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)
tornar-se
to become
a desigualdade
the inequality
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?
Would it change the meaning if we wrote um grave problema instead of um problema grave?
Putting the adjective after the noun (um problema grave) is the standard, objective way to describe the problem. Moving grave before the noun (um grave problema) is grammatically correct but shifts the tone. It makes the statement more subjective, literary, or dramatic, emphasizing the speaker's personal worry about how severe the situation is.
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