Portuguese · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 13
O que é isto?What is this?
To ask about a thing without naming it, use "o que" with the neutral demonstrative: O que é isto? O que é isso? "isto" (near) and "isso" (far) are neutral — they have no gender, because you don't yet know what the thing is. Once identified, gender returns: É um relógio. É uma porta. Objects: relógio, guarda-chuva, roupa, sapato, água, porta, janela, computador, dinheiro, papel.
Dialogue
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Este ou isto?— este or isto?
- MikeLucas, o que é este?Lucas, what's this? (slip: for an unidentified thing use neutral "isto", not gendered "este")
- LucasSe você não sabe o que é, diga "isto": O que é isto?If you don't know what it is, say "isto": O que é isto?
- MikeBeleza. O que é isto?Cool. What is this?
- LucasÉ um guarda-chuva. E isso é um relógio.It's an umbrella. And that's a clock.
Dialogue
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Na mochila— In the Backpack
- BiaMike, o que é isso?Mike, what's that?
- MikeÉ um computador. E isto é papel.It's a computer. And this is paper.
- BiaE você tem água?And do you have water?
- MikeTenho água, dinheiro e dois sapatos.I have water, money and two shoes.
Vocabulary
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- isto
pronounthis (neutral)
- isso
pronounthat (neutral)
- relógio
n.m.clock, watch (m)
- guarda-chuva
n.m.umbrella (m)
- roupa
n.f.clothes (f)
- sapato
n.m.shoe (m)
- água
n.f.water (f)
- porta
n.f.door (f)
- janela
n.f.window (f)
- computador
n.m.computer (m)
- dinheiro
n.m.money (m)
- papel
n.m.paper (m)
Grammar
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"o que" and neutral isto/isso
Explanation
"o que" = "what". To ask about a thing you can't yet name, combine it with the neutral demonstrative: O que é isto? (near) or O que é isso? (far). "isto" and "isso" end in -o but are NOT masculine: they are neutral, genderless, precisely because the thing isn't identified yet. As soon as you know what it is, you use normal gender: É um relógio (m), É uma porta (f). Don't confuse "o que" (what) with "qual" (which): O que é isto? asks for identity; Qual é o seu livro? picks among options.
Examples
- O que é isto? — É um relógio.What's this? — It's a watch.
- O que é isso? — É uma porta.What's that? — It's a door.
- Isto é água e isso é papel.This is water and that is paper.
- Qual é o seu computador? — Esse.Which is your computer? — That one.
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