Breakdown of Vou usar o x-ato, porque este sublinhador não é meu.
ser
to be
não
not / no
meu
my
ir
to go
este
this (+ noun)
usar
to use / to wear
porque
because
o
him/it (m)
o sublinhador
the highlighter
o x-ato
the box cutter
Questions & Answers about Vou usar o x-ato, porque este sublinhador não é meu.
Why is there no definite article before meu in não é meu?
When a possessive pronoun is in the predicative position (coming directly after the verb to be to describe the subject, such as is mine), you generally omit the definite article in Portuguese. Saying não é meu simply means it is not mine. This is the standard structure for expressing simple ownership.
Would it ever be correct to say não é o meu in this sentence?
Yes, but it changes the nuance. If you include the article and say não é o meu, it translates closer to is not my one or is not the one that belongs to me. You would use the article when specifically distinguishing your highlighter from a group of other highlighters, rather than just stating a general lack of ownership.
Where does the unusual spelling of x-ato come from?
X-ato is the standard European Portuguese word for a utility knife or box cutter. It is a genericized trademark derived from the American brand name X-Acto. Just like Kleenex or Band-Aid in English, the brand name became the official, everyday noun for the object in Portugal.
How does the word sublinhador (highlighter) relate to the word for a line?
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