O custo do pão tem vindo a subir todos os meses.

Questions & Answers about O custo do pão tem vindo a subir todos os meses.

What is the exact difference in meaning between tem vindo a subir and just using the present perfect tem subido?
While both can translate to "has been going up", the structure ter vindo a + infinitive (tem vindo a subir) strongly emphasizes the gradual, continuous, or cumulative nature of the action over time. It paints a vivid picture of a step-by-step increase up to the present moment, whereas tem subido just states that the action of rising has happened repeatedly in the recent past.
Why is it a subir rather than using the gerund subindo?
In European Portuguese, continuous and cumulative actions are typically constructed using the preposition a followed by the infinitive. While Brazilian Portuguese would typically use the gerund here (tem vindo subindo), standard European Portuguese sticks to the ter vindo a + infinitive structure.
If the subject were feminine or plural, would vindo change to match it?
No, it remains invariable. In compound tenses formed with the auxiliary verb ter, the past participle (in this case, vindo, from the verb vir) never changes to match the gender or number of the subject. For example, if the subject were feminine plural, it would still be: As taxas têm vindo a subir.
Why is "every month" translated as todos os meses instead of cada mês?
Although cada mês literally means "each month", Portuguese strongly prefers the construction todos os + [plural time period] to express frequency. Literally meaning "all the months", todos os meses is the most natural and standard way to say "every month" in Portuguese.

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