Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services
So how weird would it be to be a Brazilian in the United States and see for the first time a bicycle attached to the front of a city bus? Sure enough, that would never happen on a bus in Brazil. These are the kinds of observations that North Americans would never make because, well, we think it’s normal. It’s all a matter of perspective.
This lesson talks about those kind of cultural differences, and we do so while going over a lesson about word order. (We know the title doesn’t sound all that exciting, but it really is an interesting grammar topic — if you are into language learning.)
PODCAST LINK: Grammar Lesson 18
Greetings from Columbia, SC.You guys are finally back! I’ve been waiting since October for a new lesson. I study Brazilian Portuguese on your website almost everyday! Thank you all for your great work.
Comment by Giovanna — November 27, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Thanks Giovanna,
What a great place South Carolina is. I know that everyone there loves their mustard-based BBQ, maybe even more than the Texans love their tomato-based version. Myself, I’m partial to the Brazilian sal grosso-based. There is a great phrase in Portuguese “cada macaco no seu galho” (each monkey to his own branch). Thanks for waiting for us to get this lesson out.
Orlando
Comment by orkelm — November 27, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Para a equipe inteira, muito obrigado pelas lições maravilhosas! It’s really helpful to hear the conversation, and then later read the pdf file — and always entertaining too. I especially appreciate how you use Portuguese in the way it is spoken in everyday use. My question: how does something like “existem pessoas” compare to “há pessoas”? Are they equivalent? Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Comment by Steven — November 29, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
For years I tried to tell myself that somehow “há pessoas” was more formal than “existem pessoas”, but I gave up. Now I just think it is two ways to say the same thing. Good observation Steven.
Orlando
Comment by orkelm — November 29, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Umm… doesn’t the word “ladeiras” mean hills, or sloped streets, when Valdo refers to the unexpected things that come up when riding a bike? Not “ladders” as the English translation in the pdf transcript suggests?
Comment by Marlene — March 21, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Excelente Marlene, obriagado. Who knows where our head was when we made that mistake!!!
Comment by orkelm — March 21, 2008 @ 2:08 pm