Question 1

Why do we use isto é here, and could we use ou seja instead?

Accepted Answer

Isto é literally means 'this is', but it translates to 'that is' or 'in other words'. It is used to clarify or explain the previous statement. Yes, you could absolutely use ou seja here; they are interchangeable textual connectors. Both tell the listener that you are about to explain exactly why the climber cannot see.

Question 2

Why does the sentence use não vê nada instead of just não vê?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, double negatives are required when a negative word like nada (nothing/anything) comes after the verb. While não vê simply means 'does not see', não vê nada translates specifically to 'does not see anything' (literally 'does not see nothing').

Question 3

Fog is a temporary weather condition, so why does the sentence use é (from ser) in o nevoeiro é extremo instead of está?

Accepted Answer

If you were describing the general weather, you would use estar, like in está nevoeiro (it is foggy). However, in this sentence, o nevoeiro (the fog) is the specific subject noun, and you are defining its level of severity. When describing the fundamental nature or degree of a noun, Portuguese often uses ser.

Question 4

Why does o alpinista end in '-a' if the article o is masculine?

Accepted Answer

Words ending in -ista (like alpinista, artista, or turista) are gender-neutral in Portuguese. They end in '-a' for both men and women. The article before the word indicates the gender of the specific person, so o alpinista tells us this specific climber is male.

O alpinista não vê nada na montanha, isto é, o nevoeiro é extremo.

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