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Portuguese Phrase

É um grande problema?

/ɛ ũ ˈɡɾɐ̃.dʒi pɾoˈble.mɐ/
Meaning"Is it a big problem?"
💡

Meaning

This question asks whether something constitutes a serious or significant issue. It can be used to gauge the severity of a situation, a task, or a potential obstacle.

🎯

When to use

Use it when you want to confirm if a matter is serious enough to require attention, such as discussing project risks, personal dilemmas, or news events.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Éumgrandeproblema?

1

É (ser)

Use the verb "ser" to describe inherent qualities; here it links the subject (implicit "isso") with the noun phrase "um grande problema".

2

Indefinite article "um"

The article "um" matches the masculine singular noun "problema" and signals an unspecified instance.

3

Adjective placement

In Portuguese, adjectives like "grande" usually follow the noun, but when emphasizing size or importance, they can precede the noun as in "um grande problema".

4

Question intonation

Even without a question mark, raising intonation at the end signals a yes/no question; the written "?" makes it explicit.

🗨In Conversation

A

Atrasamos o prazo de entrega. É um grande problema?

We missed the delivery deadline. Is it a big problem?

Não muito, mas precisamos ajustar o cronograma.

Not really, but we need to adjust the schedule.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • É um grande problema.

    Missing the question mark changes it from a question to a statement.

  • É grande problema?

    Using "um" before "grande" is correct, but some learners mistakenly omit the article and say "É grande problema?" which is ungrammatical.

  • Está um grande problema?

    Avoid using "ser" for temporary states; if you mean "Is this currently a big problem?" you could also say "É um problema grande agora?" but the original phrasing is standard.

↔Alternatives

  • É um problema sério?

    Is it a serious problem?

  • É um problema importante?

    Is it an important problem?

  • É algo grave?

    Is it something serious?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazilian Portuguese, using "grande" to describe a problem conveys magnitude rather than moral judgment. In formal contexts, "sério" or "grave" may sound more professional, while "grande" is common in everyday conversation.