INTRODUCTION |
In the previous lesson, we covered how to ask, “How do you say this in Portuguese?” “Como se diz isto em português” Do you remember? In this lesson, because we don’t want you to be caught off guard in any kind of situation in Portugal, we are going to introduce a new phrase that is very important to help you focus your skills, not on the sounds, but on the writing. So let’s start this new lesson. |
GRAMMAR POINT |
In Portugal, “Can you write it down, please?” is |
Poderia escrevê-lo, por favor? |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) Po-de-ri-a es-cre-vê-lo, por fa-vor? |
Once more: |
Poderia escrevê-lo, por favor? |
The first word Poderia is translated in this case as “can you”. Poderia also makes the phrase formal. |
(slow) Po-de-ri-a. |
Poderia. |
Next we have escrevê-lo, which is translated as “write it” |
(slow) es-cre-vê-lo. |
escrevê-lo. |
Por favor is please, as you can remember from previous lessons. |
All together: |
Poderia escrevê-lo, por favor? |
This means, "Can you write it down, please?” |
Now, this previous phrase is not very specific. To make yourself more clear, you can say: “Can you write this phrase?” |
Poderia escrever esta frase? |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) Po-de-ri-a es-cre-ver es-ta fra-se |
Once more: |
Poderia escrever esta frase? |
There are three new words in this question. They are escrever, esta, and frase. |
escrever is the dictionary form of the verb "to write." |
(slow) es-cre-ver |
escrever |
Next we have esta, which is the feminine form for "this." |
(slow) es-ta |
esta. |
Last is frase, which means “phrase” |
(slow) Fra-se. |
Frase. |
Let’s hear the whole phrase one more time: |
(slow) Po-de-ri-a es-cre-ver es-ta fra-se? |
Poderia escrever esta frase? |
It might happen that you are not carrying a piece of paper or a pen. So before asking: Poderia escrevê-lo? try asking Tem caneta e papel? |
“Do you have pen and paper?” |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) Tem ca-ne-ta e pa-pel? |
Once more: |
Tem caneta e papel? |
The first word, tem, means "have." |
(slow) tem |
tem |
Then we have caneta which means “pen”. |
(slow) ca-ne-ta. |
caneta. |
Then you have e which means “and”. |
Finally, you have papel which means "paper." |
(slow) Pa-pel. |
Papel. |
Here’s the whole sentence: |
(slow) Tem ca-ne-ta e pa-pel? |
Tem caneta e papel? |
As usual, before asking about someone else’s stationery supplies, it’s a good idea to say com licença at the beginning of the sentence. |
Com licença, Tem caneta e papel? |
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