B1 · Mittelstufe Kapitel 5

Expressing Cause, Path, and Rate with 'Por'

6 Gesamtregeln
62 Beispiele
5 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

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'.

Was du lernen wirst

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.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

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!

How This Grammar Works

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.

Common Mistakes

  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.

Real Conversations

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.)

Quick FAQ

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).

Cultural Context

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.

Wichtige Beispiele (8)

1

Obrigado por me ajudar com a mudança.

Danke, dass du mir beim Umzug geholfen hast.

Die portugiesische Präposition 'Por': Ursache und Grund ausdrücken
2

Ela não foi trabalhar pelo cansaço.

Sie ist wegen der Müdigkeit nicht zur Arbeit gegangen.

Die portugiesische Präposition 'Por': Ursache und Grund ausdrücken
3

Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.

Ich bin heute Morgen durch den Park gelaufen.

Portugiesische Präpositionen: Durch und Entlang (Por)
4

Ela gosta de correr pela praia ao pôr do sol.

Sie rennt gerne bei Sonnenuntergang am Strand entlang.

Portugiesische Präpositionen: Durch und Entlang (Por)
5

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

Ich gehe dreimal pro Woche ins Fitnessstudio.

„Pro“ oder „Je“ sagen: Raten mit Por (por dia, pelo quilo)
6

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

Das Tempolimit ist 120 km pro Stunde.

„Pro“ oder „Je“ sagen: Raten mit Por (por dia, pelo quilo)
7

Vou ficar offline por umas duas horas para estudar.

Ich werde für etwa zwei Stunden offline sein, um zu lernen.

Por für Zeit (Dauer & Ungefähr)
8

A gente se encontra por volta das 20h na frente do cinema?

Treffen wir uns gegen 20 Uhr vor dem Kino?

Por für Zeit (Dauer & Ungefähr)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

⚠️

Die 'Pum'-Regel

Verschmelze 'por' niemals mit 'um' oder 'uma'. Das klingt sonst wie 'pum' (Pups) und killt jede Unterhaltung:
Vou esperar por um momento.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Die portugiesische Präposition 'Por': Ursache und Grund ausdrücken
💡

Die 'Tausch-Regel'

Immer wenn Geld fließt oder du eine Sache gegen eine andere tauschst (auch Gefallen!), nimmst du 'Por'. Es ist die Präposition für Deals:
Eu troco mein café por um chá.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Präposition Por: Ursache, Austausch & Weg ausdrücken
🎯

Die GPS-Regel

Wenn du im Englischen 'via' sagen könntest, brauchst du fast immer 'por':
Mandei o documento por e-mail.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portugiesische Präpositionen: Durch und Entlang (Por)
💡

Die WhatsApp-Regel

Wenn du über Apps oder Websites sprichst, nimm fast immer 'pelo', weil 'aplicativo' und 'site' männlich sind:
Eu vi isso pelo Instagram.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Die portugiesische Präposition 'Por': Mittel, Methoden und Urheber

Wichtige Vokabeln (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

Häufige Fehler

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.
Richtig: 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.
Richtig: 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.
Richtig: O livro foi escrito por Machado de Assis.

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

Schnelle Übung (10)

Korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Chego lá para volta das 9.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chego lá por volta das 9.
Der feste Ausdruck für 'gegen [Uhrzeit]' ist 'por volta de'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Por für Zeit (Dauer & Ungefähr)

Welcher Satz bedeutet 'Ich gehe durch die Tür'?

Wähle den grammatikalisch korrekten Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu passo pela porta.
'Pela' ist die korrekte Verschmelzung von 'por + a' und drückt die Bewegung 'durch' aus.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portugiesische Präpositionen: Durch und Entlang (Por)

Wähle die richtige Übersetzung für 'Danke für die Pizza'.

Welcher Satz ist korrekt?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Obrigado pela pizza.
'Pizza' ist weiblich und spezifisch, also wird 'por' + 'a' zu 'pela'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: „Pro“ oder „Je“ sagen: Raten mit Por (por dia, pelo quilo)

Welcher Satz gibt eine Dauer korrekt an?

Wähle die richtige Option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou estudar por três horas.
'Por' wird für die Zeitdauer verwendet. 'Para' zeigt eine Deadline oder ein Ziel an.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Por für Zeit (Dauer & Ungefähr)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Verschmelzung (pelo, pela, pelos, pelas).

Ela está muito feliz ___ novo emprego.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
'Emprego' ist maskulin Singular, also nutzen wir 'por' + 'o' = 'pelo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Die portugiesische Präposition 'Por': Ursache und Grund ausdrücken

Korrigiere den Fehler bei der Präposition.

Find and fix the mistake:

O carro vai a 100km para hora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O carro vai a 100km por hora.
Geschwindigkeiten und Raten verlangen 'por' (pro), niemals 'para'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: „Pro“ oder „Je“ sagen: Raten mit Por (por dia, pelo quilo)

Vervollständige den Satz mit der richtigen Form von 'por' oder einer Verschmelzung.

Eu costumo ler notícias ___ manhã. (Ich lese normalerweise morgens Nachrichten.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
Da 'manhã' weiblich ist (a manhã), verschmilzt 'por' mit 'a' zu 'pela'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Por für Zeit (Dauer & Ungefähr)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Kontraktion von 'por' aus.

Nós caminhamos ______ (por + a) margem do rio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
Da 'margem' (Ufer) ein feminines Substantiv im Singular ist, wird 'por + a' zu 'pela'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portugiesische Präpositionen: Durch und Entlang (Por)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler in diesem Satz über die Ursache.

Não saímos por a chuva forte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não saímos pela chuva forte.
'Chuva' ist feminin Singular. 'Por' + 'a' muss zu 'pela' verschmelzen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Die portugiesische Präposition 'Por': Ursache und Grund ausdrücken

Vervollständige den Satz zur Häufigkeit.

Eu bebo café duas vezes ___ dia. (Ich trinke zweimal am Tag Kaffee)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: por
Für Häufigkeiten (Male pro Zeitraum) nutzen wir im Portugiesischen immer 'por'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: „Pro“ oder „Je“ sagen: Raten mit Por (por dia, pelo quilo)

Score: /10

Häufige Fragen (6)

Im Portugiesischen verschmelzen Präpositionen mit Artikeln für einen besseren Redefluss. 'Por' + 'o' wurde historisch zu 'pelo'. Das ist Pflicht! Obrigado pelo presente.
Nutze 'por causa de', wenn du die Ursache besonders betonen willst. Es ist wie 'speziell wegen'.
Não saí por causa de você.
Stell dir 'para' als Pfeil vor, der das Ziel trifft (Endstation), und 'por' als den Weg des Pfeils durch die Luft (Prozess, Grund). Nutze 'para' für das Wohin und 'por' für das Wie:
Vou para o Brasil por Portugal.
Das hängt vom nächsten Wort ab. Wenn ein bestimmter Artikel (o/a) folgt, verschmelzen sie. 'Durch DEN Park' wird zu pelo parque (por + o).
Klar! Zum Beispiel:
A água passa pelo cano
(Das Wasser fließt durch das Rohr). Es passt für alles, was einen Raum durchquert.
Das kommt aus dem Lateinischen. Das 'r' hat sich mit dem 'l' der alten Artikel vermischt: Pelo klingt einfach flüssiger.
Vorheriges Kapitel
The Rules of Pronoun Placement
Nächstes Kapitel
Nuanced Comparisons and Passive Actions
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