Word
Eu li que a latitude do polo é a mais alta do globo.
Meaning
I read that the pole's latitude is the highest of the globe.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Eu li que a latitude do polo é a mais alta do globo.
eu
I
ser
to be
alto
tall / high
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
Questions & Answers about Eu li que a latitude do polo é a mais alta do globo.
Why didn't the verb tense change to the past (era) after the past tense reporting verb (li)?
This highlights a key exception in reported speech! Normally, if the introductory verb is in the past (li), the reported clause shifts back a tense (from present to imperfect past). However, because the pole having the highest latitude is a universal geographic truth, it resists this backshifting. It stays in the present tense (é) because the fact is permanently true.
How does a mais alta translate to the highest rather than the higher?
Portuguese forms the superlative by placing the definite article right before the comparative. Mais alta means higher, but adding the feminine singular article a (matching a latitude) turns it into a mais alta, meaning the highest.
Why does Portuguese use do globo instead of no globo if English speakers usually say highest in the world?
When forming superlatives, Portuguese always uses the preposition de (contracted here with o to make do) to indicate the group or area you are comparing something to. While English often uses in for locations, Portuguese literally says the highest of the globe.
Is polo spelled without an accent mark now? I sometimes see it written as pólo.