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Questions & Answers about O leite está estragado.
Why do we use está (from estar) instead of é (from ser) for spoiled milk?
We use estar because it describes a condition or a changed state rather than an inherent characteristic. The milk wasn't always spoiled; it became that way. If you used é, it would sound like the milk is fundamentally spoiled by nature!
Leite ends in '-e'. Is there a rule for its gender, and does it affect the rest of the sentence?
Does estragado only mean 'spoiled' when talking about food?
No, it is much broader! It comes from the verb estragar (to damage, ruin, or break). While it translates to 'spoiled' or 'gone off' for food and drinks, you will also hear it used for broken machines, like a phone or a car, or even to describe a ruined plan or a spoiled child.
Could I use the verb ficar instead of estar in this situation?