Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O terminal estava cheio, mas a porta de embarque abriu sem demora. - The terminal was crowded, but the boarding gate opened without delay.

We use estava (the imperfect of estar) to describe an ongoing condition in the past – the terminal remained full over a period of time. Foi (the preterite of ser or estar) would suggest a completed or punctual event (“it was full at a specific moment” or “it became full”), which isn’t the focus here.

Why is cheio used and how does it agree with terminal?

Cheio is an adjective meaning “full.” In Portuguese, adjectives must match the noun’s gender and number. Terminal is masculine singular, so the correct form is cheio (not cheia, cheios or cheias).

What does terminal refer to here? Is it the same as aeroporto?

Terminal is the passenger area or concourse inside an aeroporto where people check in, wait, pass security, etc. It’s part of the airport, but not the entire complex. The aeroporto includes runways, terminals, parking, etc.

What is the meaning of porta de embarque?

Porta de embarque literally means “boarding gate.” Porta is “door” or “gate,” and embarque is the noun “boarding.” Together they form the standard phrase for the gate where passengers board an aircraft.

Why is embarque a noun here rather than the verb embarcar? Could we say porta para embarcar?

Using embarque (noun) in porta de embarque is the idiomatic, fixed expression. You could say porta para embarcar (“gate to board”), but it sounds more cumbersome and less natural than porta de embarque.

Why is abriu in the active voice, and could we use a passive form like foi aberta?

Many verbs such as abrir can act intransitively, so a porta abriu simply means “the gate opened” without mentioning an agent. While a porta foi aberta (“the gate was opened”) is grammatically correct, it’s a passive construction that emphasizes the action from the gate’s perspective and still doesn’t specify who opened it. The active abriu is more concise and common.

What does sem demora mean, and why not use não demorou?

Sem demora means “without delay.” It’s a fixed expression formed by sem + noun (demora = “delay”). Saying não demorou uses a negated verb (“it didn’t delay”) and shifts the structure. Both convey that something happened quickly, but sem demora is more idiomatic when describing how fast an action occurs.

Could we replace sem demora with imediatamente? Are there any nuance differences?

Yes, you can say abriu imediatamente (“opened immediately”). Imediatamente highlights the exact timing of the action, while sem demora emphasizes the absence of any delay beforehand. They’re often interchangeable, though sem demora can sound slightly more formal or descriptive.