Question 1

Why is antidemocrática written as one single word without a hyphen?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, the prefix anti- attaches directly to the base word. You only use a hyphen if the base word starts with h (like anti-higiénico) or with the same vowel i (like anti-inflamatório). Additionally, if the base word starts with r or s, that letter is doubled instead of using a hyphen (e.g., antissemita). Since democrática starts with d, it simply attaches with no extra changes.

Question 2

The prefix in- makes injusta the opposite of justa. Does this prefix always stay exactly as in-?

Accepted Answer

It consistently forms opposites, but its spelling adapts based on the first letter of the root word to make pronunciation smoother. It stays in- before most letters, but changes to im- before p or b (like impossível), ir- before r (like irregular), and il- before l (like ilegal).

Question 3

Do adjectives with prefixes like anti- and in- still follow normal gender and number agreement?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Adding a prefix of negation or opposition doesn't change the basic rules of agreement. Because lei is a feminine singular noun, both adjectives must be in their feminine singular forms: antidemocrática (from the masculine antidemocrático) and injusta (from the masculine injusto).

Question 4

Why does the sentence use Essa lei instead of Aquela lei to mean "That law"?

Accepted Answer

While both translate to "that", essa implies the law is somehow connected to the listener—most commonly, the listener just mentioned it in conversation, or they are reading about it right now. Aquela would be used for a law that feels conceptually or physically distant from both the speaker and the listener.

Essa lei é antidemocrática e injusta.

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