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O quintal pertence aos vizinhos.

O quintal pertence aos vizinhos.
The backyard belongs to the neighbours.
From Lesson 172:O dinheiro e os donos (valer, pertencer a)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about O quintal pertence aos vizinhos.

Why do we use 'aos' here instead of just 'os'?
The verb pertencer (to belong) requires the preposition a (to) to show who the owner is. Because vizinhos (neighbours) is masculine and plural, we use the article os (the). When you combine a and os, they contract to form aos (to the).
What is the base verb for 'pertence', and is it regular?
The base verb is pertencer (to belong). It is a completely regular verb. Since we are talking about O quintal (The backyard), which acts as a third-person 'it', we use the matching third-person singular ending, giving us pertence.
Could I use 'jardim' instead of 'quintal' here?
You could, but they mean slightly different things. Quintal specifically refers to a backyard, often a paved or enclosed patio area behind a house. Jardim usually means a garden or a front yard with plants, flowers, or grass.
Does the word 'vizinhos' refer only to male neighbours?
Not necessarily! In Portuguese, a mixed group of males and females defaults to the masculine plural form. So, vizinhos can mean a group of all men, or a mix of men and women. If you were talking about a group of strictly female neighbours, you would say vizinhas.

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