Breakdown of O meu companheiro é mais calado que tímido.
ser
to be
meu
my (m/f/pl: meu, minha, meus, minhas)
mais
more
o
him/it (m)
o companheiro
the partner
calado
quiet
que
than (in comparisons)
tímido
shy
Questions & Answers about O meu companheiro é mais calado que tímido.
Why is the sentence using que instead of do que for "than"?
This is the standard rule for intra-subject comparison. When you are comparing two different qualities (calado and tímido) of the exact same subject (o meu companheiro), European Portuguese drops the do and just uses que. If you were comparing two different people having the same trait, you would normally use do que.
I usually see calado used with the verb estar. Why does this sentence use é?
It depends on whether you mean a temporary state or an enduring personality trait. Estar calado means someone is simply not talking right now. However, ser calado means the person is naturally quiet. Because the sentence compares being quiet to being shy (tímido—an inherent personality trait), it uses the verb ser to describe his overall character.
Does companheiro just mean "companion", or is it used for romantic partners?
While it can mean a casual companion or buddy, in everyday Portuguese, companheiro (and companheira) is very frequently used to mean a romantic partner. It is the most common way to refer to a significant other when a couple lives together but is not married.
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