Breakdown of Todas as vossas ideias foram ouvidas.
a ideia
the idea
ouvir
to hear
todo
all / whole
vosso
your (plural, of vocês; forms: vosso, vossa, vossos, vossas)
Questions & Answers about Todas as vossas ideias foram ouvidas.
Why do we use vossas here instead of suas for "your"?
In European Portuguese, vosso and vossa are the standard possessives for vocês (you, plural). While suas can technically mean "your" in formal speech, it is mostly used for "his," "hers," or "theirs." Using vossas is the natural way to say "your" to a group and avoids any ambiguity.
Why do we need the article as between Todas and vossas?
The word todas requires a definite article when it means "all of the" rather than just "every." Additionally, European Portuguese typically requires a definite article before a possessive pronoun. The single as here satisfies both rules perfectly: it completes todas as (all of the) and precedes vossas ideias (your ideas).
Why does the past participle ouvidas end in -as instead of the default -o?
This sentence uses the passive voice, formed with the verb ser (here as foram) plus a past participle. In the passive voice, the past participle acts like an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the subject receiving the action. Because ideias is feminine and plural, ouvido changes to ouvidas.
Why use foram instead of estavam if the ideas were "heard" in the past?
We use the preterite of ser (foram) because it describes a completed action in the passive voice. The ideas were actively listened to at a specific time. If we used estar, it would describe a state or condition rather than the completed event of being heard.
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