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Como assim? Posted by on Jul 28, 2008 in Learning

Since we looked at how to respond “yes” to a yes or no question recently, let’s take a look at how to say “no.”

1. Não
The most straightforward answer to a yes or no question, all you have to say is “não.”

Você bebe água todo dia?
Do you drink water every day? Não. No.

2. Não + verb
Another way to say no is by conjugating the verb in the question and putting não in front.

Você quer um suco de laranja? Do you want some orange juice? Não quero. No, I don’t.
Você sabe mergulhar? Do you know how to scuba dive? Não sei. No, I don’t.

3. Como assim?
If you don’t understand the question, or you’d like the person to clarify, you say “Como assim?” It most closely translates to “What do you mean?”

Voc
ê está triste comigo? Are you upset with me? Como assim? What do you mean?
Você ficou sozinha? Were you there alone? Como assim? What do you mean?

You can also use this phrase when a person makes a statement that seems impossible.

Estou aqui perdido na mata!
I’m lost in the forest!
Como assim, está perdido na mata? What do you mean, you’re lost in the forest?!

Perdi o vôo. I missed my flight. Como assim, perdeu o vôo? What do you mean you missed it?

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Comments:

  1. andreas:

    é um blog utilíssimo. Muito obrigado

  2. Jefferson:

    Olá Cris. Eu sempre achei que o correspondente de “como assim” em inglês fosse “how come?” agora fiquei curioso, como vcs usam “how come”? obrigado e abraços…

  3. Lucas:

    ¬

    Como assim ngm me disse nda antes sobre esse blog ?!

    to curtindo pra kramba isso aki

    abcs

    Luks

    ¬

  4. TriTz:

    Jefferson o “how come?” sozinho realmente significa o nosso “como assim?”.

    Ele também significa o “why” soh que eh usado mais informalmente. Ao usarmos o “how come” no lugar de “why” inverte-se a ordem dos verbos.

    Why did you do that?
    How come you did that?

    Why aren’t you coming to the party?
    How come you aren’t coming to the party?

    flws

  5. mirelly:

    kkkkkkkkkkkk