Question 1

What does cumprir mean in this context?

Accepted Answer

Cumprir is a transitive verb meaning “to fulfill,” “to carry out,” or “to meet.” Here, Ele cumpre o prazo do projeto means “He meets the project’s deadline.”

Question 2

Why is it cumpre and not cumpriu or cumprirá?

Accepted Answer

Cumpre is the 3rd-person singular in the present indicative, indicating that he regularly or generally meets the deadline.  
- Ele cumpriu = “He met the deadline” (past).  
- Ele cumprirá = “He will meet the deadline” (future).

Question 3

Why do we include the article o before prazo?

Accepted Answer

In European Portuguese, abstract or specific nouns like prazo (“deadline”) almost always take the definite article.  
- o prazo = “the deadline.”  
Dropping the article (e.g. cumpre prazo) sounds non-standard or informal.

Question 4

What does the do in o prazo do projeto signify?

Accepted Answer

Do is the contraction of de + o, expressing possession or relation:  
- o prazo do projeto = “the deadline of the project” (i.e. “the project’s deadline”).

Question 5

Could I say prazo para o projeto instead of prazo do projeto?

Accepted Answer

You could, but it’s less idiomatic. Native speakers usually say prazo do projeto. If you want to emphasise the submission date, you’d more often use prazo de entrega do projeto or prazo para entrega do projeto.

Question 6

Is it correct to say cumprir com o prazo?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it’s more formal and a bit wordy. Most people simply say cumprir o prazo.  
- Cumprir com o prazo literally “to comply with the deadline,” mirrors English “to comply with,” but is less common in everyday speech.

Question 7

Can I replace cumprir with a synonym?

Accepted Answer

Certainly. Common alternatives:  
- respeitar o prazo (“respect the deadline”)  
- entregar dentro do prazo (“deliver within the deadline/on time”)  
- atingir o prazo (less common, “reach the deadline”)

Question 8

How would I talk about multiple deadlines?

Accepted Answer

You’d pluralise both verb and noun:  
- Ele cumpre os prazos do projeto. (“He meets the project’s deadlines.”)  
If deadlines refer to different stages, you could specify:  
- Ele cumpre todos os prazos intermédios. (“He meets all intermediate deadlines.”)  
- Os prazos de entrega são cumpridos. (“The delivery deadlines are met.”)

Ele cumpre o prazo do projeto.

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