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O chefe não lhe mostra a pasta.

O chefe não lhe mostra a pasta.
The boss does not show him the folder.
From Lesson 91:Indirect object pronoun placement·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about O chefe não lhe mostra a pasta.

Why is the pronoun lhe placed before the verb mostra?
In European Portuguese, pronouns normally come after the verb. However, negative words like não act as magnets. They pull the pronoun to sit before the verb, which is why we say não lhe mostra instead of não mostra-lhe.
Why do we use lhe here instead of the direct object pronoun o?
We use lhe because the boss is showing the folder to someone. The folder is the direct object (the thing being shown), while the person is the indirect object (the one receiving the action). For indirect objects meaning to him, to her, or to you, we use lhe.
Could lhe also mean to her in this sentence?
Yes! The pronoun lhe is used for the third-person singular indirect object. Depending on the conversation, this sentence could mean the boss does not show her the folder, or even the boss does not show you the folder if you are being addressed formally.
In what other ways can the word pasta be used?
In an office setting like this, pasta means a folder or a briefcase. But in other contexts, it can mean a paste, such as pasta de dentes for toothpaste, or it can refer to Italian pasta.

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