Breakdown of O pobre trapezista do circo é um homem pobre.
ser
to be
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
o homem
the man
um
a / an / some (all forms)
o circo
the circus
pobre
pitiful, unfortunate
o trapezista
the trapeze artist
Questions & Answers about O pobre trapezista do circo é um homem pobre.
Why does the word pobre mean two different things in this sentence?
This is a great example of how some adjectives change meaning depending on where you put them. When pobre comes before the noun (pobre trapezista), it takes on a figurative or emotional meaning: pitiful or unfortunate. When it comes after the noun (homem pobre), it keeps its literal, objective meaning: penniless or having no money.
Could I say O trapezista pobre at the beginning of the sentence instead?
Yes, but it changes the meaning completely! If you place the adjective after the noun (O trapezista pobre), you are saying the trapeze artist is financially broke. By keeping it in front of the noun (O pobre trapezista), you are telling the listener that you feel sorry for him, regardless of his bank account.
If trapezista ends in the letter a, why does the sentence start with the masculine article O?
Nouns ending in -ista, which often describe professions, are usually the same for both masculine and feminine. You use the article before the noun to show the gender of the specific person. Because we use O here, we know this particular trapeze artist is a man. If it were a woman, it would be A pobre trapezista.
Why is it do circo rather than just de circo?
In Portuguese, you often need the definite article when referring to a specific place. We are talking about the specific circus he works at, so we combine the preposition de (of) with the masculine article o (the) to create the contraction do.
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