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Phrase · 🕊️ Managing conflict

Acho que houve um mal-entendido.

I think there's been a misunderstanding.

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Why every word is where it is

Acho1verbI thinkachar · present · 1st sing.queconjunctionthathouve2verbthere washaver · past · 3rd sing.umdetermineramasc. · sing. · indefinitemal-entendido3nounmisunderstandingmasc. · sing..
  • Acho → que: que-clause
  • houve → mal-entendido: haver + noun

Why it's built this way

The notes match the numbers above.

  1. 1
    Acho que… softens: the problem is your impression, not an accusation.
  2. 2
    houve: impersonal haver ("there was"), always singular. Agreement norms in formal writing (concordância) →
  3. 3
    Written with a hyphen: mal-entendido.

Variations

  • Acho que a gente se desentendeu.
  • Parece que houve um mal-entendido.