Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Meninos, não pisem a relva, é proibido. - Children, don't step on the grass, it is forbidden.

Meninos, não pisem a relva, é proibido.

Children, don't step on the grass, it is forbidden.

Breakdown of Meninos, não pisem a relva, é proibido.

Questions & Answers about Meninos, não pisem a relva, é proibido.

Why does the verb pisar become pisem in this sentence?

This is the negative imperative (a command telling someone not to do something) for a plural group, matching meninos (the vocês form). For regular -ar verbs like pisar (to step), the plural command drops the -ar and adds -em, giving us não pisem.

Why is there no Portuguese word for 'on' in pisem a relva?

In English, we say 'step on the grass', but the Portuguese verb pisar does not use a preposition. You simply act directly on the object. So, it translates literally as 'don't step the grass'.

Since a relva (the grass) is feminine, shouldn't it be é proibida?

Here, the adjective proibido (forbidden) doesn't describe the grass itself. It describes the entire action of stepping on it. When describing a general action or situation (like saying 'it is forbidden'), Portuguese defaults to the masculine singular form.

Does meninos mean just boys, or children in general?

It can mean both! Because Portuguese uses the masculine plural for mixed-gender groups, meninos is very commonly used to address a group of 'children' or 'kids' of any gender, not just boys.