Breakdown of Encontrámos uma solução simples para o problema do vídeo.
de
of
nós
we
encontrar
to find
para
to
uma
a
simples
simple
o problema
the problem
o vídeo
the video
a solução
the solution
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Questions & Answers about Encontrámos uma solução simples para o problema do vídeo.
Why is there an acute accent on the á in encontrámos?
In European Portuguese the simple past (preterite) first-person plural of encontrar is spelled encontrámos, with an acute accent marking:
- The stressed syllable (e-ncon-TRÁ-mos)
- A distinction from the present tense encontramos, which has stress on the second syllable in EP.
In Brazilian Portuguese the same form encontramos covers both present and past, so the accent is dropped.
Why don’t we see the subject pronoun nós (“we”) in the sentence?
Portuguese is a pro-drop language: the verb ending -amos already tells you the subject is “we”. Including nós is grammatically correct but usually unnecessary unless you want to add emphasis or clarity.
Why is it uma solução and not um solução?
The noun solução is feminine, so its indefinite article must match in gender. You say uma solução (“a solution”) rather than um solução (incorrect), because
- uma = feminine singular “a/an”
- um = masculine singular “a/an”
Why does the adjective simples come after the noun solução?
In Portuguese the default order is noun + adjective, unlike English. So you place simples after solução. Putting it before (simples solução) is unusual and would sound poetic or emphatic.
Why is para used before o problema instead of some other preposition?
Para conveys “for” or “in order to solve.”
- solução para o problema = “solution for the problem”
You could also say solução ao problema (where ao = a + o), but para is more straightforward when talking about solving or addressing something.
What is do in problema do vídeo?
Do is the contraction of de + o. It means “of the.” So problema do vídeo translates literally as “problem of the video.”
Why is vídeo written with an accent on the í, and how is it pronounced?
The acute accent on í in vídeo:
- Marks the stressed syllable (VÍ-de-o)
- Indicates a vowel hiatus between i and e
In European Portuguese it’s pronounced approximately [ˈvidiu], with stress on the first syllable.
Could we use achámos instead of encontrámos?
In European Portuguese achar usually means “to think” or “to feel,” not “to find.” Saying achámos would sound like “we think/felt a solution.” To express “we found a solution,” use encontrar. Note: in Brazilian Portuguese some speakers do say achamos uma solução for “we found a solution,” but it’s considered non-standard in Portugal.