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Uma campanha foi criada para sensibilizar os vizinhos sobre o desperdício.

Uma campanha foi criada para sensibilizar os vizinhos sobre o desperdício.
A campaign was created to raise the neighbours’ awareness about waste.
FromLesson 28inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Uma campanha foi criada para sensibilizar os vizinhos sobre o desperdício.

Why is the past participle criada ending in -a and not -o?
In Portuguese passive‐voice constructions, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject. Here, campanha is feminine singular, so you use criada, not criado.
What function does foi criada serve in this sentence?
Foi criada is the simple‐past passive form (preterite of ser + past participle). It literally means “was created.” The focus is on the campaign itself, not on who created it.
Could you rephrase the sentence in active voice?

Yes. An active alternative is:
Criaram uma campanha para sensibilizar os vizinhos sobre o desperdício.
Here criaram (“they created”) makes it clear that someone (unspecified) performed the action.

Why is para used before sensibilizar?
Para introduces the purpose (“in order to”). Para sensibilizar means “to raise awareness” or “so as to sensitize.”
What does sensibilizar mean in this context?
It means to raise awareness or to make people conscious of an issue. It’s not about physical sensitivity; it’s about informing or alerting someone to a problem.
Why does sensibilizar take sobre instead of another preposition?
With sensibilizar you usually say sensibilizar alguém sobre (“sensitize someone about [a topic]”). Sobre = “about.” Alternatives exist (e.g. acerca de), but sobre is the most neutral here.
Why is there a definite article os before vizinhos?
Portuguese often uses the definite article to refer to a whole category or group. Os vizinhos here means “the neighbours” as a general population, not specific individuals.
Why is desperdício singular in sobre o desperdício?
It refers to the general concept of waste. When talking about specific items or multiple types of waste, you could pluralize: os desperdícios (e.g. desperdícios alimentares).
What’s the difference between desperdício and lixo?
Desperdício is the waste of resources (food, energy, time) that could have been used. Lixo is garbage or trash—the material you throw away. Desperdício focuses on the lost value, lixo on the discarded object.
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