Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Já explicaste o problema? - Did you already explain the problem?

Já explicaste o problema?

Did you already explain the problem?

Breakdown of Já explicaste o problema?

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Questions & Answers about Já explicaste o problema?

How do we know who explained the problem if there is no pronoun like 'you'?

The ending of the verb tells us! Explicaste comes from the regular verb explicar (to explain). In the simple past tense, the ending -aste is always used for tu (informal 'you'). Because the ending is unique to tu, we can drop the pronoun entirely.

Why is it o problema and not a problema? Doesn't the letter 'a' at the end usually mean a word is feminine?

Usually, yes! But problema is one of a few common exception words that end in '-ma' but are actually masculine. These words originally came from Greek. So, you must always use the masculine word for 'the' (o) with it: o problema.

What does já mean here, and why is it at the start?

Já means 'already'. In Portuguese, short adverbs like já are very often placed right before the verb. Unlike English, where you might say 'Did you explain the problem already?', Portuguese keeps it simple and puts já up front: Já explicaste... (Already explained...).

How do you say 'Did' in this question?

You don't need to! English uses 'did' as a helper word to turn a past tense sentence into a question. Portuguese doesn't use helper verbs like this. You just take the normal statement and raise your voice at the end to make it a question.