Breakdown of O lanche pré-embalado é cada vez mais caro.
ser
to be
caro
expensive
mais
more
o lanche
the afternoon snack
a vez
the time (occasion)
cada
each
pré-embalado
prepackaged
cada vez mais
more and more (cada vez menos = less and less)
Questions & Answers about O lanche pré-embalado é cada vez mais caro.
Why does pré-embalado have a hyphen?
The prefix pré- takes a hyphen because it is stressed and has its own accent mark. Under Portuguese spelling rules, stressed prefixes like pré-, pós-, and pró- always require a hyphen before the base word, no matter what letter the next word starts with.
What is the base word of pré-embalado and how does it relate to the prefix?
How does the phrase cada vez mais work in this sentence?
While it literally translates to each time more, it is the standard Portuguese idiom for increasingly or more and more. It acts as an adverbial phrase modifying the adjective caro and is placed directly before it.
Why does the sentence use é instead of está if the price is changing over time?
Even though the price is increasing, the sentence treats being expensive as a defining characteristic of prepackaged snacks as a general category in today's economy. If you were complaining about the temporary price of a specific snack you just bought, you would use está.
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