Portuguese Phrase
Esse é teu caderno?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the notebook being pointed at belongs to the listener. It’s a straightforward identification question, using the informal possessive ‘teu’.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to confirm ownership of a notebook (or any masculine singular item) that is close to the person you’re speaking to, especially in informal settings like school or a study group.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esseéteucaderno?
Demonstrative Pronoun (Esse)
‘Esse’ points to something near the listener; it agrees in gender (masculine) and number with the noun it modifies.
Verb ‘ser’ for Identification
Use ‘ser’ (é) to identify or define something, especially in questions like ‘What is this?’
Possessive Adjective (teu)
‘Teu’ means ‘your’ (informal, singular) and must match the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
Word Order in Yes‑No Questions
In Portuguese, a simple yes‑no question can be formed by placing the verb before the subject, often with a rising intonation.
🗨In Conversation
Esse é teu caderno?
Is this your notebook?
Sim, é o meu. Obrigado!
Yes, it is mine. Thanks!
✕Common Mistakes
Essa é teu caderno?
‘Essa’ is feminine; the noun ‘caderno’ is masculine, so the demonstrative must be ‘esse’.
Esse é teus caderno?
‘Teus’ is plural; the noun is singular, so use ‘teu’.
Esse é teu cadernos?
The noun must stay singular; do not add an ‘s’.
↔Alternatives
Este é o teu caderno?
Is this your notebook?
É o teu caderno?
Is it your notebook?
Esse caderno é teu?
Is that notebook yours?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘teu’ is common in the southern states and among close friends, but in most of the country people prefer ‘seu’ for ‘your’ even in informal contexts. Choose ‘teu’ only when you know the listener is comfortable with the more intimate form.