Learn Portuguese (Portugal): As flores cheiram bem.

As flores cheiram bem.

The flowers smell good.

Breakdown of As flores cheiram bem.

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Questions & Answers about As flores cheiram bem.

Why use the adverb bem instead of an adjective like boas?

In English, we say flowers smell "good" using an adjective. However, in Portuguese, the verb cheirar (to smell) is modified by an adverb. Bem translates literally to "well". Because it is an adverb, it is invariable and never changes its ending to match the feminine plural as flores.

What is the singular form of as flores?

The singular is a flor. In Portuguese, nouns that end in a consonant like -r, -l, or -z form their plural simply by adding -es at the end.

Is cheiram a regular verb?

Yes, it comes from the regular verb cheirar (to smell). Cheiram is the present tense form for "they", which matches the plural subject as flores.

Does cheirar mean to give off a scent, or to actively sniff something?

It means both! You can use cheirar when a subject gives off an odor (as in this sentence), and you can also use it for the physical action of a person smelling something with their nose.