Preposies / Prepositions

.
To A / As: These prepositions are used to indicate the final destiny, time and direction. They are also used
along with verbs that indicate movement and in some idiomatic expressions. These prepositions form
contractions when used with definite articles. Study the chart below.

Feminine Masculine Translation

Definite Article A As O Os

A+ s Ao Aos To/ at/ for + the

Examples: A/As and / s used before feminine words.

Ela vai festa. She is going to the party
Examples: Ao/Aos used before masculine words.
Eu fui ao cinema. I went to the movie
Some expressions:
Sentar mesa seat at the table
Vamos nos sentar mesa? Lets sit at the table?
tarde in the afternoon.
Eu estudo portugus tarde. I study Portuguese in the afternoon.
noite in the evening / at night
Eu estudo portugus noite. I study Portuguese in the evening.
A p on foot
Eu fui ao parque a p. I went to the park on foot.
A ponto de be about to
Eu estou a ponto de deixar meu trabalho. Im about to leave my job.

In order to, to, forward, for Para

This preposition is used to indicate the final destiny, recipient, deadline and to indicate goals.
Examples:

Meus amigos foram para o Brasil. My friends went to Brasil. (destiny)

Comprei um presente para voc. I bought a gift for you. (recipient)
Maria est estudando para ter boas notas. Maria is studying in order to have good grades. (goals)
Preciso do livro para segunda-feira. I need the book for Monday. (deadline)

On / In / At Em
Em this preposition indicates places. When used with definite or indefinite articles, a contraction is
formed. The contractions translation when definite articles are used is on / in / at + the and when indefinite
articles are used the contractions translation is on /in/ at + a (singular) or + some (plural). Contractions
agree in gender and number with the place they refer to. Study the charts below:
 Definite Article Feminine Masculine Translation
A As O Os
Em + Na Nas No Nos on / in / at + the

Indefinite Articles Feminine Masculine Translation

Uma Umas Um Uns
Em + Numa Numas Num Nuns on / in / at + a (or some)

For, by, through Por

This preposition is used to indicate the duration of a period, the way used to reach the final destiny, to
express gratitude, in passive voice sentences indicating the doer (the active person) of an action and also in
some idiomatic expressions.

Examples:

Cdigo da Vinci foi escrito por Dan Brown. Da Vinci Code was written by Dan Brown.
Eu morei no Brasil por 5 anos. I lived in Brazil for 5 years.
Cada ingresso custa R$ 5,00 por pessoa. Each ticket costs R$5,00 per person.
Obrigado por tudo. Thanks for everything

In some cases por is used with definite articles forming contractions (study the chart below).

Definite Article Feminine Masculine Translation

A As O Os
por+ pela pelas pelo pelos For / by / through + the

Examples:
Pela / Pelas used before feminine words.

Ela deixou a casa pela porta de trs. She left the house through the back door.
Ela trocou as camisas pelas saias. She exchanged the shirts for the skirts

Pelo / Pelos used before masculine words.

Ns andamos pelo parque. We walked along the park.

Obrigado pelos presentes. Thank you for the gifts.

Some expressions using Por / Pelo/ Pela

Pelo menos no vai chover amanh. (at least) - At least it is not going to rain tomorrow.

Pela primeira vez eu tive boas notas, (for the first time) - For the first time I had good grades.

Pelo amor de Deus, volte logo. (For Gods sake) - For Gods sake come back soon.

Por outro lado a cidade tem bons restaurantes. (on the other hand) - On the other hand the city has good
restaurants.

From / of de
 The preposition de is used to indicate possession, origin, and material. It is also used with some verbs
such as gostar de (to like), precisar de (to need) and to indicate the kind of transport used to reach a place.

Examples:

Comprei um anel de prata. I bought a silver ring.

Eles so de So Paulo. They are from Sao Paulo.
Eu vou para o Brasil de avio. Im going to Brazil by plane.

In some cases de is used with definite articles forming contractions (see the chart below). Usually the
contractions are used to specify the word the preposition is connected to and also to show the ownership of
something.

Definite Feminine Masculine Translation

Article A As O Os
De+ da das do dos From / of + the

Examples:
Da / Das used before feminine words.

Ela usou o carro da amiga. She used her friends car.

Ele no encontrou os livros das amigas. He did not find his friends books.

Do / Dos used before masculine words.

Ele gosta dos novos amigos. He likes the new friends.

O cachorro do vizinho pequeno. The neighbors dog is small.