To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cura Dany News'
Sin,.—Ignorznce of Portuguese grammar is no doubt pardonable in a foreigner, and as the scribe who revoices in the name.of Tuvcy, like his namesake "Thucydides" (of Peloponne sian War fame), is obviously a native of Athens, he must be excused ior his erroneous definition of the phrase "mas que."
But—and ihis is where the pinches—when it comes to pi ihe pedagogue, a writer should kno his onions. So, as a "Macaense" was taught grammar at school. may I point out that when "mas" corresponds to the English w ord "but." it is a conjunction and not an adverb. As a matter of fact, the expression "mas que," according to Portuguese grammar, forms what is called in our language a concessive conjunction, a very different thing from an adverb True, the word "mas" is sometimes defined as an adverb, but this occurs only when it means "decerto" (certainly). In the term under discussion. however, "i is not an adverb My Asker Hi nghai, July 20.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.