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As casas velhas são caras.

As casas velhas são caras.
The old houses are expensive.
From Lesson 21:Adjective agreement and placement·Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of As casas velhas são caras.

ser
to be
a casa
the house
velho
old
caro
expensive

Questions & Answers about As casas velhas são caras.

Why is the word for old (velhas) placed after the word for houses (casas)?
In English, we say "old houses," but in Portuguese, descriptive adjectives usually come after the noun they describe. So, you literally say "the houses old" (as casas velhas).
Why do velhas and caras both end in -as?
Adjectives in Portuguese must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun they describe. Because casa is a feminine noun, and we are talking about more than one (casas), the base adjectives velho (old) and caro (expensive) change to their feminine plural forms: velhas and caras.
Does the adjective caras still have to match casas even though it is separated by the verb?
Yes! Even when an adjective comes after a verb to describe how something is (like "are expensive"), it still has to match the subject of the sentence. Since the subject is as casas (feminine plural), the adjective must be caras.
Why do we use são instead of estão for "are" in this sentence?
We use são (from the verb ser) for permanent characteristics or defining qualities. Being old (velha) or expensive (cara) is treated as a fundamental characteristic of these specific houses, so we use the permanent "to be" verb.

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