Breakdown of Ele usa uma gravata azul ao trabalho.
o trabalho
the work / the job
azul
blue
usar
to use / to wear
a gravata
the necktie
Questions & Answers about Ele usa uma gravata azul ao trabalho.
Why is usa used here instead of veste for wearing something?
In Portuguese, vestir is generally used for the physical action of getting dressed or putting on clothes. For accessories like a tie (gravata), hats, or glasses, you always use usar (to use/wear). Usar is also the most common verb to express the continuous state of wearing any clothing item.
Could Ele usa mean he is wearing it right now?
Yes, the simple present tense usa can describe a general habit (he wears) or what he has on at this very moment (he is wearing). To specifically emphasize that he is wearing it right now, you could also use the continuous form: Ele está a usar uma gravata azul.
Why does the adjective azul not have a feminine ending to match the feminine noun gravata?
Adjectives that end in the consonant L, like azul or fácil, have the same form for both masculine and feminine words. They only change if the noun is plural, which would make the word azuis.
Why does the sentence say ao trabalho instead of just a trabalho?
When referring to commuting to your workplace, Portuguese uses the definite article o before trabalho. This combines with the preposition a (to) to form ao (to the). If you say a trabalho without the article, it is a fixed expression meaning "on business" (like traveling for work).
Learn Ele usa uma gravata azul ao trabalho and more in Portuguese
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free