Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): É que o microfone dela não funcionava e ninguém a ouviu. - It’s just that her microphone wasn’t working and nobody heard her.

It’s a discourse marker that introduces an explanation or justification. Think of it as: “The thing is…” or “It’s just that…”. It doesn’t change the facts; it frames them as a reason for what was said before or will be said next. It’s very common and natural in European Portuguese, especially in speech.

Can I simply omit "É que"?

Yes. Without it, the sentence still works: “O microfone dela não funcionava e ninguém a ouviu.” Using É que just adds the nuance of giving an explanation, often to justify or excuse something.

Is "É que" the same as "porque"?

Not exactly. Porque is a conjunction meaning “because” and must link two clauses: “Ninguém a ouviu porque o microfone dela não funcionava.”
É que doesn’t grammatically connect clauses; it introduces an explanation as a separate statement. It’s closer to “the thing is” in English.

Why is it "o microfone dela" and not "o seu microfone"?

Both are possible, but dela (de + ela) avoids ambiguity: seu/sua can mean “his/her/your (formal)/their.” In European Portuguese, speakers often prefer dele/dela to make the possessor crystal clear. So “o microfone dela” unambiguously means “her microphone.”

What is the role of the pronoun "a" in "ninguém a ouviu"?

A is the third‑person feminine singular direct object clitic pronoun: “her” (or “it” for a feminine noun). So ninguém a ouviu = “nobody heard her.” In European Portuguese, clitic pronouns like a/o are standard for direct objects referring to people.

Why is the pronoun before the verb (a ouviu) instead of after (ouviu-a)?

Because ninguém (a negative word) triggers proclisis, which places the clitic before the verb: ninguém a ouviu. In European Portuguese, words like não, ninguém, nunca, nada, já, ainda and some others typically pull the clitic before the verb.

Is "ninguém ouviu-a" wrong?

In European Portuguese, yes in this context. With ninguém, you must use proclisis: ninguém a ouviu. Enclisis (after the verb, e.g., ouviu-a) is used when nothing attracts the pronoun to the left: “Ontem, ouviu-a.”

Why not use "lhe" (ninguém lhe ouviu)?

Because ouvir takes a direct object, not an indirect one. Lhe is dative (to/for him/her). Correct: ninguém a ouviu. Compare: Dei‑lhe o microfone (“I gave the microphone to her”) vs. ouvi‑a (“I heard her”).

Why is it "funcionava" and not "funcionou"?

Funcionava is the imperfect: it describes an ongoing state/background in the past (“wasn’t working”). Funcionou is the simple past (pretérito perfeito): a completed event (“didn’t work (that time)”). Both can fit, but the imperfect suits an explanatory, background tone introduced by É que.

Can I say "não estava a funcionar" instead of "não funcionava"?

Yes. Não estava a funcionar (past progressive) focuses on the ongoing nature at that moment. In this context it’s very close to não funcionava. European Portuguese favors “estar a + infinitive” for the progressive.

Why is it "ouviu" (singular) and not "ouviram" (plural)?

Because the subject ninguém (“nobody”) is grammatically singular in Portuguese. So the verb agrees: ninguém a ouviu.

Could I say "ninguém ouviu ela" like in Brazilian Portuguese?

Not in standard European Portuguese. EP uses clitic pronouns for unstressed direct objects: ninguém a ouviu. Using the strong pronoun ela as a bare direct object after the verb is a Brazilian feature.

Do I need another "não" with "ninguém"?

No, not when ninguém is before the verb: Ninguém a ouviu is correct. If you place ninguém after the verb, you add não: Não a ouviu ninguém (negative concord).

Why is there an article in "o microfone dela"? Can I drop it?

Portuguese normally uses the definite article with specific nouns: o microfone dela is natural. Dropping it (microfone dela) is generally ungrammatical in standard prose, though headlines, labels, or notes may omit articles.

Is "escutar" acceptable here instead of "ouvir"?

You’ll be understood with escutar, but ouvir is the default for “to hear.” Escutar leans toward “to listen (to)” and can sound more deliberate. Here, ninguém a ouviu is the most idiomatic.

Is this the same "é que" as in questions like "Porque é que..."?

Related, yes. In questions, porque é que…? is the standard way to ask “why” in EP. There too, é que doesn’t literally mean “is that”; it’s a fixed element that marks the clause, much like a cleft.

When can the clitic go after the verb, and what forms does it take?

Enclisis (after the verb) is common in EP when nothing triggers proclisis:

Simple: Ouviu‑a ontem.
With verbs ending in ‑r/‑s/‑z, the ending drops and the clitic changes: ouvir + a → ouvi‑la; faz + o → fá‑lo.
With nasal endings (‑am/‑ão/‑õe), it becomes no/na/nos/nas: põem‑na.
But remember: with attractors like ninguém, use proclisis: ninguém a ouviu.