Breakdown of Eu acho que a ravina tem algo de esplêndido.
eu
I
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
ter
to have
achar
to reckon / to find
que
that (conjunction)
algo
something
a ravina
the ravine
esplêndido
splendid
Questions & Answers about Eu acho que a ravina tem algo de esplêndido.
Why is the adjective esplêndido in the masculine form when it is talking about a ravina, which is a feminine noun?
The adjective isn't actually modifying the feminine noun a ravina. It is modifying the indefinite pronoun algo (something). Whenever you use the structure of an indefinite pronoun followed by de and an adjective, that adjective must always be in the masculine singular, regardless of the gender of the surrounding nouns.
What is the grammatical purpose of the word de in algo de esplêndido?
In Portuguese, you need the preposition de to link an indefinite pronoun (like algo, nada, or tudo) directly to an adjective. While English simply puts the words together to say something splendid, Portuguese builds this partitive construction as something of splendid.
Could I just say tem algo esplêndido without the de?
You could, but adding de is much more natural and idiomatic in European Portuguese for this specific phrasing. Using the de construction translates more accurately to having something splendid about it or possessing a certain splendor, rather than simply meaning the ravine physically contains a splendid object.
I often mix up when to use the subjunctive. Why do we use the indicative verb tem here instead of the subjunctive tenha after acho que?
Because the statement is affirmative. When you say eu acho que (I think that), you are stating your opinion as a fact or a certainty, which triggers the indicative mode. You would only use the subjunctive if the statement were negative, such as eu não acho que a ravina tenha... (I don't think the ravine has...), because the negative phrasing introduces doubt.
Learn Eu acho que a ravina tem algo de esplêndido and more in Portuguese
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free