Word
A desigualdade tornou-se um problema grave.
Meaning
The inequality became a serious problem.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of A desigualdade tornou-se um problema grave.
um
a / an / some (all forms)
o problema
the problem
o
him/it (m)
grave
serious, severe (an illness, a situation)
Questions & Answers about A desigualdade tornou-se um problema grave.
Why does "inequality" translate to desigualdade with a des- prefix, instead of using an in- prefix like the English word?
While Portuguese does have the prefix in- to express negation (as seen in inaceitável or invisível), the root word igual (equal) historically pairs with the prefix des- to form its opposite. Therefore, igual becomes desigual (unequal), and the noun form becomes desigualdade. You cannot always map English negative prefixes directly to Portuguese ones; the choice between in- and des- often depends on the specific root word.
What is the difference between using tornou-se and ficou for "became" in this context?
Tornar-se is used for significant, structural, or permanent transformations, especially when the subject turns into a noun phrase (like um problema grave). Ficar is typically used for more temporary states, reactions, or emotions (for example, ele ficou triste, meaning "he became sad"). Also, remember that to mean "to become", the verb tornar must be used reflexively (tornou-se).
A quick refresher: why is it um problema (masculine) when the word ends in -a?