Understanding Prepositions and Articles in Portuguese
Before diving into the combinations, it’s crucial to understand what prepositions and articles are in Portuguese.
- Prepositions are words that show relationships between other words in a sentence, like de (of, from), a (to, at), em (in, on), and por (by, for).
- Definite articles specify a particular noun: o (the, masculine singular), a (the, feminine singular), os (the, masculine plural), as (the, feminine plural).
- Indefinite articles are used for non-specific nouns: um (a, masculine singular), uma (a, feminine singular), uns (some, masculine plural), umas (some, feminine plural).
Why Combine Prepositions and Articles?
Portuguese often contracts prepositions and definite articles into a single word. This is not optional—it’s a standard part of the language and is required in both speech and writing. Combining them improves the flow and rhythm of Portuguese sentences.
Common Prepositions and Their Contractions
1. De (of, from) + Definite Articles
- de + o = do (e.g., o livro do professor – the teacher’s book)
- de + a = da (e.g., a capa da revista – the magazine’s cover)
- de + os = dos (e.g., os carros dos amigos – the friends’ cars)
- de + as = das (e.g., as cores das flores – the colors of the flowers)
2. Em (in, on, at) + Definite Articles
- em + o = no (e.g., no parque – in the park)
- em + a = na (e.g., na escola – at the school)
- em + os = nos (e.g., nos livros – in the books)
- em + as = nas (e.g., nas praias – on the beaches)
3. A (to, at) + Definite Articles
- a + o = ao (e.g., ao médico – to the doctor)
- a + a = à (e.g., à festa – to the party)
- a + os = aos (e.g., aos alunos – to the students)
- a + as = às (e.g., às meninas – to the girls)
4. Por (by, through, for) + Definite Articles
- por + o = pelo (e.g., pelo caminho – by the way)
- por + a = pela (e.g., pela porta – through the door)
- por + os = pelos (e.g., pelos corredores – through the halls)
- por + as = pelas (e.g., pelas ruas – through the streets)
Contractions with Indefinite Articles
While contractions with indefinite articles are less common, some prepositions do contract with them, especially in informal speech:
- em + um = num (e.g., num dia – on a day)
- em + uma = numa (e.g., numa cidade – in a city)
- em + uns = nuns (e.g., nuns lugares – in some places)
- em + umas = numas (e.g., numas horas – in a few hours)
Tips for Mastering Preposition and Article Combinations
- Practice regularly: Read Portuguese texts and highlight contractions. Listen to native speakers and notice how often these combinations occur.
- Memorize the most common contractions: Create flashcards or use language learning tools like Talkpal to reinforce these patterns.
- Repeat out loud: Practicing spoken Portuguese will help these combinations become second nature.
- Check your writing: When writing in Portuguese, always look for opportunities to contract prepositions and articles.
Exceptions and Special Cases
There are exceptions to these rules. For instance, if the article is part of a proper name (like O Globo newspaper), contractions might not occur. Additionally, contractions are not made with possessive pronouns or when articles are omitted for stylistic reasons.
Conclusion
Combining prepositions with articles is a vital skill for anyone learning Portuguese. Mastering these contractions will not only boost your grammatical accuracy but also make your speech and writing sound more fluid and native-like. With consistent practice and support from platforms like Talkpal, you’ll soon find these combinations become an easy part of your Portuguese repertoire. Keep practicing, and you’ll see great improvements in your language skills!
