Isso é o livro e você é o professor.

Questions & Answers about Isso é o livro e você é o professor.

Why does você use é instead of a "you" verb form?
Even though você means "you" in a more formal way, it grammatically acts like "he" or "she" (ele or ela). Because of this, it always takes the third-person singular verb form. That is why we use é (is) instead of the informal "you" form és (are).
What kind of word is isso and does it change if the object is feminine?
Isso means "that" and is a neuter pronoun. Neuter means it has no masculine or feminine form. We use it when pointing to an unknown object or a general idea before we name it. Even though it points to o livro (a masculine word) in this sentence, isso never changes its spelling.
Why do we use é here instead of está?
The word é comes from the verb ser, which is used for permanent characteristics, professions, or identities. Being a book or a teacher is a core identity, so we must use ser. The other "to be" verb, estar (which gives us está), is mostly used for temporary states like locations or feelings.
Can I leave out the word você in this sentence?
Yes, you could just say Isso é o livro e é o professor. In Portuguese, subject pronouns are often dropped. However, because the verb é is also used for "he" and "she", keeping você in the sentence helps avoid any confusion about who exactly you are talking to.

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