Breakdown of A gerente explicou que um ambiente de trabalho limpo aumenta a produtividade.
um
a
de
of
que
that
o trabalho
the work
explicar
to explain
limpo
clean
o ambiente
the environment
aumentar
to increase
a gerente
the manager
a produtividade
the productivity
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Questions & Answers about A gerente explicou que um ambiente de trabalho limpo aumenta a produtividade.
Why is a gerente used instead of o gerente?
In Portuguese, the noun gerente doesn’t change form for gender, but the article does. A indicates a female manager, while o gerente would refer to a male manager.
What is the function of que after explicou?
Que is a conjunction equivalent to English “that.” After verbs like explicar, you can link to a subordinate clause without any extra preposition.
Example: Ela explicou que… = “She explained that…”
What is the difference between explicou que and explicou por que?
- explicou que = “explained that…” (introduces a statement)
- explicou por que = “explained why…” (introduces a reason/question)
Use por que when you want to express “why,” not just “that.”
Why is the subordinate verb aumenta in the present tense when the main verb is past (explicou)?
Portuguese often keeps the present tense in subordinate clauses to express general truths or facts that are always valid. Even though explicou is past, the idea that a clean work environment increases productivity is a timeless statement, so you use aumenta.
Why do we use the indefinite article um before ambiente?
Um is the indefinite article (“a/an”). Here it signals that we’re talking about any clean work environment in general—not one specific office.
Why do we say ambiente de trabalho? How does the de construction work?
Portuguese uses de to express “of” or “for” in noun phrases.
• ambiente de trabalho = “environment of work” = “work environment.”
This is a standard way to link two nouns, similar to “sala de aula” (classroom).
Why does limpo come after ambiente de trabalho?
Most Portuguese adjectives follow the noun they modify. Placing limpo after ambiente de trabalho is the normal order: um ambiente de trabalho limpo.
Why is there a definite article a before produtividade?
Abstract or uncountable nouns in Portuguese often take the definite article when speaking generally. A produtividade means “productivity in general.” Omitting the article would sound unnatural in a full sentence.
Can we drop the article in aumenta a produtividade and just say aumenta produtividade?
In headlines or bullet points you might see aumenta produtividade, but in standard written or spoken Portuguese you include the article: aumenta a produtividade.
How do you pronounce gerente, ambiente de trabalho and produtividade in European Portuguese?
In European Portuguese pronunciation:
• gerente [ʒɨˈɾẽtɨ] – “g” as in “measure,” stress on ren.
• ambiente [ɐ̃ˈbjẽtɨ] – nasal am, stress on bi.
• produtividade [pɾɔðuβiðuˈdadɨ] – intervocalic “d” is a soft /ð/, stress on da.