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O exame foi remarcado para sexta-feira.

O exame foi remarcado para sexta-feira.
The exam was rescheduled for Friday.
FromLesson 33inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of O exame foi remarcado para sexta-feira.

ser
to be
para
for
o exame
the exam
remarcado
rescheduled
a sexta-feira
the Friday

Questions & Answers about O exame foi remarcado para sexta-feira.

What grammar is at play in foi remarcado?
It’s the passive voice in the preterite (pretérito perfeito) with ser: foi (3rd person singular of ser) + past participle remarcado. It describes a completed action done to the subject (the exam was rescheduled).
Why is it remarcado and not something else?

The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject o exame (masculine singular), so it’s remarcado. Examples:

  • A prova foi remarcada... (feminine singular)
  • Os exames foram remarcados... (masculine plural)
  • As provas foram remarcadas... (feminine plural)
Could I use está remarcado instead of foi remarcado?
  • Foi remarcado emphasizes the completed action (it was rescheduled).
  • Está remarcado emphasizes the resulting state (it is now set for Friday). Both can be correct depending on what you want to highlight.
Why is the preposition para used? Could I use em or a?
  • para indicates the new target date (movement in time): remarcado para sexta‑feira.
  • em means “on/at” and is for when something happens: na sexta‑feira (on Friday).
  • a is not used here; you’d use a with ranges or clock times: de segunda a sexta, às 9h.
Do I need the article before the noun? Why O exame and not just Exame?
Portuguese normally uses a definite article with specific nouns. O exame is the specific exam already known to speaker and listener. Saying just Exame foi remarcado sounds odd; use O exame. If it’s non‑specific, you might say Um exame foi remarcado.
Do I need the article with the day? Why para sexta‑feira and not para a sexta‑feira?
With para, you normally don’t use the article: para sexta‑feira. With em, you do: na sexta‑feira (em + a). You’ll hear para a sexta‑feira occasionally, but the unmarked, most natural choice is para sexta‑feira.
How do I say this in the active voice?
  • Neutral/unspecified “they”: Remarcaram o exame para sexta‑feira.
  • Impersonal/passive with se: Remarcou‑se o exame para sexta‑feira.
  • Specify the agent in the passive: O exame foi remarcado pelo professor/por razões logísticas.
What’s the difference among remarcar, adiar, reagendar and marcar?
  • marcar: to schedule/set (for the first time).
  • remarcar: to reschedule (change the appointment/date).
  • adiar: to postpone (move to a later time; may or may not give a new date). You can say adiado para sexta‑feira.
  • reagendar: to reschedule (common and clear; slightly more formal/office talk).
How should I pronounce the sentence in European Portuguese?
  • IPA (EP): [u ɨˈzɐmɨ foj ʁɨmɐɾˈkaðu pɐɾɐ ˈseʃtɐ ˈfejɾɐ]
  • Tips:
    • O (article) sounds like “oo.”
    • exame: the “x” is a “z” sound: e‑ZA‑mɨ (final “e” is a reduced vowel).
    • foi: “foy.”
    • remarcado: initial r is guttural; final ‑o sounds like “‑u.”
    • sexta: “SESH‑tɐ” (x = sh).
    • feira: “FAY‑rɐ.”
Is sexta‑feira capitalized? What about the hyphen?
  • Days of the week are not capitalized in Portuguese: sexta‑feira.
  • The hyphen is kept: sexta‑feira (and you can also just say sexta in many contexts).
  • A common written abbreviation in Portugal is 6.ª feira.
Can I just say sexta instead of sexta‑feira?

Yes. sexta is very common in speech and informal writing. All of these can be natural depending on context:

  • para sexta
  • para sexta‑feira
  • para 6.ª feira (more formal/administrative)
How do I make clear whether it’s this Friday or next Friday?

Portuguese can be ambiguous without context. To disambiguate:

  • This Friday (of the current week): para esta sexta‑feira or para sexta‑feira desta semana.
  • Next Friday (the following week): para a próxima sexta‑feira or para sexta‑feira que vem.
How do I add who rescheduled it?

Use por + agent:

  • O exame foi remarcado pelo professor.
  • O exame foi remarcado pela secretaria. If it’s a reason rather than an agent, use por causa de or devido a:
  • … por causa da greve.
  • … devido ao mau tempo.
How do I include the time as well?

Add a time phrase after the date:

  • O exame foi remarcado para sexta‑feira às 9h.
  • You can add more detail: … para sexta‑feira, às 9h, na sala 2.
Is it okay to say pra or p’ra in Portugal?
In European Portuguese, people often pronounce para as [pɾa] in casual speech and you may see pra/p’ra informally. In careful or formal writing, stick with para.
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