Breakdown of Ela compara a quantidade de mel com a de limão e ajusta a receita.
ela
she
de
of
e
and
com
with
comparar
to compare
a receita
the recipe
o limão
the lemon
o mel
the honey
a quantidade
the amount
ajustar
to adjust
a de
that of
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Questions & Answers about Ela compara a quantidade de mel com a de limão e ajusta a receita.
What does “a de limão” mean? Why is there just an “a” there?
The a is the definite article standing in for the omitted noun quantidade. So a de limão = “the [quantity] of lemon.” Portuguese often drops a repeated head noun and keeps only the article + prepositional phrase:
- Full: Ela compara a quantidade de mel com a quantidade de limão.
- Short: Ela compara a quantidade de mel com a de limão.
Why is it “de mel” and not “do mel”?
Use bare de to talk about an unspecified, generic substance: quantidade de mel = “quantity of honey (in general).” Use do (de + o) only if it’s specific/previously identified: a quantidade do mel que compraste = “the quantity of the honey you bought.”
Can I say “comparar … a …” instead of “comparar … com …”?
Yes. Both are correct in European Portuguese:
- comparar X com Y is extremely common in everyday use.
- comparar X a Y is also correct and can sound a touch more formal or be preferred for analogies (e.g., comparar alguém a um herói). Here, either works: compara a quantidade de mel com/a a de limão.
Is the “a” in “a quantidade” the article “the” or the preposition “to”?
It’s the feminine singular definite article (the). Same in a de limão. It’s not the preposition “a” (“to/at”). When “a” is a preposition merging with a feminine article, it becomes à (with accent).
Should it be “à de limão” with an accent?
No. We have com a de limão (“with the [quantity] of lemon”). The preposition here is com, which does not contract with the article. You would see à only when the preposition is a and it merges with a feminine a (e.g., ajustar a receita à acidez do limão = “adjust the recipe to the lemon’s acidity”).
Can I drop the article and say “compara quantidade de mel…”?
Generally, no. Portuguese strongly prefers the article with singular count nouns in contexts like this. Compara a quantidade de mel… sounds natural; compara quantidade de mel is telegraphic.
Could I just say “compara o mel com o limão” instead?
That changes the meaning. Comparar o mel com o limão compares the ingredients themselves. The original sentence compares the amounts of each, so you need a quantidade de.
What tense and person are “compara” and “ajusta”? How would they change with other subjects?
They’re present indicative, 3rd person singular (she): ela compara / ela ajusta. Examples:
- eu comparo / ajusto
- tu comparas / ajustas
- ele/ela compara / ajusta
- nós comparamos / ajustamos
- vocês/eles comparam / ajustam
Can I omit the subject pronoun “Ela” in European Portuguese?
Yes. EP often drops subject pronouns when the verb ending makes the subject clear. Compara a quantidade… e ajusta a receita. is perfectly natural if context already tells us who “she” is.
Why is it feminine “a” if “mel” and “limão” are masculine?
Agreement is with the omitted head noun quantidade (feminine), not with mel or limão. Hence a de limão (the [quantity] of lemon).
Why not “com a do limão”?
Because the implied phrase is a quantidade de limão (generic). a do limão would stand for a quantidade do limão (“of the lemon”), which only fits if you’re referring to a specific lemon mentioned before.
Any quick pronunciation tips (European Portuguese)?
- Ela: EH-luh
- compara: kõm-PAH-ruh (single r = quick tap)
- a quantidade: uh kwɐ̃-tee-DAH-deh
- de: roughly “dɨ” before consonants
- mel: “mehɫ” (dark L)
- limão: lee-MOWN (nasal final “ão”)
- ajusta: uh-ZHOO-stuh (j = “zh”)
- receita: hruh-SAY-tuh (initial r is guttural)
Do I need a comma before “e ajusta a receita”?
No. It’s a simple coordination with e (“and”). No comma is needed unless you’re inserting a parenthetical element.
How would this look in other tenses?
- Past (preterite): Ela comparou a quantidade de mel com a de limão e ajustou a receita.
- Near future: Ela vai comparar… e vai ajustar…
- Simple future (more formal): Ela comparará… e ajustará…
What if I want the plural, “quantities”?
Use feminine plural articles to match: Ela compara as quantidades de mel com as de limão e ajusta a receita.