Questions & Answers about O lavatório é pequeno.
Why do we use é (verb ser) instead of está (verb estar) here?
Since this lesson is about poder (can/may), how would I say 'The washbasin can be small'?
You would use the "it" form of poder, which is pode, followed by the dictionary form (infinitive) of "to be", which is ser. The sentence becomes: O lavatório pode ser pequeno.
Does the word lavatório apply to a kitchen sink too?
No, in Portugal, lavatório specifically refers to a bathroom sink or washbasin. For a kitchen sink, you would use the word lava-loiça.
Why does the word pequeno end in an 'o'?
Adjectives in Portuguese have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because lavatório is a masculine noun (which we can tell from the masculine "the" word, O), the adjective takes the masculine ending, making it pequeno instead of pequena.
Learn O lavatório é pequeno and more in Portuguese
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free