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Nós temos de reduzir o leite a um terço.

Nós temos de reduzir o leite a um terço.
We have to reduce the milk to a third.
From Lesson 188:Fractions and multipliers (o terço, o dobro)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Nós temos de reduzir o leite a um terço.

Is terço the same word as the ordinal number for 'third'?
No, and this is an important exception! The regular ordinal number for 'third' is terceiro. However, when talking about the fraction 'a third', you must use the specific word terço. For most other fractions between a fourth and a tenth, Portuguese uses the regular ordinal numbers, just like English does (for example, um quarto for a fourth and um quinto for a fifth).
Why do we use the preposition a instead of para when saying 'to a third'?
The verb reduzir (to reduce) pairs with the preposition a when you are reducing something down to a specific amount, level, or fraction. While para often translates to 'to' for physical destinations, a is the correct preposition here to indicate a mathematical limit or proportion.
Could I say temos que reduzir instead of temos de reduzir?
Yes, in everyday spoken Portuguese, you will frequently hear people say temos que to mean 'we have to'. However, ter de is the formally correct structure for expressing an obligation or necessity. It is always a good habit to use ter de in your writing.
If I want to say 'two thirds', does the word terço change?
Yes, it becomes plural. Just like in English where 'a third' becomes 'two thirds', in Portuguese um terço becomes dois terços. The fraction acts like a regular noun that must agree in number with the numeral before it.

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