Concordância nominal
Concordância nominal means “noun-phrase agreement: article and adjective match the noun in gender and number”. In Portuguese the article and adjective agree with the noun in gender and number: o carro vermelho / os carros vermelhos, a casa bonita / as casas bonitas. Formation: artigo/adjetivo + substantivo (mesmo gênero e número); adjetivo p/ dois substantivos de gêneros diferentes → masculino plural
noun-phrase agreement: article and adjective match the noun in gender and number
B1Formation
artigo/adjetivo + substantivo (mesmo gênero e número); adjetivo p/ dois substantivos de gêneros diferentes → masculino plural
Explanation
In Portuguese the article and adjective agree with the noun in gender and number: o carro vermelho / os carros vermelhos, a casa bonita / as casas bonitas. When one adjective modifies two nouns of different genders, it takes the masculine plural: um livro e uma revista novos. If the adjective comes first, it usually agrees with the nearest noun: a bela paisagem e clima. Watch 'meio': as an adverb it is invariable (ela está meio cansada = a bit tired), but as a number/adjective it agrees (meia hora = half an hour). 'Bastante' varies when it is an adjective (bastantes livros = several books) but not as an adverb (bastante caro = quite expensive). A predicate adjective agrees with the subject: as meninas estão cansadas.
Examples
Note
In casual Brazilian speech only the first word of the phrase sometimes marks the plural (os menino bonito) — common but nonstandard; in writing, make everything agree. Since Spanish agrees exactly the same way (los coches rojos), Spanish speakers get it right away; English has no such agreement.
FAQ
Concordância nominal — what does it mean and how is it used?
noun-phrase agreement: article and adjective match the noun in gender and number. In Portuguese the article and adjective agree with the noun in gender and number: o carro vermelho / os carros vermelhos, a casa bonita / as casas bonitas. When one adjective modifies two nouns of different genders, it takes the masculine plural: um livro e uma revista novos. If the adjective comes first, it usually agrees with the nearest noun: a bela paisagem e clima. Watch 'meio': as an adverb it is invariable (ela está meio cansada = a bit tired), but as a number/adjective it agrees (meia hora = half an hour). 'Bastante' varies when it is an adjective (bastantes livros = several books) but not as an adverb (bastante caro = quite expensive). A predicate adjective agrees with the subject: as meninas estão cansadas.
Concordância nominal — how do you form it?
artigo/adjetivo + substantivo (mesmo gênero e número); adjetivo p/ dois substantivos de gêneros diferentes → masculino plural
Concordância nominal — any usage notes?
In casual Brazilian speech only the first word of the phrase sometimes marks the plural (os menino bonito) — common but nonstandard; in writing, make everything agree. Since Spanish agrees exactly the same way (los coches rojos), Spanish speakers get it right away; English has no such agreement.