Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Usa lá isso para falar com o público, mas sem o megafone. - Just use that to talk to the audience, but without the megaphone.

Usa lá isso para falar com o público, mas sem o megafone.

Just use that to talk to the audience, but without the megaphone.

Breakdown of Usa lá isso para falar com o público, mas sem o megafone.

Questions & Answers about Usa lá isso para falar com o público, mas sem o megafone.

What exactly does lá do in the phrase Usa lá isso?

In this sentence, lá acts as a pragmatic mitigator. It softens the direct command usa (use). Instead of sounding like a strict order, it makes the phrase sound more like a concession or casual encouragement, similar to saying 'Just go ahead and use that' or 'Fine, use that' in English.

How do we know Usa is the informal command here, and what would the formal version be?

Usa is the affirmative imperative for tu. You form it by dropping the 's' from the present tense tu form (tu usas becomes usa). If you were speaking formally to someone using você, you would use the present subjunctive form and say Use lá isso.

Why use isso instead of aquilo for 'that'?

Isso refers specifically to something near or associated with the listener. The speaker is telling the person to use an object that the person is already holding or just suggested using. If the object were far away from both the speaker and the listener, they would use aquilo.

Why is there a definite article in sem o megafone?