Portuguese, like many other languages, uses prepositions to indicate the location or position of objects, people, or events in relation to other elements in a sentence. Prepositions of place play a crucial role in describing where something is or in expressing movement towards a specific location. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the prepositions of place in Portuguese, along with examples and explanations to help beginners understand their usage.
A: The Basic Preposition of Place
In Portuguese, the most commonly used preposition of place is “a,” which means “to” or “at.” It is versatile and can be used to indicate various locations. Here are some examples:
Eu vou à escola. (I’m going to school.)
O supermercado fica à direita. (The supermarket is on the right.)
Ela mora à beira do rio. (She lives by the riverside.)
Em: In or On
The preposition “em” is used to indicate being in or on a certain place. It is often translated as “in” or “on” in English. Here are some examples:
Os livros estão em cima da mesa. (The books are on the table.)
Eu moro em Portugal. (I live in Portugal.)
Ele está em casa. (He is at home.)
De: From or Of
The preposition “de” is used to indicate origin, possession, or material. It is commonly translated as “from” or “of” in English. Here are some examples:
Eu venho de Lisboa. (I come from Lisbon.)
O carro é de meu pai. (The car belongs to my father.)
A mesa é feita de madeira. (The table is made of wood.)
Para: For or To
The preposition “para” is used to indicate movement towards a specific destination or purpose. It can be translated as “for” or “to” in English. Here are some examples:
Vou para o cinema hoje à noite. (I’m going to the movies tonight.)
Este presente é para você. (This gift is for you.)
Ele está estudando para o exame. (He is studying for the exam.)
Com: With
The preposition “com” is used to indicate accompaniment or being together with someone or something. It is commonly translated as “with” in English. Here are some examples:
Eu saí com meus amigos. (I went out with my friends.)
Ele está com a mala na mão. (He has the suitcase in his hand.)
Vamos com você. (We’ll go with you.)
Entre: Between
The preposition “entre” is used to indicate a position between two or more objects or locations. It is translated as “between” in English. Here are some examples:
O parque fica entre a escola e o hospital. (The park is between the school and the hospital.)
Eles estão sentados entre os dois amigos. (They are sitting between the two friends.)
A ponte atravessa o rio entre as duas cidades. (The bridge crosses the river between the two cities.)
Sob: Under
The preposition “sob” is used to indicate a position or location underneath something. It can be translated as “under” in English. Here are some examples:
O livro está sob a mesa. (The book is under the table.)
Ela se escondeu sob o cobertor. (She hid under the blanket.)
O carro parou sob a árvore. (The car stopped under the tree.)
Sobre: On or About
The preposition “sobre” is used to indicate a position on or about something. It can be translated as “on” or “about” in English. Here are some examples:
O livro está sobre a prateleira. (The book is on the shelf.)
Vamos discutir sobre o projeto amanhã. (Let’s discuss about the project tomorrow.)
Ele escreveu um livro sobre a história do país. (He wrote a book about the history of the country.)
Atrás: Behind
The preposition “atrás” is used to indicate a position behind something or someone. It can be translated as “behind” in English. Here are some examples:
A casa está atrás do mercado. (The house is behind the market.)
Ela está atrás de você na fila. (She is behind you in the line.)
O cachorro está correndo atrás do gato. (The dog is running after the cat.)
Na frente: In Front
The preposition “na frente” is used to indicate a position in front of something or someone. It can be translated as “in front” in English. Here are some examples:
A loja está na frente do parque. (The store is in front of the park.)
Ele está na frente da sala de aula. (He is in front of the classroom.)
O carro parou na frente do prédio. (The car stopped in front of the building.)
Conclusion
Prepositions of place are essential in Portuguese as they help describe the location or position of objects, people, or events in relation to other elements in a sentence. Understanding the usage of these prepositions is crucial for effective communication in Portuguese. By familiarizing yourself with the examples and explanations provided in this guide, you have taken the first step towards gaining a solid foundation in using prepositions of place in Portuguese. With further practice and exposure to the language, you will gradually become more proficient in expressing and understanding location and movement in Portuguese conversations.
Originally posted 2023-07-14 15:17:56.