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Questions & Answers about — O hotel era bom? — Nem por isso.
Why is the imperfect tense (era) used here instead of the preterite (foi) to ask about a finished trip?
When describing the characteristics, facilities, or qualities of a place in the past, Portuguese typically uses the imperfect tense (era). You are asking about the ongoing condition of the hotel during the stay. If you used foi, it would sound more like you are summarizing an entire event or action, which is why we usually say A viagem foi boa? (Was the trip good?) but O hotel era bom? (Was the hotel good?).
What does nem por isso literally mean?
Literally, it translates to something like "not even for that" or "neither for that." However, you should treat it as a fixed, idiomatic expression that means "not really," "not particularly," or "not especially."
Could I just answer with não instead of nem por isso?
Is the phrase nem por isso only used when talking about the past?