Breakdown of A feiticeira é uma classe vulnerável ao fogo.
ser
to be
um
a / an / some (all forms)
a
to / at (direction)
o fogo
the fire
a feiticeira
the sorceress
vulnerável
vulnerable
a classe
the class (group of students)
Questions & Answers about A feiticeira é uma classe vulnerável ao fogo.
Why do we use ao after vulnerável instead of just the preposition a?
In Portuguese, the adjective vulnerável dictates that you use the preposition a to connect it to the thing causing the vulnerability. Because fogo (fire) is a masculine noun that usually takes a definite article, the preposition a merges with the article o to form ao.
Can I omit the article and just say vulnerável a fogo?
You could technically say vulnerável a fogo, which treats fire in a purely abstract sense. However, using the definite article (ao fogo) is much more natural and common in everyday European Portuguese, even when talking about fire as a general element or damage type.
How would the adjective change if we were talking about multiple vulnerable classes?
What is the difference between a feiticeira and a bruxa?
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