Relevance of the Topic

The Nominal Agreement is fundamental in the universe of grammar, as it is intrinsically linked to the functionality and coherence of the language. The lack of proper agreement between terms can significantly compromise text comprehension and the expression of ideas, affecting the clarity and correctness of communication.

The agreement corroborates the precision in transmitting information, indicating affinity, congruence, harmony among the parts that make up the sentence. Therefore, mastering this linguistic rule is a crucial step in achieving efficient communication, understanding the variety and possibilities that Portuguese offers.

Contextualization

The topic Nominal Agreement is found in the broader context of syntax, where the study and mastery of grammatical rules for the correct composition of sentences are essential. Situated in the last year of High School, after reviewing the syntax of verbal agreement, nominal agreement is introduced to deepen the understanding of the Portuguese language structure.

In the study of nominal agreement, specific aspects such as gender and number agreement between the noun and its modifiers (articles, adjectives, numerals, and pronouns) and the noun and the relative pronoun are explored. The enhancement of these concepts is crucial for the production and comprehension of more complex texts, paving the way for a deeper understanding of language.

Thus, nominal agreement is an important step in the development of grammatical knowledge, as it favors a more complete understanding of the Portuguese language and supports the construction of more sophisticated linguistic skills.

Theoretical Development

• Gender Agreement: This agreement occurs when terms agree in gender (male or female).

  • Articles and Adjectives: Always agree in gender with the noun. Example: "The red car" - 'red' agrees in gender with 'car'.

  • Numerals: Agree in gender when they are adjectives (e.g., "two girls were smiling" - 'two' is an adjective numeral that agrees in gender with 'girls').

  • Pronouns: Agree in gender with the noun they refer to. Example: "The girl, happy, looked at them" - 'them' agrees in gender with 'girl', although the pronoun refers to 'them' (possibly men, or male persons).

• Number Agreement: It is established when terms agree in number (singular or plural).

  • Articles and Adjectives: Agree in number with the noun. Example: "The happy boys were playing" - 'happy' agrees in number with 'boys'.

  • Numerals: Agree in number when they are adjectives. Example: "The two girls were smiling" - 'two' is an adjective numeral that agrees in number with 'girls'.

  • Pronouns: Agree in number with the noun they refer to, establishing the so-called ideological agreement. Example: "I, you, and he went to the market" - 'went' agrees in number with 'I', 'you', and 'he'.

• Degree Agreement: This agreement occurs when there is agreement in degree (comparative or superlative) among the elements of the sentence.

  • Articles, Adjectives, and Numerals: Agree in degree with the noun. Example: "The tall boys" - 'tall' agrees in degree with 'boys'.

• Agreement with Relative Pronouns: It is important to note that the relative pronoun agrees with the closest antecedent or with the previous term, when this is the relative pronoun itself.

  • Example 1: "The street and the square, which are beautiful, are the event locations" - 'are' agrees with 'street' and 'square', and 'beautiful' agrees with both.

  • Example 2: "The book that she read and liked is interesting" - 'liked' agrees with 'she', and 'read' agrees with 'she'.

Key Components

• Terms to Agree: Understanding that the main terms that agree in number and gender in the sentence are nouns and their modifiers (articles, adjectives, numerals, and pronouns) and also relative pronoun.

• Agreement Rules: The perception and application of the rules that dictate the correct agreement in number, gender, and degree among the terms in the sentence.

• Agreement with Relative Pronouns: The mastery of agreement with relative pronouns, considering that they agree with the closest antecedent or with the previous term, when this is the relative pronoun itself.

Examples and Cases

• Example 1: Gender Agreement

  • Sentence: "The smart girl was smiling."
  • Explanation: The definite feminine article 'The' and the adjective 'smart' agree in gender with the noun 'girl'.

• Example 2: Number Agreement

  • Sentence: "The beautiful girls smiled."
  • Explanation: The definite plural article 'The' and the adjective 'beautiful' agree in number with the noun 'girls'.

• Example 3: Agreement with Relative Pronouns

  • Sentence: "The book that she read and liked is interesting."
  • Explanation: The relative pronoun 'that' agrees with the closest antecedent, 'she', thus the verb 'liked' agrees in number with 'she'.

These examples demonstrate the practical application of the rules of nominal agreement, illustrating how the terms of the sentence relate in terms of gender, number, and degree. Mastering these concepts is fundamental for understanding the structure of the sentence and, consequently, the Portuguese language.