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Okay guys, another quick doubt. I have been trying to research this one out but was unable to. In the text below:

Vamos falar de embalagens de salgadinho. Embalagens de salgadinho por exemplo, elas são laminadas. Geralmente quando você vai abrir elas rasgam, derramam tudo, é uma tristeza! As de batata é a mesma coisa. A do café também! Então a embalagem laminada tem sempre esse problema com o abrir!

My main concern is about this part

Embalagens de salgadinho por exemplo, elas são laminadas.

Is that part right, or should it be:

Embalagens de salgadinho por exemplo, elas são laminada.

without the plural on the last word "laminada". Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

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  • My answer didn't notice that, from a non-native speaker, "embalagens (plural feminine) de salgadinho (singular masculine)" could have subject agreement with either of the two parts - são laminadas, or é laminado. An answer focusing on that would be a good addition to this question.
    – ANeves
    Commented Jul 30, 2018 at 18:02

1 Answer 1

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In this case, the correct is using the plural: "embalagens de salgadinho são laminadas".

The same way that the gender must agree with the subject, so must the plural agree.

We wouldn't say "as embalagens são *laminados". We wouldn't say "a embalagem é *laminadas". We should say:

  • A embalagem (é) laminada;
  • As embalagens (são) laminadas;
  • O invólucro laminado;
  • Os invólucros laminados.

If we search for other examples, it's easy to reach this conclusion by induction:

  • A mãe velha;
  • As filhas altas;
  • O rei tirano;
  • Os patos brancos.

We would not write:

  • A mãe velhas*;
  • As filhas alta*;
  • O rei tiranos*;
  • Os patos branco*.
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  • Thank you so much! Makes perfect sense and it clears my doubt!
    – Hugo
    Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 15:34
  • It has all been said here. +1
    – Centaurus
    Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 15:56
  • 7) Quando um único substantivo é modificado por dois ou mais adjetivos no singular, podem ser usadas as construções: a) O substantivo permanece no singular e coloca-se o artigo antes do último adjetivo. Por Exemplo: Admiro a cultura espanhola e a portuguesa. b) O substantivo vai para o plural e omite-se o artigo antes do adjetivo. Por Exemplo: Admiro as culturas espanhola e portuguesa. (soportugues.com.br/secoes/sint/sint59.php)
    – André Lyra
    Commented Jan 11, 2017 at 15:40
  • @AndréLyra podes abrir uma resposta mais complexa e completa, que inclua essas exceções :) - o caso 7 e o caso 2, pelo menos.
    – ANeves
    Commented Jan 11, 2017 at 19:31
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    Yes! This touches more deeply the area that I was getting confused around. For instance: "Embalagens de salgadinho... elas são laminadas." In this case we say "Embalagens de salgadinho" and not "Embalagens de salgadinhos", and that is why I was in doubt if I should use "laminadas" or "laminada". I chose that as the best answer but the technicality of the issues was better addressed in your reply because most of the samples and reasoning that ANeves mentioned, I already knew. @André Lyra, or anyone, please free to post an answer elaborating what you have described, in English if possible.
    – Hugo
    Commented Jan 11, 2017 at 19:36

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