Questions & Answers about Tu sabes onde é o hotel?
Why does this sentence use sabes instead of conheces for "know"?
In Portuguese, there are two verbs for "to know". We use saber (here as sabes) for knowing facts, information, or how to do something. If you were asking if someone is personally familiar with the hotel, you would use conhecer. Since we are asking for a fact about its location, sabes is the right choice.
Why is the word order onde é o hotel instead of matching the English "where the hotel is"?
In English, we change the word order for indirect questions, putting the verb at the end. In Portuguese, the word order doesn't change like that. You just use the normal structure: question word (onde) followed by the verb (é) and then the subject (o hotel).
Why use é (from the verb ser) instead of está (from estar) to talk about a location?
While estar is generally used for temporary locations, European Portuguese often uses ser (or the verb ficar) when talking about the permanent, fixed location of a building or place. Since a hotel doesn't move, asking onde é o hotel? is perfectly natural.
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