prepositions: a

The Portuguese Preposition "a"

In Brazilian Portuguese, the preposition a generally translates to 'to' or 'at' in English. It is a very versatile word that indicates direction, time, indirect objects, and features in many common expressions.

1. Contractions

The preposition a often combines with definite articles and demonstrative pronouns. The combination of a + a creates a sound marked by a grave accent (called crase in Portuguese):

• a + o(s) = ao(s)
• a + a(s) = à(s)
• a + aquele(s) / aquela(s) = àquele(s) / àquela(s) (to that / to those)
• a + aquilo = àquilo (to that)

2. Introducing an Indirect Object

Formally, a is used to introduce the receiver of an action (indirect object). However, in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people frequently prefer the preposition para (or its short form pro/pra) in these contexts.

• Uma moradora mostrou aos repórteres os estragos causados pela chuva. (A resident showed the reporters the damage caused by the rain.)
• Se tiver alguma dúvida, pergunte a um funcionário. (If you have any questions, ask an employee.)

3. Movement and Position

The preposition a indicates movement 'to' a destination or position 'at' a specific spot. Again, informal spoken language often replaces it with para (for movement) or em (for position).

• Foram ao banco tirar dinheiro. (They went to the bank to withdraw money.)
• O ministro será enviado a Washington. (The minister will be sent to Washington.)
• Estavam sentados à mesa. (They were sitting at the table.)
• O ônibus parou ao sinal fechado. (The bus stopped at the red light.)

4. Time, Age, and Parts of the Day

When combined with definite articles, it is widely used to tell clock times, age, and parts of the day.

• O show começa às 8h00. (The show starts at 8:00 AM.)
• Ela ganhou sua primeira medalha aos 17 anos. (She won her first medal at 17 years old.)
• Você estuda à tarde? (Do you study in the afternoon?)

5. Prices, Rates, and Speeds

Use a to express costs, exchange rates, and speeds.

• Postais a R$2,00 cada. (Postcards at R$2.00 each.)
• O dólar está a R$1,50 hoje. (The dollar is at R$1.50 today.)
• O caminhoneiro andava a 130 km/h. (The truck driver was going at 130 km/h.)

6. Distance and Sports Scores

In phrases indicating distance from a point or sports results, the preposition is used but often left untranslated in English.

• A cidade fica a 200 km da capital. (The city is 200 km from the capital.)
• Você está a que distância da praça? (How far are you from the square?)
• O nosso time ganhou 3 a 0. (Our team won 3 to 0.)

7. Idiomatic Expressions

The preposition appears in many fixed phrases denoting methods, timeframes, styles, states, and relationships:

• Methods/Tools: a lápis / a tinta (in pencil / in ink), a pé / a cavalo (on foot / on horseback), à mão (by hand).
• Timeframes (Future): daqui a uma semana / dois dias (in a week / two days from now).
• Styles: à brasileira / à francesa (Brazilian style / French style).
• States: falar aos berros (to talk screaming / yelling), aos prantos (in tears).
• Relational phrases: dia a dia (day by day), pouco a pouco (little by little), frente a frente (face to face).