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Is the word bastava the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes
The word "bastava" is identical in meaning, spelling, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It is the imperfect indicative of the verb bastar (to be enough/sufficient). The only difference is pronunciation: in Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are much more reduced (often becoming very short or almost silent), whereas in Brazilian Portuguese, vowels tend to be more open and clearly articulated.
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- Bastava um pouco de sal para a comida ficar boa. (A little salt was enough for the food to be good.)
- Bastava você me avisar para eu ir. (All you had to do was warn me so I could go.)
- Não bastava apenas estudar, era preciso praticar. (Studying alone wasn't enough; it was necessary to practice.)
- Bastava um minuto para ele se sentir mal. (One minute was enough for him to feel unwell.)
- Bastava que ele estivesse lá para eu ficar feliz. (It was enough that he was there for me to be happy.)
Continental Portuguese Examples
- Bastava um pouco de sal para a comida ficar boa. (A little salt was enough for the food to be good.)
- Bastava avisares-me para eu ir. (All you had to do was warn me so I could go.)
- Não bastava apenas estudar, era preciso praticar. (Studying alone wasn't enough; it was necessary to practice.)
- Bastava um segundo para perceber o erro. (One second was enough to perceive the error.)
- Bastava que ele chegasse para a festa começar. (It was enough that he arrived for the party to start.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences