Breakdown of A impressora imprime perfeitamente os bilhetes.
a impressora
the printer
imprimir
to print
o bilhete
the ticket
perfeitamente
perfectly
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Questions & Answers about A impressora imprime perfeitamente os bilhetes.
Why is there a definite article a before impressora?
Portuguese generally uses definite articles before nouns. Impressora is a feminine singular noun, so it takes the feminine article a.
Can we omit the article and say Impressora imprime perfeitamente os bilhetes?
Omitting the article is possible in very restricted contexts (e.g. headlines, labels), but in normal European Portuguese you include it. Dropping it in an ordinary sentence sounds unnatural.
Why is the verb imprime used instead of a gerund form like está imprimindo?
- Imprime is the simple present, used here to state a general fact or habitual action.
- A gerund construction would stress an ongoing process.
How do you express “is printing” in European Portuguese?
You use estar a + infinitive. For example:
A impressora está a imprimir perfeitamente os bilhetes.
Why is the adverb perfeitamente placed after the verb and before the object?
In Portuguese, manner adverbs commonly follow the verb or go between the verb and its object. Both orders work:
• A impressora imprime perfeitamente os bilhetes.
• A impressora imprime os bilhetes perfeitamente.
How is the adverb perfeitamente formed from the adjective perfeito?
Adverbs of manner are built from the feminine adjective + -mente:
perfeito → perfeita → perfeitamente
Why is the article os used before bilhetes?
Bilhetes is a masculine plural noun, so it takes the definite article os. In Portuguese, direct objects that are specific or known usually keep their articles.
Can you replace os bilhetes with a pronoun and say A impressora imprime-os perfeitamente?
Yes. In affirmative sentences, European Portuguese enclises object pronouns to the verb with a hyphen:
A impressora imprime-os perfeitamente.
Why use imprimir instead of an English-derived verb like printar?
Imprimir is the standard Portuguese verb for “to print.” Printar is a Brazilian-Portuguese borrower from English and is not used in European Portuguese.