Use the general rule of Nominal Agreement it's not a problem for most, probably because the internalized grammar “screams” when hearing expressions like: “The girls” or “Our house”. This often does not happen intentionally, as if asked why it is not suitable, some do not they will know how to answer from a grammatical point of view, but they know how to say that the construction was ugly or that it doesn't seem to match much. Review the examples below:
The following constructions are common in our daily lives, however, some are considered transgressions by normative grammar. Follow:
- What happened, Joana? Looks like you're half nervous!
- I had half a bottle of pineapple juice with mint.
- The door is half open.
- Sucking half an orange is fine, but half a lemon!? How can you do that?
Of the constructions presented above, it's likely that you've heard them all, right? And, who knows, he has even produced statements like that. However, does everyone comply with the standard norm? Follow the explanation:
time to do the agreement using the word "quite”, it is essential to define its grammatical class in the analyzed context, as it can be an adjective or an adverb. After this definition, it is essential to return to the concept of variable and invariant part of speech. Let's see:
variable grammar class: It is composed of words that admit variation. In the case of nouns (noun, adjective, numeral and pronoun), they admit gender and number variation; in verbs, variations of mood, tense, number and person occur.
invariant part of speech: As its name suggests, it does not admit variation. This class comprises the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction and the interjection.
Why is it necessary to return to these concepts to define which statements are adequate? Isn't it easier to give the answer and that's it? Calm! Knowledge must be built and there is great importance in relating the contents. The Portuguese language is not fragmented and understanding this is essential to apprehend the rules. One does not learn the concept of a noun, adjective or adverb simply to know the concept, but to apply it. So, it is necessary to associate, analyze, select and organize all the contents, as they are interrelated.
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Apply the concept that the adverb does not change makes statements 1 and 3 not in accordance with the agreement syntax, doesn't it? Because if the rating of quite in both cases it is an adverb and it does not vary, so the appropriate form would be: "a little nervous” and “a little open”. When quite it is an adverb, it adds circumstance of intensity or mode to the verb, to another adverb or to an adjective.
And in statements 2 and 5, what is the word classification quite? Very well, they are adjectives, therefore, they are adequate, because this grammatical class is variable, therefore, it is commanded by the noun that indicates its gender and number.
In case you still have difficulty distinguishing the grammatical class from the word quite, watch:
Quite, when adverb, can be replaced by a little while quite, being adjective, conveys the idea of half. Let's check it out?
the door was a little bit open and Joana was a little bit nervous. In the other examples, someone drank the a half from the bottle and sucked the a half of orange and lemon.
Here's the tip, but remember that the best thing is to learn!
By Mayra Pavan
Graduated in Letters