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Word Order
In general, the structure of a sentence in Portuguese does not differ very much
from English.
| ADVERB |
SUBJECT |
VERB |
DIRECT
OBJECT |
INDIRECT
OBJECT |
| Ontem |
eu |
comprei |
uma
camiseta branca |
para
você. |
| Yesterday |
I |
bought |
a white
T-shirt |
for you. |
Type of sentences:
| PORTUGUESE |
ENGLISH |
SENTENCES |
| Ele
é americano. |
He
is American. |
statement |
| Ele é
americano? |
Is he American? |
question |
| Ele não
é americano. |
He
is not American. |
negative statement |
In a sentence not only the subject and the verb must be in agreement, but
also the subject/noun and the adjective must be in agreement. In
Portuguese, adjectives can be either masculine or feminine, singular or
plural.
Example:
| PORTUGUESE |
ENGLISH |
SENTENCES |
| Ele é americano. |
He is American. |
singular/masculine |
| Ela é americana. |
She is American. |
singular/feminine |
| Eles são
americanos. |
They are
American. |
plural/masculine |
| Elas são
americanas. |
They are
American. |
plural/feminine |
Remark:
- Unlike English, in Portuguese the lower case letter
is used to write months, nationalities and days of the week, but like English, the capital letter is generally
used to begin a sentence, to write proper nouns, etc.
- The intonation between a statement and a question is different. In a
question just raise your voice at the end of the sentence as in English.
- Não
(no/not) used as not is always placed before the verb in
Portuguese.
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