Question 1

Why do we use ficou (from ficar) here instead of tornou-se to mean "became"?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, ficar is the go-to verb for physical, emotional, or health-related changes of state, especially those caused by an external event or accident. Tornar-se is typically reserved for gradual, voluntary, or social transformations, such as becoming a doctor or becoming a more patient person.

Question 2

I learned earlier that ficar is used for temporary states. Isn't being blind a permanent change?

Accepted Answer

It's true that ficar is often used for temporary emotions or illnesses, but it is also the standard verb for physical changes or impairments that happen as a result of a specific event, even if they end up being permanent. You use it for things like going blind (ficar cego), going deaf (ficar surdo), or going bald (ficar careca).

Question 3

Why does the sentence use por causa da instead of just porque?

Accepted Answer

Porque translates to "because" and must be followed by a conjugated verb (a full clause). When you want to say "because of" followed by a noun, you use the phrase por causa de. Here, the preposition de combines with the feminine article a (for luz) to make da.

Question 4

Does cego change depending on who is going blind?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Because cego acts as an adjective describing the subject's new state, it has to agree in gender and number. Since the subject is the masculine Ele, we use cego. If the sentence were about a woman, it would be Ela ficou cega.

Ele ficou cego por causa da luz radioativa.

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