Check the following incorrect Portuguese phrases.
①- “Cento e cinquenta dólares são suficientes para as diárias no exterior.”
Are or Is (são or é) in the following eg, “One hundred and fifty dollars is (é) enough for the daily rates abroad.” And not “One hundred and fifty dollars are (são) enough for the daily rates abroad.”
Explanation: The verb to be is invariable when indicating quantity, weight, measure or price.
②-“Ao invés de mandar um e-mail, resolvi telefonar.”
Instead of or As opposed to (Em vez de or Ao invés de) in the following eg, “Instead of (Em vez de) sending an e-mail, I decided to call.” And not “As opposed to (Ao invés de) sending an e-mail, I decided to call.”
Explanation: ” Instead of ” is used as a replacement, while ” As opposed to ” is used as an opposition.
③- “A nível de proposta, o assunto deve ser mais discutido.”
On the level of or At the level of (A nível de or Em nível de) in the following eg, “As regards the (Em relação) proposal, the matter should be discussed further.” And not “At the proposal level (Em nível de), the subject should be discussed further.”
Explanation: The expression “on the level of” is only correct when it means “at the same height”. Eg. “Today, Santos woke up at sea level.” We can also use the expression “at level” whenever there are “levels”: eg. “This problem can only be solved at board level.”
④- “Ao meu ver, o evento foi um sucesso.”
As I see it or At my opinion (A meu ver or Ao meu ver) in the following eg, “As I see it (A meu ver), the event was a success.” And not “At my opinion (Ao meu ver), the event was a success.”
Explanation: One should not use an article in these expressions, where the noun see (ver) means “opinion, judgment”: in my view, in your view, in our view. Nor should one use an article in being aware: Everyone was aware and not (ao par) of the latest events.
⑤- “Para maiores informações, entre em contato com a Central de Atendimento.”
Most Information or More Information (Maiores informações or Mais informações) in the following eg, “For more information, please contact the Service Center.” And not “For most information (maiores informações), please contact the Service Center.”
Explanation: “Major” (Maiores) is comparative, so it does not apply to this case.
⑥- “Trabalho nesta empresa a dez anos.”
The or There is (a or há) in the following eg, “I’ve worked for this company for (há) ten years.” And not “I’ve been working for this company for the (a) ten years.
Explanation: To indicate time spent, use “has“(haver). The (a) as an expression of time is used to indicate future or distance. (The company is ten minutes from the center.)
