Portuguese Phrase
A maioria dos grandes supermercados tem isso.
Meaning
The sentence states that most large supermarkets carry a certain product or feature that has just been mentioned. It emphasizes the prevalence of that item across the biggest retail chains.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about the availability of a product, a service, or a characteristic that is common in big supermarkets. It’s handy in consumer‑oriented conversations, market‑research discussions, or when comparing store offerings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Amaioriadosgrandessupermercadostemisso
A maioria
‘A maioria’ means ‘most’ and is treated as a singular noun, so the verb that follows is singular.
dos (de + os)
‘dos’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘de’ + the definite article ‘os’, meaning ‘of the’.
Adjective agreement
‘grandes’ agrees in gender and number with ‘supermercados’, both masculine plural.
tem (ter, 3rd person singular)
Because ‘maioria’ is singular, the verb ‘ter’ is conjugated in the third‑person singular form ‘tem’.
isso (demonstrative pronoun)
‘isso’ points to something previously mentioned or understood from context; it is neutral and singular.
🗨In Conversation
Você sabe se eles vendem pão integral?
Do you know if they sell whole‑grain bread?
A maioria dos grandes supermercados tem isso.
Most of the big supermarkets have it.
✕Common Mistakes
A maioria dos grandes supermercados têm isso.
‘Maiores’ is singular, so the verb must be singular ‘tem’, not the plural ‘têm’.
A maioria dos grandes supermercado tem isso.
‘Supermercado’ must agree in number with ‘grandes’; use the plural ‘supermercados’.
A maioria dos grandes supermercados tem isso (when referring to many items).
If you want to refer to a plural set of items, use ‘eles’ or ‘essas coisas’ instead of the singular ‘isso’.
↔Alternatives
A maior parte dos grandes supermercados tem isso.
The greater part of the big supermarkets has this.
A maioria dos supermercados grandes tem isso.
Most of the big supermarkets have this.
A maioria dos grandes mercados tem isso.
Most of the large markets have this.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the term ‘supermercado’ usually refers to a self‑service grocery store that sells a wide range of products, from fresh produce to household items. When talking about product availability, Brazilians often use ‘tem’ (has) even if the item is a brand or a specific variety, because the focus is on the store’s capacity to provide it. Remember that ‘maioria’ is singular, so the verb stays singular – a common slip for learners.