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Questions & Answers about Foi um acidente terrível.
Why do we use foi here instead of era if we are describing something in the past?
Although it is a description, an accident is a specific, completed event. In Portuguese, we use the preterite foi to sum up a completed event in its entirety. You would use the imperfect era to describe an ongoing state or background scene, but an accident is treated as an action that happened and ended.
Does the meaning change if I say Foi um terrível acidente?
Putting terrível before the noun adds emotional weight and emphasizes the speaker's subjective horror. The standard placement after the noun, acidente terrível, is more factual and objective, though still descriptive. Both are correct, but placing it before the noun sounds slightly more dramatic or literary.
Does acidente cover minor everyday accidents, like spilling water?
While acidente translates directly to accident, it is usually reserved for serious incidents like car crashes or injuries, which fits perfectly with the adjective terrível. If you made a minor mistake, a Portuguese speaker would typically use the phrase sem querer (without meaning to) rather than calling the event an acidente.