Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): A minha agenda está cheia esta semana.

In Portuguese it’s standard to put a definite article before a possessive adjective: a minha agenda, o meu carro, as tuas chaves, etc. It doesn’t change the meaning, but it’s the normal Portuguese structure (especially in Portugal).

Could I drop the article and just say Minha agenda está cheia?

You might hear it in very casual speech or in some Brazilian varieties, but in European Portuguese including the article (A minha agenda) is the norm. Omitting it can sound clipped or influenced by English.

Why do we use está (from estar) here instead of é (from ser)?

Estar is used for temporary states or conditions. Saying a minha agenda está cheia expresses that this week your schedule is full (a temporary situation). If you said é cheia, it would imply a more permanent characteristic, which doesn’t fit the idea of a weekly calendar.

Why is the adjective cheia ending in –a instead of –o?

Adjectives in Portuguese agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number with the noun they modify. Agenda is a feminine noun, so the adjective must be cheia (feminine) rather than cheio (masculine).

Why does está have an accent mark, but esta in esta semana does not?

está with an acute accent is the third-person singular present of the verb estar (it marks the stressed syllable). esta without an accent is a demonstrative adjective meaning “this.” Modern orthographic rules dropped accents on demonstratives like esta, essa, aquele unless there’s ambiguity.

What’s the difference between Portuguese agenda and English “agenda”?

In Portuguese agenda means a diary, planner or calendar where you write appointments and to-dos. In English “agenda” is more often a list of items to be discussed in a meeting. They’re false friends: watch out for that shift in meaning!

Why is there no preposition before esta semana? Would “in this week” require one in Portuguese?

Time expressions with demonstrative adjectives don’t need a preposition: esta semana, este mês, esta manhã function adverbially. You can add one if you want: nesta semana (short for em esta semana), but it’s not required.

Can I start the sentence with Esta semana instead?

Absolutely. Portuguese allows fronting time expressions for emphasis: Esta semana, a minha agenda está cheia is perfectly natural.

Could I use a different adjective like ocupada or lotada instead of cheia?

Yes. Ocupada (“busy”) or lotada (“jam-packed”) are both valid alternatives. They each carry a slightly different nuance, but any of them works: A minha agenda está ocupada esta semana or ... está lotada esta semana.