Tens aí o livro?

Breakdown of Tens aí o livro?

o livro
the book
ter
to have
there (near you)

Questions & Answers about Tens aí o livro?

Why isn't there a word for "Do" or "you" in this sentence?
In Portuguese, you don't need helper words like "do" to ask a question. You just use a questioning tone of voice. Also, the pronoun tu (you, informal) is left out because the verb form Tens already shows exactly who you are talking to.
Which verb does Tens come from?
It comes from the highly irregular verb ter (to have). Tens is the present tense informal "you" form (tu). Even though your current lesson focuses on regular -ar verbs in the past tense, ter is an essential verb that pops up everywhere!
Why use for "there" instead of ali or ?
Portuguese has different words for "there" depending on distance. specifically means "there, right by you" (the person listening). If the book were further away from both of you, you would use ali or .
Could I change the word order and put at the end?
Yes, saying Tens o livro aí? is also perfectly correct. Portuguese word order is very flexible, and short location words like can often move around in the sentence without changing the meaning.

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