Nominal Agreement Quiz: Spot The Grammatical Error!

Hey guys! Let's dive into a super important topic for the ENEM (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio) and other Portuguese language exams: nominal agreement. You know, that thing where nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and numerals have to agree in gender and number to make sentences grammatically correct? It can be tricky, but don't worry, we'll break it down. We're going to dissect a multiple-choice question to really nail down how nominal agreement works and how to avoid common mistakes. So, buckle up, grab your coffee, and let's get started!

Understanding Nominal Agreement

First things first, let's quickly recap what nominal agreement actually is. In Portuguese, words that describe or modify nouns (like adjectives, pronouns, numerals, and articles) need to match the noun they refer to in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). For example:

• The pretty girl - A menina bonita (both feminine singular)
• The handsome boys - Os meninos bonitos (both masculine plural)

See how "menina" (girl) and "bonita" (pretty) are both feminine and singular, and "meninos" (boys) and "bonitos" (handsome) are both masculine and plural? That's nominal agreement in action! This might seem basic, but it's where many people slip up, especially when sentences get longer and more complex. So, pay close attention, because even native speakers sometimes mess this up!

Why is nominal agreement so important? Well, besides being grammatically correct, proper agreement makes your writing and speech clear and easy to understand. Imagine if I said, "Os menina bonito." It sounds weird, right? The lack of agreement creates confusion and makes the sentence harder to process. In the ENEM, showing mastery of grammar, including nominal agreement, is crucial for getting a good score in the language section and for writing a killer essay. Examiners are looking for precision and attention to detail, and getting your agreements right shows that you know your stuff.

Dissecting the Question

Okay, let's get to the question: Qual das alternativas a seguir apresenta um erro de concordância nominal, comprometendo a correção gramatical da frase? (Which of the following alternatives presents an error of nominal agreement, compromising the grammatical correctness of the sentence?)

Here are the options:

(A) Assisti a primeira e a segunda sessões. (B) Encontramos destruídas as janelas e os pratos. (C) Encontramos bastantes mulheres na...

Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to identify which of these sentences contains a mistake in nominal agreement. Let's analyze each option one by one.

Analyzing Option A: "Assisti a primeira e a segunda sessões."

In this sentence, we have: "Assisti a primeira e a segunda sessões." Let's break it down. The verb "Assisti" (I watched) is followed by "a primeira e a segunda sessões" (the first and the second sessions). The key here is the word "sessões" (sessions), which is a feminine plural noun. The numerals "primeira" (first) and "segunda" (second) are adjectives modifying "sessões." Do they agree? Yes, they do! "Primeira" and "segunda" are both feminine singular, matching the gender of "sessões." Since we are referring to the "first" and "second" sessions, the numerals agree in gender and number, the sentence is grammatically sound. Therefore, there is no error in this sentence.

Now, let's look at a slightly different version of this sentence where the agreement might be trickier: "Assisti à primeira e segunda sessão." Notice that we've changed "sessões" to "sessão" (singular). In this case, the sentence is still correct. Why? Because we're implying that you watched the first and second parts of the same session. The agreement still holds because "primeira" and "segunda" now modify the implied single session. Tricky, right?

However, if the sentence was written as "Assisti a primeiro e a segunda sessões," then we would definitely have an error. The numeral "primeiro" (masculine singular) does not agree with the feminine plural noun "sessões." This kind of mismatch is exactly what we're looking for in the question. So, remember to always double-check that your adjectives and numerals match the nouns they describe in both gender and number.

Analyzing Option B: "Encontramos destruídas as janelas e os pratos."

Let's dissect option B: "Encontramos destruídas as janelas e os pratos." (We found the windows and plates destroyed). Here, "destruídas" (destroyed) is an adjective describing both "as janelas" (the windows) and "os pratos" (the plates). "Janelas" is feminine plural, and "pratos" is masculine plural. The adjective "destruídas" needs to agree with both nouns. Since the nouns have different genders, the adjective needs to agree with the closest noun. That's where the potential problem lies.

To make the sentence completely correct, we need to consider the rule that when an adjective refers to two or more nouns of different genders, it usually agrees with the nearest noun. However, there's another rule that states that if the nouns are all animate, the adjective should agree with the masculine plural. Since "janelas" and "pratos" are inanimate, the first rule applies here. The adjective "destruídas" agrees with "janelas" in gender and number. The correct form should be: Encontramos destruídas as janelas e destruídos os pratos. Although in everyday language people can say Encontramos destruídas as janelas e os pratos, this form isn't the most grammatical form, presenting a subtle error.

Think of it this way: if the sentence was "Encontramos destruídos os pratos e as janelas" (We found the plates and the windows destroyed), then "destruídos" would agree with "os pratos" (the plates). In this case, both sentences highlight the flexibility but also the importance of adhering to grammatical standards in formal writing and exams like the ENEM.

Analyzing Option C: "Encontramos bastantes mulheres na..."

Now, let's break down option C: "Encontramos bastantes mulheres na..." (We found quite a few women in...). The word "bastantes" here is where we need to focus. "Bastante" can function as an adjective, an adverb, or a pronoun, and its agreement depends on its function.

• As an adjective: It means "enough" and agrees in number with the noun it modifies. For example: "Tenho bastantes livros" (I have enough books). "Bastantes" agrees with "livros" (books), which is masculine plural.
• As an adverb: It means "quite" or "very" and is invariable (doesn't change). For example: "Elas são bastante inteligentes" (They are quite intelligent). "Bastante" modifies the adjective "inteligentes" (intelligent) and doesn't change.
• As a pronoun: It replaces a noun and agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces. For example: "Muitos alunos faltaram, bastantes estavam doentes" (Many students were absent, quite a few were sick). "Bastantes" refers to the missing students.

In our sentence, "Encontramos bastantes mulheres na...", "bastantes" is acting as an adjective modifying "mulheres" (women). Since "mulheres" is feminine plural, "bastantes" should also be feminine plural. And it is! Therefore, the agreement is correct, and there's no error in this part of the sentence. The sentence is grammatically perfect.

The Verdict

After carefully analyzing each option, we can conclude that: Option B presents a nominal agreement issue. Although in spoken language that sentence is commonly used, it isn't the most grammatically correct form, and therefore, it has an error.

Therefore, the correct answer is (B).

Final Tips for Mastering Nominal Agreement

Okay, guys, you have now identified the sentence with a subtle error in nominal agreement! But let's make sure we nail this down for good. Here are some final tips to help you master nominal agreement and ace those ENEM questions:

• Pay Attention to Gender and Number: This is the most basic but also the most crucial step. Always identify the gender and number of the nouns in the sentence and make sure that all related words agree.
• Watch Out for Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (like "família" - family, "povo" - people) can be tricky. The agreement usually follows the singular form of the noun, but sometimes it can agree with the implied plural meaning. For example: "A família estava feliz" (The family was happy) or "A família estavam felizes" (The family were happy).
• Be Careful with Compound Nouns: When an adjective refers to multiple nouns of different genders, remember the rules we discussed earlier. If the nouns are inanimate, the adjective usually agrees with the nearest noun. If they are animate, it usually agrees with the masculine plural.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you practice, the better you'll become at identifying agreement errors. Do exercises, read texts carefully, and pay attention to how native speakers use the language.
• Don't Be Afraid to Ask: If you're not sure about something, don't hesitate to ask your teacher, a tutor, or a native speaker. It's better to clarify your doubts than to make mistakes on the exam.

So, there you have it! A comprehensive guide to understanding and identifying nominal agreement errors. Keep practicing, stay focused, and you'll be well on your way to mastering this important aspect of Portuguese grammar. Good luck with your studies, and see you in the next lesson!