Question 1

Why is the tag 'didn't we' translated as não é?

Accepted Answer

In English, we change the tag to match the main verb (like 'didn't we', 'haven't we', 'aren't we'). In Portuguese, it is much simpler! You can use não é? (literally 'isn't it?') at the end of almost any affirmative sentence to ask for confirmation, regardless of the verb or tense used.

Question 2

Could I use pois não? instead of não é? at the end of this sentence?

Accepted Answer

No. The tag pois não? is only used when the main sentence is negative (for example, if you were saying 'We didn't finish'). Since Nós já acabámos is an affirmative statement, you must use não é?.

Question 3

Why does the verb acabámos have an accent mark over the 'a'?

Accepted Answer

In European Portuguese, the accent mark indicates the past tense ('we finished') and tells you to pronounce it with an open 'a' sound. If it didn't have the accent (acabamos), it would be the present tense ('we finish') and have a closed 'a' sound.

Question 4

Is the word Nós required at the beginning?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Because the verb ending -mos already makes it perfectly clear that the subject is 'we', you can drop the pronoun and just say Já acabámos o curso, não é?.

Nós já acabámos o curso, não é?

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