B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 5

Expressing Cause, Path, and Rate with 'Por'

6 Règles totales
62 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

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'.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

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.

Guide du chapitre

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.

Exemples clés (8)

1

Obrigado por me ajudar com a mudança.

Merci de m'aider pour le déménagement.

La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Exprimer la cause et la raison
2

Ela não foi trabalhar pelo cansaço.

Elle n'est pas allée travailler à cause de la fatigue.

La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Exprimer la cause et la raison
3

Eu paguei uma fortuna pelo novo iPhone.

J'ai payé une fortune pour le nouvel iPhone.

Préposition Por : Exprimer la cause, l'échange et le chemin
4

Vamos passar pelo parque para chegar mais cedo.

Passons par le parc pour arriver plus tôt.

Préposition Por : Exprimer la cause, l'échange et le chemin
5

Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.

J'ai marché dans le parc ce matin.

Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)
6

Ela gosta de correr pela praia ao pôr do sol.

Elle aime courir le long de la plage au coucher du soleil.

Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)
7

Vou ficar offline por umas duas horas para estudar.

Je vais rester déconnecté pendant environ deux heures pour étudier.

Por pour le temps (Durée et Approximation)
8

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

On se retrouve vers 20h devant le cinéma ?

Por pour le temps (Durée et Approximation)

Conseils et astuces (4)

⚠️

La règle du 'Pum'

Ne contracte jamais 'por' avec 'um' ou 'uma'. Garde-les bien séparés :
Vou esperar por um amigo
. Si tu essaies de les fusionner, ça sonne comme 'pum' (un prout), ce qui casse direct l'ambiance !
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Exprimer la cause et la raison
💡

La règle de l'échange

Dès que de l'argent circule ou que tu troques un objet contre un autre, 'Por' est ton ami :
Troquei meu café por um chá.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Préposition Por : Exprimer la cause, l'échange et le chemin
🎯

La règle du GPS

Si tu peux remplacer le mot par 'via' en français, tu as presque toujours besoin de 'por' :
Vou pelo caminho mais curto.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)
💡

La règle WhatsApp

Pour les applis et sites web, utilise presque toujours pelo car 'aplicativo' et 'site' sont masculins :
Te mando a localização pelo WhatsApp.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Moyens, méthodes et agents

Vocabulaire clé (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

Erreurs courantes

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

Règles dans ce chapitre (6)

1

La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Exprimer la cause et la raison

B1
Utilise 'por' pour expliquer le 'pourquoi' d'une action en regardant vers le passé ou la cause. Tes mots-clés : causa, motivo, razão.
Obrigado por me ajudar com a mudança.
10 exemples
2

Préposition Por : Exprimer la cause, l'échange et le chemin

B1
Utilise por (et ses formes pelo/pela) pour décrire le processus, la cause, le trajet ou un échange, plutôt que la destination finale. Pense aux mots-clés trajet, échange et cause.
Eu paguei uma fortuna pelo novo iPhone.
10 exemples
3

Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)

B1
Utilise 'por' (contracté en pelo ou pela) pour tout mouvement qui traverse un lieu ou suit un trajet spécifique.
Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.
11 exemples
4

La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Moyens, méthodes et agents

B1
Maîtrise por pour expliquer comment les choses arrivent (moyen) et qui les fait (agent) en utilisant les contractions pelo et pela.
Mandei a foto pelo WhatsApp.
11 exemples
5

Dire "Par" ou "Le" : Les Taux avec Por (por dia, pelo quilo)

B1
Retiens que por est ton outil à tout faire pour les fréquences (por dia), les tarifs et les échanges (pelo jantar).
Eu vou ao ginásio três vezes **por** semana.
10 exemples
6

Por pour le temps (Durée et Approximation)

B1
Utilise por pour exprimer le passage du temps ou des moments flous, alors que para marque une date limite ou un objectif.
Vou ficar offline por umas duas horas para estudar...
10 exemples

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

Pratique rapide (10)

Quelle phrase est correcte pour dire 'Je passe par la porte' ?

Choisis la phrase grammaticalement correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu passo pela porta.
'Pela' est la contraction obligatoire de 'por + a' pour exprimer le passage à travers la porte.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)

Quelle phrase exprime correctement la raison ?

Choisis la bonne phrase :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Obrigado pelo seu tempo.
'Tempo' est masculin singulier. On utilise 'por' pour la raison et on le contracte avec l'article 'o'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Exprimer la cause et la raison

Complète avec la bonne contraction (pelo, pela, pelos, pelas).

Eu passo ___ centro da cidade todos os dias.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Centro est masculin singulier (o centro), donc 'por' + 'o' devient 'pelo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Préposition Por : Exprimer la cause, l'échange et le chemin

Quelle phrase exprime correctement un échange ?

Choisis la bonne phrase :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Comprei o livro por 20 reais.
Pour parler d'un prix ou d'un échange, on utilise toujours 'por'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Préposition Por : Exprimer la cause, l'échange et le chemin

Complète la phrase avec la bonne contraction de 'por'.

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
Comme 'margem' (la rive) est un nom féminin singulier, 'por + a' devient 'pela'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)

Quelle phrase indique correctement une durée ?

Choisis l'option correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou estudar por três horas.
'Por' est utilisé pour la durée du temps. 'Para' indique une date limite ou une destination.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Por pour le temps (Durée et Approximation)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase de GPS.

Find and fix the mistake:

O GPS diz para ir por o caminho mais curto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O GPS diz para ir pelo caminho mais curto.
'Por + o' doit se contracter en 'pelo' devant un nom masculin singulier comme 'caminho'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Portugaises : Par et Le long de (Por)

Quelle phrase exprime correctement le moyen de communication ?

Choisis la bonne option :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vi a notícia pela internet.
On utilise 'pela' (por + a) pour 'internet' pour indiquer le support ou le moyen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Moyens, méthodes et agents

Complète la phrase avec la bonne contraction de 'por'.

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Le nom 'gerente' est masculin singulier ici, donc 'por' + 'o' = 'pelo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Moyens, méthodes et agents

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase à la voix passive.

A música foi cantada para a Shakira.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A música foi cantada pela Shakira.
À la voix passive, l'agent est introduit par 'por' (ou 'pela' avec l'article).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La préposition portugaise 'Por' : Moyens, méthodes et agents

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

En portugais, on adore contracter les mots pour que ça glisse mieux. 'Por' + 'o' est devenu 'pelo' avec le temps. C'est obligatoire, par exemple : Obrigado pelo presente.
Utilise 'por causa de' quand tu veux être super précis sur la cause. C'est comme dire 'spécifiquement à cause de' :
Não saí por causa de você.
Imagine 'para' comme la flèche qui touche la cible (but) et 'por' comme la flèche qui vole (trajet, cause). Utilise 'para' pour ta destination et 'por' pour le chemin :
Vou para casa por este caminho.
Regarde le mot suivant. S'il y a un article défini (le/la), tu contractes. 'Par le parc' devient pelo parque (por + o). Si c'est juste 'par chance', ça reste por sorte.
Oui, tout à fait ! Par exemple :
A água passa pelo cano
(L'eau passe par le tuyau). Ça marche pour tout ce qui traverse un espace.
C'est une question d'évolution du latin. Le 'r' de 'por' s'est mélangé aux sons 'l' des anciens articles. C'est juste plus fluide à dire : Vou pelo caminho.
Chapitre précédent
The Rules of Pronoun Placement
Chapitre suivant
Nuanced Comparisons and Passive Actions
Retour à la feuille de route