Breakdown of Vês o problema? — Vejo.
Questions & Answers about Vês o problema? — Vejo.
Why is the answer Vejo ("I see") instead of just saying "Yes"?
In Portuguese, the most natural way to answer a yes/no question is to repeat the main verb in the correct form. Since the question asks Vês ("Do you see?"), the answer is Vejo ("I do" or "I see"). You can say Sim (Yes), but repeating the verb is the classic Portuguese way to answer! Why is it o problema? Doesn't the letter "a" at the end mean it should be feminine (a problema)?
Normally, yes! Words ending in "-a" are usually feminine. However, problema is a famous rule-breaker. Many Portuguese words ending in "-ma" that come from Greek are actually masculine. Other common examples are o programa (the program) and o sistema (the system). Where is the "Do you" part in the question Vês o problema?
Portuguese doesn't use helper words like "do" or "does" to ask questions. You just take the normal statement—in this case, vês means "you see"—and raise your voice at the end. In writing, the question mark is all you need to turn "You see the problem" into "Do you see the problem?". Why aren't the words for "you" and "I" used here (Tu vês... Eu vejo)?
In Portuguese, the verb endings tell you exactly who is doing the action. Vês can only mean "you see" (informal) and Vejo can only mean "I see". Because the verbs already give away who is acting, the pronouns tu (you) and eu (I) are usually left out unless you really want to emphasize them. Learn Vês o problema? — Vejo and more in Portuguese
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