Phrase · 🖋️ Rhetoric & literary style
Era uma vez um país que tinha pressa.
Once upon a time there was a country in a hurry.
C2storytelling openingliteraryAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Era1verbthere wasser · imperfect · 3rd sing.uma1determineroneumvez1nountimefem. · sing.umdetermineramasc. · sing. · indefinitepaísnouncountrymasc. · sing.quepronounthat, whichtinhaverbhadter · imperfect · 3rd sing.pressa2nounhurryfem. · sing..
- Era → vez: era uma vez = once upon a time
- país → tinha: que tinha pressa
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Fairy-tale opening «era uma vez», used ironically in a crônica or essay. Figurative language & rhetorical devices →
- 2«ter pressa» = to be in a hurry.