Breakdown of Os resíduos de plástico são um problema sério em todo o planeta.
ser
to be
um
a
de
of
em
in
todo
all
o problema
the problem
o resíduo
the waste
o plástico
the plastic
sério
serious
o planeta
the planet
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Questions & Answers about Os resíduos de plástico são um problema sério em todo o planeta.
What’s the nuance between resíduos and lixo in Portuguese?
- resíduos often sounds more formal or technical, referring to waste by category (e.g. plastic, glass, organic).
- lixo is the everyday word for garbage or trash in general.
- In environmental or official contexts you’ll usually see resíduos (e.g. resíduos sólidos, resíduos tóxicos).
Why is it resíduos de plástico (singular) and not resíduos de plásticos (plural)?
- plástico here is a mass noun, naming the material, not individual plastic items.
- When you talk about waste made of material X, you use the uncountable form: resíduos de plástico (waste made of plastic).
- If you said plásticos, it would mean different types or pieces of plastic, which isn’t wrong but less common for “waste.”
Why do we use são (from ser) instead of estão (from estar) for são um problema sério?
- ser expresses a permanent or defining characteristic: plastic waste is inherently a serious problem.
- estar would imply a temporary state: e.g. os resíduos estão empilhados (the waste is piled up right now).
Why is the adjective sério placed after the noun problema? Could I say sério problema?
- Placing sério after problema is the neutral order in Portuguese: um problema sério.
- Pre-noun position (um sério problema) is possible but more emphatic or literary, and less common in everyday speech.
What’s the difference between em todo o planeta and no planeta?
- no planeta = in the planet (general location).
- em todo o planeta = throughout the entire planet, emphasizing total coverage.
- You could also say por todo o planeta, which means “all over the planet,” with a slightly more dynamic sense of spread.
Do I need the article o before planeta if I say todo planeta?
- Yes, in European Portuguese you normally keep the article: todo o planeta.
- Omitting it (todo planeta) sounds poetic or too compressed and isn’t standard in speech or writing.
How do you pronounce resíduos and plástico in European Portuguese?
- resíduos: [ˈʁe.zi.duʃ] – the final -s is pronounced like sh.
- plástico: [ˈplɐs.tiku] – the first a is open ([ɐ]), and the o at the end is pronounced [u].
Can I replace sério with another adjective, like grave?
- Yes, grave also works: um problema grave.
- grave is slightly more formal; sério is very common in conversation.