forzabarcelona

Hello,
I need some help with the interrogative sentences.
When do I have to put the "e que" in the sentence? Does there exist a rule?
For example, is it: a) Porque Ricardo nao pode ir ao concerto.
or: b) Porque e que Ricardo no pode ir ao concerto



Thanks!

felipealonso

From a Brazilian Portuguese point of view, you can put "é que" after any interrogative word, to give more emphasis to the question:
Onde fica o ponto de ônibus? (Where is the bus stop?)
Onde é que fica o ponto de ônibus? (Where is that the bus stop is located? or something like that...).
You can see that in the second sentence, the question is more emphasized; and this asking form is really used in every day speech.
You can add "é que" virtually after any question word, but after Quanto and Qual is not so used (but sometimes you can use it as well).

Como (é que) se diz isso? = How do you say that?

Porque (é que) ele está com fome? = Why is he hungry?
Quanto custa a passagem? = How much does the fare cost?
Qual é a capital do Brasil? = What is the Capital of Brazil?
Any rule for that? É que is places right after the question word, and before the complement:
Question word + é que + complement.

But wait for sflor to have an European Portuguese point of view.

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sflor

Hi forzabarcelona and Felipe!

"Porque Ricardo não pode ir ao concerto."

In this case, "porque" (because) is a conjunction with a relation which marks a reason, a cause and it´s used in affirmative sentences only or when you´re explaining something to someone.

Example: Eu não vou à escola porque está a chover. (I don´t go to school because it´s raining)

"Porque é que or Porquê Ricardo não pode ir ao concerto?"

These are the right interrogative adverbs that you can use when asking something.

Example: Porque é que falas tão alto? (Why do you speak so loud?)
Porquê confundir isto tudo? (Why mixing up all this?)

In European Portuguese we write (por quê) "porquê" all together; in Brazilian Portuguese the same interrogative adverb is written separately.

This is a short and brief explanation of their meaning. I hope you can understand it now!

See you,

sflor

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