Phrase · 🧑 Describing people
Ele tem uns trinta e poucos anos.
He’s in his early thirties.
B1estimating ageAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
elepronounhe3rd sing. · subjecttem1verbhaster · present · 3rd sing.uns2determineraboutum · masc. · pl. · indefinitetrintadeterminerthirtyeconjunctionandpoucos2determinera fewpouco · masc. · pl.anosnounyearsano · masc. · pl..
- ele → tem: subject
- tem → anos: object
- uns → anos: agreement
Word for word: “He has some thirty and few years.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Age goes with ter: ele tem 30 anos, never ele é 30 anos. ter: possession, age, obligation (ter que) →
- 2uns = about; trinta e poucos = early thirties, trinta e tantos = late thirties. Numbers, time, dates & prices →
Variations
- Ele deve ter uns trinta e poucos anos.
- Ela tem uns quarenta anos.
- Ele tem trinta e tantos anos.