B1 · متوسط فصل 5

Expressing Cause, Path, and Rate with 'Por'

6 القواعد الإجمالية
62 أمثلة
5 دقيقة
القواعد في هذا الفصل تدريب سريع

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master 'Por' to explain the 'why', 'how', and 'where' of your Portuguese journey.

  • Express the cause or reason behind any action or emotion.
  • Describe movement through spaces and the methods used to communicate.
  • Calculate rates, prices, and time durations accurately.
Connect your thoughts with the power of 'Por'.

ما ستتعلمه

Hey, ready to level up your Portuguese? This chapter is all about 'Por' – that little word with HUGE power! You'll stop just getting by and start explaining things like a pro. Ever wondered how to say *why* something happened, or that you walked *through* a beautiful park? What about how much something costs *per* kilo, or that you studied *for* hours? 'Por' is your answer to all of these! We'll dive into its six main roles: explaining the *cause* or *reason* behind actions, describing *movement through a space* (like

walking along the river
), identifying the *means* or *method* of an action (sent by mail), and even talking about *rates* and *durations* of time (working per day). By understanding how 'por' connects these ideas – cause, path, method, rate, time – you'll unlock a whole new layer of expression. You'll master nuanced differences between 'por' and 'para', helping you avoid common mistakes intermediate learners make. After this, you'll effortlessly chat about *why* you love Portuguese, *how* you learned it, and *for how long* you've been practicing, making your conversations much more natural and engaging. Get ready to sound truly B1!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to explain the reason for an action using 'por causa de' or 'por' + noun.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to navigate a city by describing paths 'through' or 'along' specific landmarks.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to discuss prices per unit and frequency of habits per time period.

دليل الفصل

نظرة عامة

Hey there, language learners! Ready to unlock a super versatile and incredibly common word in Portuguese grammar? This chapter is all about 'Por' – a tiny preposition with immense power that's absolutely crucial for reaching a B1 Portuguese level and beyond.
Mastering 'Por' will significantly boost your ability to express complex ideas, making your conversations much more natural and precise. You'll stop just translating word-for-word and start thinking like a native speaker. We'll explore how 'Por' helps you explain *why* something happened, describe *movement through a space*, identify the *means* or *method* of an action, and even talk about *rates* and *durations* of time.
By the end of this guide, you’ll effortlessly differentiate 'Por' from its sometimes-confusing cousin, 'Para', avoiding common intermediate mistakes and truly sounding like a pro. Get ready to express cause, path, and rate with confidence!

كيف تعمل هذه القاعدة

The preposition 'Por' is a workhorse in Portuguese, connecting ideas in numerous ways. Let's break down its key functions, which are essential for any B1 Portuguese speaker.
First, 'Por' is fundamental for Expressing Cause & Reason. It tells us *why* something happens or *because of what*.
* Ele fez isso por amor. (He did that out of love.)
* A reunião foi adiada por causa da chuva. (The meeting was postponed because of the rain.)
Next, it's used for Expressing Cause, Exchange & Path. While cause is covered above, 'Por' also indicates exchange (like trading one thing for another) and movement along or through a path.
* Troquei meu carro por uma moto. (I exchanged my car for a motorcycle.)
* Caminhamos pela floresta. (We walked through the forest.) – Note pela is por + a.
This leads us to Portuguese Prepositions: Through and Along (Por). It describes movement *through* or *along* a place.
* Passamos por Lisboa. (We passed through Lisbon.)
* Andei pelo parque. (I walked through/along the park.) – Again, pelo is por + o.
'Por' is also vital for Means, Methods, and Agents. It specifies *how* an action is performed or *by whom* (in passive sentences).
* Enviei a carta por correio. (I sent the letter by mail.)
* O livro foi escrito por um autor famoso. (The book was written by a famous author.)
When talking about quantities or frequencies, we use 'Por' for Saying 'Per' or 'By': Rates with Por.
* Custa dez euros por quilo. (It costs ten euros per kilo.)
* Trabalho oito horas por dia. (I work eight hours per day.)
Finally, Por for Time (Duration & Approximation) indicates a duration of time or an approximate period.
* Estudei por três horas. (I studied for three hours.)
* Ele virá por volta das cinco. (He will come around five o'clock.)
Mastering these uses of 'Por' will significantly enhance your understanding of Portuguese grammar and your ability to communicate effectively.

الأخطاء الشائعة

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Fiz o trabalho para meu amigo. (I did the work for my friend.)
✓ Correct: Fiz o trabalho por meu amigo. (I did the work for my friend – *meaning on behalf of/instead of him*)
*Explanation:* While para often means for (purpose, destination), por is used when you do something *on behalf of* someone, or *in exchange for* them. If you did the work *for* your friend *so they could have it*, you might use para. But if you did it *because your friend couldn't*, por is correct.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Viajamos para o trem. (We traveled to the train.)
✓ Correct: Viajamos de trem. (We traveled by train.) OR Viajamos por trem. (Less common, but still means by train).
*Explanation:* When referring to the means of transportation, de is most common. However, por can also be used for means/method, especially in more formal contexts or when emphasizing the *channel* through which something occurs. Para indicates destination, not the means of travel itself.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Estudei para cinco horas. (I studied for five hours.)
✓ Correct: Estudei por cinco horas. (I studied for five hours.)
*Explanation:* To express a duration of time, por is the correct preposition. Para implies a purpose or destination, not how long an action lasted.

محادثات حقيقية

A

A

Por que você está tão feliz hoje? (Why are you so happy today?)
B

B

Estou feliz por ter passado no exame! (I'm happy because I passed the exam!)
A

A

Você prefere viajar de carro ou por trem? (Do you prefer to travel by car or by train?)
B

B

Prefiro ir por avião, é mais rápido. (I prefer to go by plane, it's faster.)
A

A

A encomenda chegou por correio ou por uma transportadora? (Did the package arrive by mail or by a shipping company?)
B

B

Chegou por uma transportadora, foi entregue por um motorista. (It arrived by a shipping company, it was delivered by a driver.)

أسئلة شائعة

Q

What's the main difference between por and para when expressing purpose?

Para typically expresses purpose or destination (

for the sake of,
to), while por implies cause, reason, or exchange (because of, on behalf of, in exchange for).

Q

Can por always be replaced by pelo/pela?

Pelo (por + o) and pela (por + a) are contractions of por with definite articles. They are used when por is followed by a masculine or feminine singular noun, respectively. So, no, por isn't *always* replaced; it depends on whether an article follows.

Q

How do native speakers use por to talk about approximate time?

They often use phrases like por volta de (around/approximately) or simply por followed by a general time period, like por estes dias (around these days).

السياق الثقافي

In everyday Portuguese, 'Por' is incredibly common and often used fluidly. Native speakers might sometimes use 'por' in ways that seem subtle to learners, especially in idiomatic expressions. For instance,
obrigado por...
(thank you *for*...) is a fixed expression using por to indicate the reason for gratitude.
While regional accents and common phrases vary, the core grammatical functions of 'por' remain consistent across Brazil and Portugal, making it universally understood and essential for authentic communication.

أمثلة رئيسية (6)

1

Eu paguei uma fortuna pelo novo iPhone.

I paid a fortune for the new iPhone.

حرف الجر Por: التعبير عن السبب، التبادل والمسار
2

Vamos passar pelo parque para chegar mais cedo.

Let's go through the park to arrive earlier.

حرف الجر Por: التعبير عن السبب، التبادل والمسار
3

Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.

I walked through the park this morning.

حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)
4

Ela gosta de correr pela praia ao pôr do sol.

She likes to run along the beach at sunset.

حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)
5

Eu vou ao ginásio três vezes **por** semana.

أذهب إلى النادي الرياضي ثلاث مرات في الأسبوع.

قول "لكل" أو "بواسطة": المعدلات مع Por (por dia, pelo quilo)
6

O limite de velocidade é 120 km **por** hora.

حد السرعة هو 120 كم في الساعة.

قول "لكل" أو "بواسطة": المعدلات مع Por (por dia, pelo quilo)

نصائح وحيل (4)

⚠️

قاعدة الـ 'Pum' المحرجة!

إياك تدمج 'por' مع 'um' أو 'uma'. لو قلتهم بسرعة ككلمة واحدة هتطلع زي كلمة 'pum' اللي معناها (فسوة)! خليك حذر وقول:
Fiz isso por um motivo.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': التعبير عن السبب والعلة
💡

Check the article

Whenever you see 'por' followed by 'o', 'a', 'os', or 'as', always contract it!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر Por: التعبير عن السبب، التبادل والمسار
💡

Contractions are mandatory

Never write 'por o' or 'por a'. Always use 'pelo' or 'pela'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)
💡

قاعدة الواتساب

لما تتكلم عن التطبيقات والمواقع، غالباً بنستخدم pelo لأن كلمات 'site' و 'aplicativo' مذكرة:
Falo com ele pelo WhatsApp.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': الوسائل والطرق والفاعلين

المفردات الرئيسية (7)

motivo reason troca exchange caminho path/way correio mail quilo kilogram durante during (often synonymous with por in time) através through

Real-World Preview

shopping-cart

At the Local Market

clock

Explaining a Delay

Review Summary

  • Verbo + por + Substantivo
  • Verbo de Movimento + pelo/pela + Local
  • Número + por + Unidade

أخطاء شائعة

Use 'para' for purpose (to do something) and 'por' for cause. Since seeing birds is the goal/purpose, 'para' is required.

Wrong: Vou para o parque por ver os pássaros.
صحيح: Vou ao parque para ver os pássaros.

In Portuguese, 'por' must contract with definite articles. 'Por' + 'a' always becomes 'pela'.

Wrong: Eu ando por a rua.
صحيح: Eu ando pela rua.

In passive voice, the agent (the person doing the action) is introduced by 'por', not 'para'.

Wrong: O livro foi escrito para Machado de Assis.
صحيح: O livro foi escrito por Machado de Assis.

القواعد في هذا الفصل (6)

1

حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': التعبير عن السبب والعلة

B1
بنستخدم por عشان نشرح 'ليه' الحاجة حصلت، يعني بنبص للسبب أو الدافع اللي ورانا. افتكر دايماً الكلمات دي: pelo، pela، و por causa de.
Obrigado por me ajudar com a mudança.
10 أمثلة
2

حرف الجر Por: التعبير عن السبب، التبادل والمسار

B1
Use 'por' (and its contractions pelo/pela) to describe the process, cause, route, or exchange, rather than the final destination.
Eu paguei uma fortuna pelo novo iPhone.
10 أمثلة
3

حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)

B1
Use 'por' (contracted as 'pelo/pela') for any movement that traverses a space or follows a specific path.
Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.
11 أمثلة
4

حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': الوسائل والطرق والفاعلين

B1
اتقن استخدام por عشان توضح 'إزاي' الحاجة حصلت أو 'مين' اللي عملها، واستخدم الاختصارات زي pelo و pela عشان تبان محترف.
Mandei a foto pelo WhatsApp.
11 أمثلة
5

قول "لكل" أو "بواسطة": المعدلات مع Por (por dia, pelo quilo)

B1
استخدم por كأداة شاملة للتعبير عن التكرار por dia، والسرعة، والتبادل pelo jantar.
Eu vou ao ginásio três vezes **por** semana.
10 أمثلة
6

استخدام Por للوقت (المدة والتقريب)

B1
استخدم por للتعبير عن مرور الوقت أو المدة، بينما para تحدد موعداً نهائياً. تذكر الكلمات المفتاحية: por للمدة، pela للفترات، و por volta de للتقريب.
Vou ficar offline por umas duas horas para estudar...
10 أمثلة

Next Steps

You've just unlocked one of the most versatile tools in the Portuguese language. Your ability to explain reasons and paths will make your conversations much more fluid. Keep practicing those contractions!

Narrate your walk to work/school using 'pelo/pela'.

Look at a grocery receipt and state prices 'por quilo'.

Continue to: Nuanced Comparisons and Passive Actions

تدريب سريع (10)

املأ الفراغ بالإدغام الصحيح لـ 'por'.

O e-mail foi enviado ___ (por + o) gerente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
كلمة 'gerente' هنا مذكرة مفردة، لذا ندمج 'por' + 'o' لتصبح 'pelo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': الوسائل والطرق والفاعلين

Choose the correct preposition.

Vou ___ casa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: para
Destination requires para.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)

Fill in the blank.

O projeto foi aprovado ___ diretoria.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
Diretoria is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)

Choose the correct preposition.

Vou ___ (por/para) Lisboa amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: para
Destination requires para.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر Por: التعبير عن السبب، التبادل والمسار

Choose the correct form.

___ você não veio?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Por que
Question form requires two words.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)

أي جملة تعبر بشكل صحيح عن وسيلة التواصل؟

اختر الإجابة الصحيحة:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vi a notícia pela internet.
نستخدم 'pela' (por + a) مع كلمة 'internet' للتعبير عن الوسيلة.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': الوسائل والطرق والفاعلين

Fill in the blank with the correct contraction.

Eu passei ___ parque.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Parque is masculine, so por + o = pelo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)

جد الخطأ وصححه في جملة المبني للمجهول.

A música foi cantada para a Shakira.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A música foi cantada pela Shakira.
في المبني للمجهول، الوكيل يُقدم بواسطة 'por' (أو 'pela' مع أداة التعريف).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر البرتغالي 'Por': الوسائل والطرق والفاعلين

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Fiz isso por que você pediu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: porque
Conjunction is 'porque'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حرف الجر Por: التعبير عن السبب، التبادل والمسار

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Fiz isso por o meu pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fiz isso pelo meu pai.
Por + o = pelo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: حروف الجر البرتغالية: عبر وعلى طول (Por)

Score: /10

أسئلة شائعة (6)

في البرتغالية، لازم ندمج حرف الجر مع أداة التعريف عشان الكلام يكون سلس، وده إلزامي في الكتابة والكلام: Obrigado pelo presente.
استخدم 'por causa de' لما تحب تكون محدد جداً وتأكد إن ده هو 'السبب المباشر':
Não saí por causa de você.
Usually, yes. You can also use 'por causa de', but 'por' is more concise.
Yes, for duration (e.g., 'por duas horas').
Use 'pelo' when 'por' is followed by the masculine article 'o'. It is a mandatory contraction.
It is common, but in informal Brazilian Portuguese, it is often omitted.
الفصل السابق
The Rules of Pronoun Placement
الفصل التالي
Nuanced Comparisons and Passive Actions
العودة إلى خارطة الطريق