Breakdown of O auditor rigoroso ficou a analisar a contabilidade.
ficar
to stay
rigoroso
strict
analisar
to analyze
o auditor
the auditor
a contabilidade
the accounting
Questions & Answers about O auditor rigoroso ficou a analisar a contabilidade.
What is the exact difference between saying ficou a analisar and estava a analisar here?
While estava a analisar simply means was analyzing (a standard continuous action in the past), the structure ficar a + infinitive emphasizes remaining in a state or ending up doing the action. In this sentence, it implies the auditor stayed behind, or his resulting state was to continue analyzing the accounting.
Why is ficou in the Pretérito Perfeito (simple past) if the analyzing is a continuous action?
The verb ficar acts as an auxiliary here that marks the entry into the state of analyzing. Because the act of remaining or entering that state happened at a specific, completed point in time, we use the Pretérito Perfeito (ficou). The ongoing nature of the action itself is handled by the a analisar part of the phrase.
Could ficou a analisar also mean he found out about the accounting? I remember that ficar a can relate to acquired knowledge.
Not in this context. It is true that with verbs of cognition, this structure implies acquired knowledge (for example, ficar a saber means to find out or ficar a conhecer means to get to know). However, with an active verb like analisar, the periphrasis takes its other primary meaning: to remain or stay doing a continuous action.
Does contabilidade refer to the accounting department or the accounting records here?
The word contabilidade can mean both the department/profession and the actual books depending on the context. However, because the strict auditor is performing the action of analisar (to analyze), it logically refers to the financial records or bookkeeping rather than the physical department.
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