Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Leste a etiqueta? Então podes explicar-ma, por favor? - Did you read the label? Then can you explain it to me, please?

Leste a etiqueta? Então podes explicar-ma, por favor?

Did you read the label? Then can you explain it to me, please?

Breakdown of Leste a etiqueta? Então podes explicar-ma, por favor?

Questions & Answers about Leste a etiqueta? Então podes explicar-ma, por favor?

What does -ma stand for in explicar-ma?

-ma is a contraction of two object pronouns: me (to me) and a (it). The a is feminine because it refers back to a etiqueta (the label). Instead of saying explicar-me a, Portuguese combines them into -ma.

If we were talking about a masculine object instead of a etiqueta, how would -ma change?

If the object were masculine, like o texto (the text), the pronoun for "it" would be o. When you combine me (to me) and o (it), it becomes -mo. You would say explicar-mo.

Why is -ma attached to the end of explicar?

When you have a phrase with a helper verb (podes) and an infinitive verb (explicar), it is very common in Portugal to attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive with a hyphen. You are also allowed to attach it to the helper verb instead (podes-ma explicar).

Is Leste in the past or present tense here?

It is in the past tense. Leste is the informal tu form for the past tense. If the sentence were in the present tense, the verb would be lês.