Question 1

How does the nem ... nem structure work here? Do we need to add a negative word like não before the verb?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, nem ... nem translates directly to "neither ... nor". Unlike some other negative phrases that require a double negative, when you start the pattern with nem, you do not need to add não before the first verb. The nem itself makes the statement negative.

Question 2

Can we use não with a single nem instead of using nem twice?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You could say Ele não cede, nem recusa a exigência. Using a single nem translates to "nor" or "and doesn't". Repeating it as nem ... nem (neither ... nor) is a stylistic choice that makes the contrast stronger and more emphatic.

Question 3

Why is there no accent on the a before exigência? Doesn't ceder usually mean yielding TO something?

Accepted Answer

When ceder means "to yield to", it normally takes the preposition a (which would combine with the feminine article to make à exigência). However, recusar (to refuse) takes a direct object with no preposition. Because the two verbs share the same ending noun, ceder is being used here with a direct object to mean "to grant" or "to concede" the demand itself, bypassing the need for a preposition.

Question 4

Is the noun exigência related to a specific verb?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it comes directly from the verb exigir, which means "to demand" or "to require". Recognizing these noun-verb patterns (where verbs often turn into nouns ending in -ência) is a great way to expand your vocabulary quickly at this level!

Ele nem cede nem recusa a exigência!

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