Breakdown of O pensar sobre o quotidiano é essencial.
ser
to be
pensar
to think
essencial
essential
sobre
about, on (a topic)
o quotidiano
the everyday life
Questions & Answers about O pensar sobre o quotidiano é essencial.
Why is there an 'O' before the verb 'pensar'?
This is the substantivation of the infinitive. By placing the masculine singular definite article o directly in front of the infinitive pensar, we turn the verb into a noun. It translates closely to the English gerund 'thinking' or 'the act of thinking'.
Could I drop the article and just say 'Pensar sobre o quotidiano...'?
Yes, dropping the o is perfectly grammatical and very common. Using the infinitive as a subject without an article is standard. Adding the o just gives the sentence a slightly more formal or philosophical tone, treating the concept as a concrete noun.
I usually say 'dia a dia' for everyday life. Is 'quotidiano' used differently?
Both o quotidiano and o dia a dia mean the same thing and are interchangeable here. Quotidiano is slightly more formal. Notice the European Portuguese spelling: it starts with qu (pronounced 'kw'), unlike the Brazilian Portuguese spelling cotidiano.
What grammatical gender does a substantivized infinitive like 'o pensar' take?
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