Answers
Jan 07, 2022 - 01:37 AM
Thanks for your comment. I can totally understand your point here, since we debated on how to translate "esse" and its feminine and plural versions quite a lot when writing the program. Since there are 3 different ways to say "this" or "that" in Portuguese, there is no exact equivalent with English.
Also, people use them in different ways depending on the region, so it was an issue for us. Yet the Brazilian expert teacher at the time mentioned that in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people tend to use a lot more "esse/essa" in any context while "este/esta" sound more formal, so finally we decided to introduce "esse" as "this" at first to avoid confusion for beginners and offer them the most currently used, before presenting all the nuances.
In any case, you're right that Este/Esta are used for things that are close to you in space or time
Esse/Essa for things that are a bit further away but still around you in space or time
And Aquele/Aquela for things that are far from you in space or time.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the program!
Also, people use them in different ways depending on the region, so it was an issue for us. Yet the Brazilian expert teacher at the time mentioned that in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people tend to use a lot more "esse/essa" in any context while "este/esta" sound more formal, so finally we decided to introduce "esse" as "this" at first to avoid confusion for beginners and offer them the most currently used, before presenting all the nuances.
In any case, you're right that Este/Esta are used for things that are close to you in space or time
Esse/Essa for things that are a bit further away but still around you in space or time
And Aquele/Aquela for things that are far from you in space or time.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the program!
Jan 16, 2022 - 06:56 PM
thanks for your thorough reply. That makes sense to me.
