Report a problem

Here's a Piece of Advice

The following is a quote by Erma Bombeck:

When your mother asks, “Tu queres um conselho?Do you want a piece of advice?” it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.

Click to reveal translation

Click the sentence again to see the Portuguese

Pronunciation
0:00 / —:—

The Plus version of this story

Quando a tua* mãe pergunta*, “Tu queres um conselho*?” é uma mera* formalidade. Não importa* se respondes sim ou não. Vais tê-lo de qualquer maneira.

When your mother asks, “Do you want a piece of advice?” it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.

🔎 Words in this story

✴️ Perguntar (asks)

This is the verb “perguntar” (to ask) conjugated in the present for the third-person singular. We use the verb “perguntar” only when we refer to a question.

In English, the verb “to ask for” corresponds to the verb “pedir.” This verb is used when you’re requesting or ordering something. For example: “Ela pediu um conselho” means “She asked for advice.”

✴️ Mera (mere)

“Mera” is the feminine singular form of the adjective. It describes something which is simple, has no complexity or is unimportant.

There is a Plus version of this story

The same story, taken further, for DailyNata Plus members. This one works on false friends and confusables.

  • The whole story in Portuguese, and its English
  • The words in it, explained, with examples

Written for level A2. Every story has its own, anywhere from A1 to B2.

More like this

A Child's Attention'Forma' and 'maneira' for 'way', 'pais' meaning parents rather than relatives, and 'conseguir' for managing to do something or for obtaining it outright.A2Members only
Sweet Escape'Acordado', the past participle of 'acordar', doing double duty for someone who has woken up and for something that has been agreed upon, close in meaning to 'combinado'.B1Members only
Watermelon'Ao contrário de' for unlike, kept apart from 'pelo contrário' and plain 'ao contrário', 'fruto' against the collective 'fruta', and 'ter sido', the perfect infinitive for an unreal past event.B1–B2Members only