Question 1

Why do we use the infinitive testar instead of an '-ing' word like in English ('testing')?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, when an action follows prepositions like antes de (before) or depois de (after), you must use the infinitive (the basic, unconjugated form of the verb). So, instead of 'before testing', Portuguese literally says 'before to test' (antes de testar).

Question 2

What does the phrase é que do in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

é que is a very common marker used to frame questions in Portuguese. It doesn't translate directly into English, but it acts like a highlighter to emphasize that a question is being asked. It makes spoken Portuguese sound much more natural.

Question 3

Can I leave é que out and just say Que máquina vocês montam?

Accepted Answer

Yes, grammatically you can drop it, and people will still understand you perfectly. However, Portuguese speakers use é que so frequently in daily conversation that practicing it will make your Portuguese sound much more authentic.

Question 4

Why does the word que appear twice in the phrase Que máquina é que?

Accepted Answer

They are doing two completely different jobs! The first Que means 'What' or 'Which' (What machine). The second que is simply the second half of the fixed expression é que.

Question 5

Does peça only mean a machine 'part'?

Accepted Answer

No, peça is a very versatile word. While it means a mechanical 'part' or 'piece' here, it is also commonly used to mean a 'piece' of fruit, a 'piece' of clothing (peça de roupa), or a theatrical 'play' (peça de teatro).

Que máquina é que vocês montam antes de testar a peça?

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