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Qual é a data do exame?

Qual é a data do exame?
What is the date of the exam?
FromLesson 36inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Qual é a data do exame?

ser
to be
de
of
o exame
the exam
a data
the date
qual
which

Questions & Answers about Qual é a data do exame?

Why is it qual and not que here? Does qual mean “what” or “which”?
In Portuguese, with the verb ser (to be), qual is the idiomatic choice when you’re asking for an identification/selection (from possible answers), even if English uses “what.” So Qual é a data…? is the natural way to ask “What is the date…?” Here qual often corresponds to English “what,” though it literally means “which.”
Could I say Que é a data do exame?
No. That’s unidiomatic. If you use que, it typically comes directly before a noun: for example, Que data é hoje? (“What’s today’s date?”). For this sentence, stick to Qual é a data do exame? or the shorter Qual a data do exame?
What’s the difference between Qual é a data do exame? and Quando é o exame?
  • Qual é a data do exame? asks specifically for the calendar date (e.g., “12 de maio”).
  • Quando é o exame? asks “when,” and the answer could be a date, a day of the week, or even a time (e.g., “na terça, às 10h”). Both are correct; they just frame the expected answer differently.
Why is there an a before data? Can I omit it?
Portuguese uses definite articles with countable nouns far more than English. You need the article here: a data. You can shorten the sentence by omitting the verb, not the article: Qual a data do exame? (common and correct). Qual é data do exame? (without the article) sounds wrong.
What is do?

Do is the contraction of de + o (“of + the”). It corresponds to English “of the.” It agrees with the gender/number of the following noun:

  • do = de + o (masculine singular) → do exame
  • da = de + a (feminine singular) → da prova
  • dos = de + os (masculine plural)
  • das = de + as (feminine plural)
Could I say a data para o exame instead of a data do exame?
Typically, no. The fixed, natural collocation is a data do exame (“the exam’s date”). You’d use para with verbs like estar/ficar marcado: O exame está marcado para dia 12 de maio. But as a standalone noun phrase, use data de.
Is there a shorter or more colloquial version?

Yes:

  • Qual a data do exame? (drops é; common in EP)
  • Quando é que é o exame? (colloquial emphasis with é que)
  • Informal: Sabes a data do exame? (“Do you know the exam date?”)
How do I pronounce it (European Portuguese)?

IPA: [kwal ɛ ɐ ˈdatɐ du ɨˈzɐmɨ]
Approximation: KWAHL-eh ah DAH-tah doo ih-ZAH-mih
Notes:

  • x in exame sounds like [z].
  • Unstressed o in do sounds like [u] (“doo”).
  • Final -e in exame is a reduced vowel [ɨ], often very short.
  • The é is an open “eh.” Wh-questions usually end with falling intonation.
How would someone answer this in Portugal?

Common patterns:

  • É dia 12 de maio.
  • É no dia 12 de maio.
  • More formal/announcements: É a 12 de maio. Add the weekday if you like: É na terça-feira, dia 12 de maio.
    Months and weekdays are not capitalized in Portuguese.
Should months be capitalized in Portuguese?
No. Write maio, junho, segunda-feira, etc., all in lowercase (unless starting a sentence).
What’s the difference between data and dia in this context?
  • data = the calendar date (number + month, possibly year): 12 de maio.
  • dia = the day (weekday or day number): na terça / dia 12.
    Examples:
  • Qual é a data do exame? → “12 de maio.”
  • Em que dia é o exame? → “Na terça-feira.” or “Dia 12.”
Is exame masculine or feminine? How does that affect the sentence?
Exame is masculine, so you use do (de + o): a data do exame. If the noun were feminine, e.g., prova, you’d say a data da prova.
How do I ask about multiple exams?

Use the plural of qual (quais) and pluralize nouns and articles:

  • Quais são as datas dos exames? (“What are the dates of the exams?”)
Why is it é (from ser) and not está (from estar)?

Dates and times in Portuguese use ser: Qual é a data…? / Que horas são?
You can use estar with participles to talk about scheduling: O exame está marcado para dia 12. But the identity of the date uses ser.

Can I use the emphatic é que here?

Yes, in European Portuguese speech for emphasis:

  • Quando é que é o exame? is very common.
  • Qual é que é a data do exame? is heard in speech but looks clunky in writing, so prefer Qual é a data do exame?
Any punctuation or accent rules I should know?
  • Portuguese uses only a final ?, not an inverted question mark at the start.
  • Keep accents even in capitals (e.g., É).
  • Don’t confuse é (“is”) with e (“and”).
Are there differences in Brazil?

Slight ones:

  • Vocabulary: prova is very common for “exam.”
  • Alternatives: Que dia é a prova? is very frequent.
  • Date prepositions: em 12 de maio is common in BR; in PT you’ll also hear a 12 de maio.
  • Pronunciation differs, but the grammar of this sentence stays the same.
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