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A roda da bicicleta é pequena.

A roda da bicicleta é pequena.
The bicycle's wheel is small.
From Lesson 178:Na estrada (a gasolina, depressa)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A roda da bicicleta é pequena.

Why do we use da here instead of just de?
In Portuguese, you usually include the definite article (a, o, as, os) when talking about a specific thing. Here, it is not just any bicycle, but a specific one. So, we combine the preposition de (of) with the feminine article a (the) to make da (of the).
Why is the verb é used instead of está?
We use é, from the verb ser (to be), to describe permanent or basic characteristics. Since being small is a fixed physical trait of this wheel, we use ser. If we used está (from estar), it would sound like the wheel is only temporarily small!
Pequena means small, but why is it feminine? Is it matching roda or bicicleta?
It is matching roda (wheel), which is the main subject of the sentence. Because a roda is a feminine noun, the adjective must also be in its feminine form, pequena.
If I wanted to say 'The bicycle's wheels are small', how would this sentence change?
You would need to make the subject, verb, and adjective plural. The sentence would become As rodas da bicicleta são pequenas. Notice that da bicicleta stays the same because there is still only one bicycle!

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