Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Quando voltam os diretores?

Quando voltam os diretores?

When do the directors return?

Breakdown of Quando voltam os diretores?

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Questions & Answers about Quando voltam os diretores?

Why does the plural of diretor end in -es instead of just -s?

Because diretor ends in the consonant -r. In Portuguese, nouns that end in -r or -z in the singular form their plural by adding -es. This is why diretor becomes diretores.

Why is the verb voltam placed before the subject os diretores?

In Portuguese questions starting with a question word like quando (when), it is very common and natural to invert the order and put the verb before the subject. You could say Quando os diretores voltam?, but Quando voltam os diretores? flows much better.

Why does the verb voltam end in -m?

The infinitive of the verb is voltar (to return). Since the subject is os diretores (a plural "they" subject), we use the third-person plural form. For regular verbs ending in -ar, we drop the -r and add -m to get voltam.

How do I pronounce the -m at the end of voltam?

An -m at the end of a Portuguese word doesn't sound like the English "m". Instead of closing your lips, the -m simply makes the vowel before it nasal. The -am ending in voltam sounds very much like a nasal "ow" sound.