THE nominal agreement it deals specifically with the gender and number agreement that must occur between a name (the substantive) and the other terms of the sentence that modify it (adjectives, articles, pronouns and even numerals). In addition to this general rule, there are specific cases that can generate many doubts, such as what happens with the expressions “it is prohibited”, “less”, “annex”, “means” etc.
How is nominal agreement achieved?
In a sentence, when the noun is accompanied by other terms, it is necessary that there is agreement between them, that is, the terms that accompany the noun must agree with him in gender (male or female) and in number (singular or plural). The most common rule in Portuguese regarding the gender and number of nouns is the ending of words according to these characteristics:
masculine |
feminine |
|
singular |
-O |
-The |
plural form |
-you |
-at |
See the following sentence:
Myson é beautiful.
(pronoun + substantive + verb + adjective)
If the noun of the sentence changes to feminine, the terms that accompany it will have to make the same transition so that there is
nominal agreement. Look:Minedaughter é pretty.
(pronoun + substantive + verb + adjective)
The same happens if we change the noun number (from singular to plural):
Mydaughters they are beautifuls.
(pronoun + substantive + verb + adjective)
The noun may be accompanied by adjectives, articles, pronouns and even numerals. These terms must match the gender and number of the noun they accompany. Simple enough, right?
Although some words in the Portuguese language do not follow the most common ending (-o, -a, -os, -as), the rule of agreement noun tends to be the same every time: the gender and the noun number define the gender and the number of terms that the noun modify.
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Specific cases of nominal agreement
There are, however, some specific cases of nominal agreement that raise many doubts. Let's better understand what happens in some of them.
The word "less"
As an invariant word, "minus" will always be spelled that way, even when accompanying a feminine noun. The word "menas" does notexist.
She had any lessboxes than he.
Read too:Are there fewer or fewer people?
The word "attachment"
When it works as an adjective, the word "attachment" (without preposition) varies according to the accompanying noun:
Oarchiveattachment contains the report prepared.
THEspreadsheetattached contains the report prepared.
Youfilesattachments contain various reports.
Atspreadsheetsattached contain various reports.
Some grammarians already accept the “attached” construction, this one remaining unchanged. However, there are some adaptations:
At thearchive attached is the report prepared.
Atspreadsheet attached is the report prepared.
There are several reports USfiles attached.
The reports are in thespreadsheets attached.
Read too: Attached or attached?
The word "middle"
When the word "means" has adjective function, it must agree with the noun which qualifies:
It's past noon and half [hour].
you are full of sockswords.
We have a million and quite [million] of voters.
Be careful not to confuse with O adverb "middle", which does not flex:
THEwomen it is quitetired. ("middle" changes the adjective "tired", and not the noun "woman", so it plays the role of an adverb and is invariable)
Read too: Half or half nervous?
The terms "it is necessary", "it is prohibited" and its variations
When it comes specifically to these terms, their adjectives can be invariable if not article explaining the gender and number of the noun they refer to:
É prohibitedEntrance of animals.
É requiredwisdom.
É allowedsale of goods at this location.
However, if other elements accompany the noun, the adjectives must agree in gender and number:
É prohibited toEntrance of animals.
É needed a lotwisdom.
É allowed tosale of goods at this location.
Read too:is it prohibited or is it prohibited?
Colors
The agreement involving colors raises many doubts. As a general rule, the colors must agree with the noun to which they refer, when they are variables:
THEschoolbag é Yellow.
Youlinen they are blue.
If the color name refers to a noun (orange, pink, etc.), the color is invariant.
Atbackpacks they are Orange.
Youlinen they are pink.
When the name of the color consists of two adjectives (the second involving shades), it is customary to leave the first invariant in the form of the male and the second doing the agreement:
THEschoolbag é light yellow.
Youlinen they are dark blue.
However, if the second adjective refers to a noun, we return to the rule of color being invariant.
Atbackpacks they are green water.
Youlinen they are sky blue.
solved exercises
Question 1 - Which alternative does not have concordance errors?
a) This gives them excellent prospects of winning the championship.
b) The passage of unauthorized persons is prohibited.
c) I don't like these vices of yours.
d) Of the people involved, two thousand don't know what they will be like after all this.
e) I have a lot of navy blue clothes.
Resolution
Alternative E, because “marine blue” is invariable, following the same rule as “sky blue” and other colors composed of two adjectives, the last one referring to a noun. The other alternatives should be: “excellent perspectives”, “the passage is prohibited”, “these vices of yours” and “of the people involved, two thousand don't know”.
Question 2 - (FUNRIO – IFPA) The teacher asked the students to send him by e-mail short summaries of the two books discussed in class, but took the opportunity to include a grammatical question: it was mandatory to use the word “attachment” in the message. Which of the alternatives below shows the excerpt of the message that correctly answered the teacher's request and complies with the standards of the standard language?
a) Professor, the two abstracts requested are attached.
b) I enclose the two abstracts requested.
c) Attached the requested abstracts, I forward them to you.
d) They are sent in two annexes with what was requested.
e) I will now be sending the two abstracts attached.
Resolution
Alternative B is correct, as the use of “attached” is invariable, with no deviations from the standard norm of the Portuguese language. The constructions of the other alternatives present deviations from the standard norm not only in relation to the use of the word “attachment”, but also in the construction of sentences.
By Guilherme Viana
Portuguese teacher
