Breakdown of Quero duzentos gramas de queijo.
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
o queijo
the cheese
querer
to want
duzentos
two hundred
o grama
the gram
Questions & Answers about Quero duzentos gramas de queijo.
Why is it duzentos instead of duzentas if gramas ends in an "a"?
The word for the unit of weight "gram" is masculine in Portuguese: o grama. Because it is masculine, the number "two hundred" must also be masculine (duzentos). This is a common trap for learners! If you said duzentas gramas using the feminine form, you would actually be talking about grass, because the feminine word a grama means "the grass".
Is it polite to just say Quero when ordering something?
Yes, in Portugal it is perfectly normal and acceptable to use Quero (I want) when ordering at a bakery, cafe, or market. While "I want" might sound a bit demanding in English, it is standard everyday Portuguese. If you want to be extra polite, you can also use Queria (I would like).
Do I need to say Eu quero instead of just Quero?
Do numbers in the hundreds always change to match masculine and feminine words?
Yes! Starting from two hundred, the hundreds must match the gender of the noun they describe. That is why we use duzentos for masculine words and duzentas for feminine words. This matching pattern continues for three hundred (trezentos or trezentas), five hundred (quinhentos or quinhentas), and so on.
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