatever follows.
What exactly is the function of à in encostado à parede?
The accent in à indicates a crase: the contraction of the preposition a (to/against) with the feminine singular definite article a (the). So encostado à parede literally means “leaning against the wall.”
Could I say encostado na parede instead of encostado à parede?
In European Portuguese, the norm is encostar-se a + article (à). Encostado na parede (a contraction of em + a) is common in Brazilian Portuguese or informal speech in Portugal, but it shifts the nuance to “on the wall” rather than “against.” The standard in Portugal is encostado à parede.
Can I omit the article and write O livro está encostado a parede?
No. You need both the preposition a and the definite article a before a feminine noun, which combine to à. Omitting the article is grammatically incorrect.
How would encostado change if the subject were feminine or plural?
As an adjective, encostado agrees in gender and number with the noun:
• Feminine singular: encostada
• Masculine plural: encostados
• Feminine plural: encostadas
What’s the difference between encostar and apoiar?
Both verbs can mean “to lean” or “to rest.”
• Encostar focuses on placing something in contact with another surface.
• Apoiar emphasizes support or bearing weight.
In many contexts they’re interchangeable (“O livro está apoiado na parede”), but encostar stresses the act of touching or pressing against.
Are there any alternative ways to express “The book is leaning against the wall” in European Portuguese?
Yes. For example:
• O livro está apoiado na parede.
• O livro está inclinado contra a parede.
• O livro encontra-se encostado à parede.