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A senhora tem de limpar a sala hoje.

A senhora tem de limpar a sala hoje.
The lady has to clean the living room today.
From Lesson 48:Expressing obligation (ter de)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A senhora tem de limpar a sala hoje.

Why is there a de between tem and limpar?
In Portuguese, to express that someone has to do something, you use the verb ter (to have) followed by the word de, and then the action verb in its base form. Just like you need the word "to" in the English phrase "has to clean", you must use de to connect tem and limpar.
The translation says "The lady". Could a senhora also mean a formal "you"?
Yes! In Portugal, a senhora is very commonly used to mean a respectful, formal "you" when speaking directly to a woman. Depending on the conversation, this exact sentence could also mean "You have to clean the living room today."
Why do we use tem here instead of tens?
Tem is the form of ter used for ele (he), ela (she), and polite titles like a senhora. You would only use tens if you were talking to someone informally using tu (informal you).
Does a sala mean just any room in the house?
While sala can mean a generic room in public buildings (like a classroom or waiting room), inside a home it almost always refers specifically to the living room. If you meant a bedroom, you would use o quarto.

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