Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Neste semestre, a Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas. - This semester, Ana chose only three subjects.

neste = em
- este (a contraction)
  - em = “in / on / at”
  - este = “this” (masculine, singular, near the speaker)
semestre = “semester / term” (masculine noun)

So em + este semestre → neste semestre.

You use neste when you mean “in this …”:

neste mês = in this month
neste ano = in this year
neste semestre = in this semester

Why is it "neste semestre" and not "nesta semestre"?

Because semestre is masculine in Portuguese.

Masculine: este / neste / desse / naquele semestre
Feminine: esta / nesta / dessa / naquela cadeira (“chair / course”)

So:

✅ neste semestre (correct: em
- este
  - semestre, masculine)
❌ nesta semestre (wrong gender agreement)

Could I just say "este semestre" instead of "neste semestre"?

Yes, but it changes the nuance a bit.

Neste semestre literally includes the preposition em (“in”), so it means “in this semester”.
Este semestre by itself is just “this semester”, usually as a subject or object.

Both can be correct, depending on the full sentence:

Neste semestre, a Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
→ In this semester, Ana chose only three courses.
Este semestre foi muito difícil.
→ This semester was very hard.

If you remove neste and just say Este semestre, a Ana escolheu…, it sounds less natural; most speakers prefer Neste semestre in this structure.

Why is there a comma after "Neste semestre"?

The comma separates an initial time expression from the main clause.

Neste semestre = an adverbial phrase of time
a Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas = main clause

In Portuguese, when you place a time expression at the very beginning, it’s very common (and usually recommended) to put a comma:

No ano passado, ele foi para Lisboa.
De manhã, estudo português.

You could technically omit the comma in informal writing, but most good style guides keep it in this type of sentence.

Why do we say "a Ana" instead of just "Ana"?

In European Portuguese, it is very common to use the definite article before a person’s first name:

a Ana (feminine)
o João (masculine)

It often sounds more natural and colloquial to say a Ana than just Ana in everyday European Portuguese.

Compare:

A Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
→ completely natural in Portugal.
Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
→ also correct, but can sound a bit more formal, written, or “neutral”.

In Brazilian Portuguese, the article before first names is much less common (and often avoided), but in Portugal it’s very standard.

Is the definite article in "a Ana" obligatory? Can I drop it?

You can drop it; both are grammatically correct:

A Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.

In European Portuguese:

With the article (a Ana / o João):
- more common in informal and neutral speech
Without the article (Ana / João):
- more formal, often in written language (e.g., in academic writing, official documents)
- or sometimes used for emphasis or style

So learners aiming at natural European Portuguese speech should be comfortable using the article with names.

What tense is "escolheu", and what does it tell us about the action?

Escolheu is:

3rd person singular
pretérito perfeito simples (simple past)
of the verb escolher (“to choose”)

It describes an action that is completed in the past:

a Ana escolheu = “Ana chose / selected”

The idea is that within that semester, the choosing is already finished and seen as a completed event, not an ongoing or repeated habit.

How is "escolheu" formed from "escolher"? Is it irregular?

Escolher is a regular -er verb in the preterite.

Pretérito perfeito simples (simple past) of escolher:

eu escolhi
tu escolheste
ele / ela / você escolheu
nós escolhemos
vós escolhestes (rare in modern speech)
eles / elas / vocês escolheram

So escolheu follows the regular pattern for -er verbs; it’s not irregular.

Could we use another past tense here, like "escolhia"? What would change?

Yes, you could say "Neste semestre, a Ana escolhia apenas três disciplinas", but it would mean something different and would usually need more context.

escolheu (pretérito perfeito):
- a single, completed choice in that semester
- focuses on the fact that it happened and is finished
escolhia (pretérito imperfeito):
- describes habitual or ongoing past actions
- could mean:
  - “In this semester, Ana used to choose only three courses (whenever she had to choose).”
  - or it might sound like background information in a longer story

For a simple statement about what she did this particular semester, escolheu is the natural choice.

What does "apenas" mean here, and how is it different from "só" or "somente"?

In this sentence, apenas means “only / just”.

You could rewrite:

A Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
A Ana escolheu só três disciplinas.
A Ana escolheu somente três disciplinas.

All three are understood as “Ana chose only three courses.”

Nuances (especially in European Portuguese):

apenas
- often feels a bit more neutral or slightly formal than só
- very common in both writing and speech
só
- widely used in everyday spoken language
- can also mean “just / simply” in other contexts
somente
- more formal / written or used for emphasis in some styles

In this specific sentence, all three are fine; apenas is a good neutral choice.

Can I change the position of "apenas" in the sentence?

Yes, there is some flexibility, but not all positions sound equally natural.

Most natural options:

A Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
Neste semestre, a Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
Neste semestre, a Ana apenas escolheu três disciplinas. (also possible)

If you move apenas too far away from três disciplinas, it can create ambiguity or sound odd, so these are the safest patterns:

apenas + [quantity] + [noun]
→ apenas três disciplinas
subject + apenas + verb + [rest]
→ a Ana apenas escolheu três disciplinas

What exactly does "disciplinas" mean in European Portuguese? Is it like “disciplines” in English?

In this context, disciplinas means “subjects / courses (in school or university)”.

So três disciplinas = “three courses / three subjects.”

Usage notes:

In European Portuguese, disciplina is very common for school or university subjects:
- disciplinas obrigatórias = required courses
- disciplinas opcionais = optional courses
In some informal or regional contexts in Portugal, people may also say:
- cadeiras (colloquial, especially at university)
  - fiz três cadeiras este semestre = I passed three courses this semester.

The English “discipline” often has a broader or more abstract meaning (“field of study”, “area of research”), but disciplina in this sentence is simply a class / subject / course.

Why is it "três disciplinas" and not something like "três disciplina"?

In Portuguese, adjectives and nouns must agree in number (singular/plural).

três (three) → inherently plural
the noun after it must also be plural: disciplinas

So:

✅ uma disciplina (one course)
✅ três disciplinas (three courses)
❌ três disciplina (wrong: number agreement error)

Três itself does not change form; it’s the same for masculine and feminine, but the noun changes:

três alunos (three male students)
três alunas (three female students)
três disciplinas (three courses)

How do I pronounce "Neste semestre, a Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas" in European Portuguese?

An approximate IPA transcription in European Portuguese:

Neste semestre, a Ana escolheu apenas três disciplinas.
/ˈneʃ.tɨ sɨˈmɛʃ.tɾɨ a ˈɐ.nɐ ɨʃ.kuˈʎew ɐˈpɛ.nɐʃ tɾeʃ dɨʃ.siˈpli.nɐʃ/

Some pronunciation tips:

Neste → [ˈneʃtɨ]
- final -e is a reduced sound [ɨ]
semestre → [sɨˈmɛʃtɾɨ]
Ana → [ˈɐ.nɐ] (both a’s are more open and central than English “uh”)
escolheu → [ɨʃ.kuˈʎew]
- lh = [ʎ], like the “lli” in Italian famiglia
Final s in apenas, três, disciplinas is often pronounced like [ʃ] in European Portuguese when at the end of a word or before another consonant.