Phrase · 🖋️ Rhetoric & literary style
A cidade dormia; só o mar velava.
The city slept; only the sea kept watch.
C2literary personificationliteraryAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Adeterminertheo · fem. · sing. · definitecidadenouncityfem. · sing.dormia1verbsleptdormir · imperfect · 3rd sing.;sóadverbonly, justodeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitemarnounseamasc. · sing.velava1verbkept watchvelar · imperfect · 3rd sing..
- cidade → dormia: personification: a cidade dormia
- dormia → velava: antithesis: dormia / velava
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Personification and antithesis in the descriptive imperfect. Figurative language & rhetorical devices →