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Questions & Answers about Este ciclo termina hoje.
Why is este used instead of esse or aquele?
In European Portuguese, este refers to something close to the speaker in time or space. esse points to something nearer to the listener or just mentioned, and aquele to something more distant. Since you’re talking about the current cycle (“this cycle”), which is literally “here and now,” este ciclo is the natural choice.
What part of speech is termina and why is it in this form?
termina is the 3rd person singular present indicative of the verb terminar (to end/finish). The subject is este ciclo (singular), so you match it with termina (he/she/it ends).
Is ciclo masculine or feminine? How do I recognize it?
ciclo is a masculine noun (you would say o ciclo for “the cycle”). As a general rule, most Portuguese nouns ending in -o are masculine. The plural is os ciclos.
Why isn’t there an article before este ciclo? Could I say o este ciclo?
When you use a demonstrative like este, it already specifies “this.” Portuguese does not combine a definite article with a demonstrative, so o este ciclo is ungrammatical. You can have este ciclo or simply o ciclo, but not both.
What’s the difference between terminar and acabar? Can I say Este ciclo acaba hoje?
Both terminar and acabar can mean “to end.” In this neutral statement, Este ciclo acaba hoje is perfectly valid and interchangeable with Este ciclo termina hoje. (Remember that acabar de + infinitive expresses “to have just done something,” but here you’re using acabar alone.)
Could I move hoje to a different position? For example, Hoje este ciclo termina?
Yes. The neutral word order is Este ciclo termina hoje, placing hoje (an adverb of time) after the verb. You can front hoje for emphasis or style—Hoje este ciclo termina—but the original order is more common in straightforward statements.
Can I drop the subject and just say Termina hoje?
You can say Termina hoje, and listeners would infer “It ends today” from context, since Portuguese verbs carry person/number info. However, including Este ciclo removes any doubt about what “it” refers to.
Where is the stress in termina, and how do I pronounce it?
Stress is on the second syllable: ter-MI-na. In European Portuguese, you’d pronounce it roughly [tɛɾˈmi.nɐ], with a tapped or trilled r at the start and a schwa-like a at the end.