When learning a new language, understanding how to express time correctly is essential. In Portuguese, prepositions play a crucial role in indicating different aspects of time. In this guide, we will explore the prepositions of time in Portuguese, their usage, and provide example sentences to help beginners grasp their meaning and application.
Introduction to Prepositions:
Prepositions are words that establish relationships between different elements within a sentence. In Portuguese, prepositions are commonly used to indicate time, location, direction, and other relationships. When it comes to time, prepositions help us express when an action occurs, for how long, or within what time frame.
Prepositions of Time in Portuguese:
In Portuguese, several prepositions are used to indicate different aspects of time. The most common ones are “em,” “no,” “na,” “à,” “pelas,” and “até.” Let’s explore each of these prepositions and their usage with example sentences.
a) “Em”:
The preposition “em” is often used to express general time periods, months, years, seasons, and certain expressions of time. It is also used to indicate the duration of an action. Here are some examples:
Eu nasci em janeiro. (I was born in January.)
Ele vai viajar em maio. (He will travel in May.)
Nós estudamos em 2019. (We studied in 2019.)
Vou ficar em casa por duas horas. (I will stay at home for two hours.)
b) “No” and “Na”:
The prepositions “no” and “na” are contractions of the preposition “em” with the masculine and feminine definite articles “o” and “a,” respectively. They are commonly used to indicate specific days of the week. Take a look at these examples:
Eu vou ao mercado no sábado. (I’m going to the market on Saturday.)
Ela vai ao teatro na sexta-feira. (She’s going to the theater on Friday.)
c) “À”:
The preposition “à” is a contraction of the preposition “a” with the feminine definite article “a.” It is used to express specific times during the day. Consider the following examples:
Vamos sair à noite. (We’re going out at night.)
Ele chega à meia-noite. (He arrives at midnight.)
d) “Pelas”:
The preposition “pelas” is a contraction of the preposition “por” with the feminine definite article “as.” It is used to indicate the approximate time of day. Let’s see some examples:
O filme começa pelas oito horas. (The movie starts around eight o’clock.)
Vamos nos encontrar pelas duas da tarde. (Let’s meet around two in the afternoon.)
e) “Até”:
The preposition “até” is used to indicate the duration of an action, the limit of time, or until when something will happen. Here are some examples:
Eu vou trabalhar até as seis. (I will work until six o’clock.)
O parque fica aberto até às dez da noite. (The park is open until ten o’clock at night.)
Other Time-related Expressions:
Apart from prepositions, there are other time-related expressions that beginners should be familiar with. These expressions often require the use of prepositions as well. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
a) “Desde”:
The preposition “desde” means “since” and is used to indicate the starting point of a time period. Consider the following examples:
Estudo português desde 2015. (I have been studying Portuguese since 2015.)
Ela mora aqui desde janeiro. (She has been living here since January.)
b) “Até que”:
The expression “até que” means “until” or “until when.” It is used to indicate the end point of a time period or condition. Here are a couple of examples:
Vou esperar até que você chegue. (I will wait until you arrive.)
Ele trabalhou até que ficasse escuro. (He worked until it got dark.)
c) “Durante”:
The preposition “durante” means “during” and is used to express the duration or time frame of an action. Let’s see some examples:
Ela cantou durante a festa toda. (She sang during the entire party.)
Estarei ocupado durante a semana. (I will be busy during the week.)
Summary:
In Portuguese, prepositions of time are essential for accurately expressing when an action occurs, for how long, or within what time frame. Understanding the usage of prepositions like “em,” “no,” “na,” “à,” “pelas,” and “até” is crucial for beginners. Additionally, becoming familiar with time-related expressions such as “desde,” “até que,” and “durante” will further enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese.
Remember that practice is key when learning any language. By using these prepositions and expressions in context, you will gradually become more comfortable and confident in expressing time-related concepts in Portuguese. Keep practicing and exploring the rich world of the Portuguese language, and you’ll soon find yourself navigating time-related conversations with ease.
Originally posted 2023-07-14 15:03:47.