A1 · The prepositions
The prepositions a, em, de
The fusion is compulsory: there is no de o, no em o, no a o.
At a glance
- Remember
- a to the target, em at the place, de from the origin.
- Form
- vou ao médicoI am going to the doctor
- Signal words
- ao
- à
- no
- na
- do
- da
- Trap
- Wrong:A chave está em a gaveta.Right:A chave está na gaveta.
Your turn
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The form
The forms and what they mean
Each row gives the meaning first, then the form in Portuguese.
| I am going to the doctor | vou ao médico |
| at eight o'clock | às oito horas |
| I am at home | estou em casa |
| in the summer | no verão |
| I am from Berlin | sou de Berlim |
| Pedro's car | o carro do Pedro |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
a points at a target and a clock time.
Chego às sete da tarde.I arrive at seven in the evening.
em points at a place without movement.
Trabalho num escritório pequeno.I work in a small office.
de points at origin and possession.
Este é o livro da Ana.This is Ana's book.
The fusion is compulsory.
Vamos ao cinema no sábado.We are going to the cinema on Saturday.
Example sentences
Vou ao supermercado e volto já.I am popping to the supermarket and coming straight back.
Ela vai para casa dos pais no Natal.She is going to her parents' at Christmas.
A chave está na gaveta da cozinha.The key is in the kitchen drawer.
Precisamos de mais tempo.We need more time.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
The fusion is the rule and not a shortcut. De o, em o and a o do not exist in writing — it is do, no, ao. The only exception is an infinitive with a subject of its own behind it: apesar de o João não vir.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
A points at a target and at a clock time: vou a Lisboa, às oito horas. Em points at a place without movement and at a month: estou em casa, em março. De points at origin, possession and material: sou de Berlim, o carro do Pedro, uma mesa de madeira.
All three fuse with the article, and that is compulsory: ao, à, aos, às — no, na, nos, nas — do, da, dos, das. Written apart, they are wrong.
English never does this, and that is why the habit has to be built rather than transferred. « Of the », « in the », « to the » are two words in a contract and two words in a text message; English contracts verbs (« don't », « it's ») but never a preposition and an article. So there is no instinct to lean on, and the fusion has to be practised until it comes out first.
A and para share the target: afor a short tripparafor a longer one And de is the preposition most often glued to a verb: gostar de, precisar de, lembrar-se de.
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