Question 1

I usually learn caneta for pen. Is esferográfica commonly used?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While caneta is the general word for any pen, esferográfica specifically means a ballpoint pen. It is widely used in everyday European Portuguese, especially when people want to be specific about the type of pen.

Question 2

English puts 'any more' at the end of the sentence. Why is já não placed before the verb?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, the fixed adverbial phrase já não (meaning 'no longer' or 'not anymore') always sits directly before the verb it modifies. You cannot split it up or put it at the end of the sentence like in English.

Question 3

I often mix up já não and ainda não. Why couldn't I use ainda não in this context?

Accepted Answer

They express opposite ideas regarding time. Já não means a change has happened and the action has stopped ('not anymore'). If you used ainda não, it would mean 'not yet', implying the pen hasn't started writing but you expect it to work soon.

Question 4

Could I literally say the pen has no ink instead of saying it doesn't write?

Accepted Answer

You could say já não tem tinta (it has no ink anymore), but saying a pen já não escreve (no longer writes) is the most natural, idiomatic way Portuguese speakers express that a pen is dead or broken.

Esta esferográfica já não escreve.

Breakdown of Esta esferográfica já não escreve.

Questions & Answers about Esta esferográfica já não escreve.

Learn Esta esferográfica já não escreve and more in Portuguese