Breakdown of Isto é um grande problema.
ser
to be
isto
this
um
a / an / some (all forms)
grande
big / large
o problema
the problem
Questions & Answers about Isto é um grande problema.
Why does the sentence use the masculine article um when the word problema ends in -a?
While most Portuguese words ending in -a are feminine, problema is an exception because of its Greek origins. Therefore, it is a masculine word and must take the masculine indefinite article um, not the feminine uma. Other common A1 words that share this rule include o programa and o sistema.
Why does the adjective grande come before the noun problema? I thought adjectives usually go after the noun.
Most of the time, adjectives do go after the noun in Portuguese. However, grande is frequently placed before the noun to emphasize the scale or importance of something. Saying um grande problema is the most natural way to express a major or serious issue.
Why use isto for 'this' instead of este or esta?
Isto is an invariable word used when 'this' refers to a general situation, an abstract idea, or something you have not named yet. Because 'this' in the sentence refers to a situation as a whole being a problem, we use the general word isto. If you were pointing to a specific masculine noun, you would use este.
Why do we use é instead of está to say 'is'?
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