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Questions & Answers about Cortem os tomates agora.
Why does the verb end in -em (cortem) instead of -am (cortam)?
Because this is a command (the imperative)! For regular -ar verbs like cortar (to cut), you form the vocês (plural "you") command by swapping the usual a for an e, adding an m at the end. If it were cortam, it would just be a statement: "You cut" or "They cut".
Who exactly is being told to cut the tomatoes here?
How do I pronounce the -em at the end of cortem?
In European Portuguese, an -em at the end of a word isn't pronounced with a hard English "m" sound (like in "them"). Instead, it forms a nasal sound, somewhat similar to the "ayng" in the English word "saying".
Why is it os tomates and not as tomates?