Question 1

Why is there a -se attached to the verb in vive-se?

Accepted Answer

This is the impersonal se. It is used when we want to talk about people in general, without specifying who exactly is doing the action. In English, we usually translate this using general pronouns like "one lives", "you live", or "people live".

Question 2

This lesson focuses on habits using costumar. Could we use that verb here instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could! You could say Na reforma, costuma-se viver calmamente (In retirement, one usually lives calmly). However, the simple present tense used here in vive-se is also a very common way to state general facts, ongoing truths, or universal habits.

Question 3

Does the word reforma mean "reform" or "retirement"?

Accepted Answer

It can mean both! In the context of someone's career or age, reforma means "retirement" (and a retired person is a reformado). It can also mean "reform" or "renovation" (like renovating a house), so you have to rely on the context. Here, "in retirement" makes the most sense.

Question 4

How do you form adverbs like calmamente?

Accepted Answer

To make an adverb ending in -mente (which works exactly like the English "-ly"), you take the feminine singular form of the adjective and add -mente. The adjective here is calmo (calm). Its feminine form is calma, so it becomes calmamente (calmly).

Na reforma, vive-se calmamente.

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