B1 · मध्यवर्ती चैप्टर 5

Expressing Cause, Path, and Rate with 'Por'

6 कुल नियम
62 उदाहरण
5 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

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'.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

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.

अध्याय गाइड

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.

मुख्य उदाहरण (4)

1

Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.

मैं आज सुबह पार्क के बीच से टहला।

पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग: माध्यम से और किनारे (Por)
2

Ela gosta de correr pela praia ao pôr do sol.

उसे सूर्यास्त के समय समुद्र तट के साथ दौड़ना पसंद है।

पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग: माध्यम से और किनारे (Por)
3

Vou ficar offline por umas duas horas para estudar.

I'm going to stay offline for about two hours to study.

समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)
4

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

Shall we meet around 8 PM in front of the cinema?

समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

⚠️

'Pum' वाला नियम

'por' को 'um' या 'uma' के साथ कभी मत जोड़ना। इन्हें अलग ही रखो:
Eu espero por um milagre.
अगर जोड़ दिया तो यह 'pum' (पाद) जैसा सुनाई देगा!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': कारण और तर्क व्यक्त करना
💡

'बदले' वाला नियम

जब भी पैसे का लेन-देन हो या एक चीज़ के बदले दूसरी चीज़ लेनी हो, तो 'Por' लगाओ। जैसे:
Eu troquei a maçã por uma banana.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preposition Por: कारण, आदान-प्रदान और रास्ता व्यक्त करना
🎯

GPS वाला नियम

अगर तुम इंग्लिश में 'via' बोल सकते हो, तो पुर्तगाली में पक्का 'por' लगेगा। जैसे:
Mandei o arquivo por e-mail.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग: माध्यम से और किनारे (Por)
💡

WhatsApp वाला नियम

ऐप्स और वेबसाइट्स के बारे में बात करते समय, लगभग हमेशा pelo का उपयोग करें क्योंकि 'aplicativo' और 'site' पुल्लिंग शब्द हैं:
Mandei a foto pelo WhatsApp.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': साधन, विधियाँ और एजेंट

मुख्य शब्दावली (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

सामान्य गलतियाँ

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

इस अध्याय के नियम (6)

1

पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': कारण और तर्क व्यक्त करना

B1
चीजों के पीछे का 'क्यों' बताने के लिए por का इस्तेमाल करो। याद रखो, यह हमेशा कारण या पुरानी वजह की ओर इशारा करता है। pelo, pela, por.
Obrigado por me ajudar com a mudança.
10 उदाहरण
2

Preposition Por: कारण, आदान-प्रदान और रास्ता व्यक्त करना

B1
जब बात किसी 'प्रोसेस', 'वजह', 'रास्ते' या 'बदले' की हो, तो por (और इसके रूप pelo, pela) का इस्तेमाल करो।
Eu paguei uma fortuna pelo novo iPhone.
10 उदाहरण
3

पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग: माध्यम से और किनारे (Por)

B1
जब भी किसी जगह के «बीच से» या «साथ-साथ» गुज़रना हो, तो por (जो pelo/pela बन जाता है) का इस्तेमाल करो।
Eu caminhei pelo parque hoje de manhã.
11 उदाहरण
4

पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': साधन, विधियाँ और एजेंट

B1
'Por' का जादू सीखो यह बताने के लिए कि काम कैसे हुआ और किसने किया, बस pelo और pela जैसे शब्दों का सही इस्तेमाल करना है।
Mandei a foto pelo WhatsApp.
11 उदाहरण
5

'प्रति' या 'द्वारा' कहना: Por के साथ दरें (por dia, pelo quilo)

B1
Por तुम्हारा ऑल-इन-वन टूल है रेट्स बताने, फ्रीक्वेंसी (por dia) दिखाने और किसी चीज़ के बदले (pelo jantar) कुछ देने के लिए।
Eu vou ao ginásio três vezes **por** semana.
10 उदाहरण
6

समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)

B1
Por describes the passage of time (duration) or vague periods, while Para sets a deadline.
Vou ficar offline por umas duas horas para estudar...
10 उदाहरण

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

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

इस वाक्य में गलती सुधारें।

Não saímos por a chuva forte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
'Chuva' स्त्रीलिंग एकवचन है। 'Por' + 'a' जुड़कर 'pela' बनना चाहिए।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': कारण और तर्क व्यक्त करना

Fill in the blank.

Vou à praia ___ fim de semana.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: por
Frequency uses 'por'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)

'मैं दरवाज़े से गुज़र रहा हूँ' के लिए सही वाक्य चुनें।

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu passo pela porta.
'Pela' सही जोड़ है, और यह दरवाज़े के 'बीच से' जाने के भाव को सही तरह से बताता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग: माध्यम से और किनारे (Por)

Fill in the blank with 'por' or 'para'.

Trabalhei ___ três horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: por
Duration requires 'por'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)

सही रूप (pelo, pela, pelos, pelas) से खाली जगह भरें।

Eu passo ___ centro da cidade todos os dias.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Centro पुल्लिंग एकवचन (o centro) है, इसलिए 'por' + 'o' मिलकर 'pelo' बन जाता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preposition Por: कारण, आदान-प्रदान और रास्ता व्यक्त करना

कौन सा वाक्य कारण को सही ढंग से बताता है?

सही वाक्य चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
'Tempo' पुल्लिंग है। वजह बताने के लिए 'por' का 'pelo' वाला रूप सही है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': कारण और तर्क व्यक्त करना

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele esperou por volta de uma hora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ambas A e B
Both are correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)

GPS वाले इस वाक्य में गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें।

O GPS diz para ir por o caminho mais curto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O GPS diz para ir pelo caminho mais curto.
जब 'caminho' (पुल्लिंग) जैसा शब्द आए, तो 'por + o' को जोड़कर 'pelo' बनाना ज़रूरी है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग: माध्यम से और किनारे (Por)

सही शब्द (pelo, pela, pelos, pelas) से खाली जगह भरें।

Ela está muito feliz ___ novo emprego.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
'Emprego' पुल्लिंग एकवचन है, इसलिए 'por' + 'o' = 'pelo' होगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पूर्वसर्ग 'Por': कारण और तर्क व्यक्त करना

Select the best option.

Eu ___ por muito tempo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: todas
All work with 'por'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: समय के लिए Por (अवधि और अनुमान)

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

पुर्तगाली में बोलने के बहाव के लिए preposition और article जुड़ जाते हैं। 'Por' + 'o' मिलकर 'pelo' बनता है और यह ज़रूरी है। Obrigado pelo presente.
जब तुम वजह पर बहुत ज़्यादा ज़ोर देना चाहते हो। जैसे 'सिर्फ तुम्हारी वजह से'।
É por causa de você.
'para' को एक तीर की तरह समझो जो निशाने (मंजिल) पर लगता है, और 'por' को उस रास्ते की तरह जिससे तीर गुज़रता है। जैसे:
Vou para o Brasil pelo mar.
अगले शब्द को देखो। अगर वह 'the' (o/a) वाला शब्द है, तो जोड़ दो। जैसे 'by THE park' होगा pelo parque (por + o)।
बिल्कुल! जैसे:
A água passa pelo cano
(पानी पाइप के रास्ते जाता है)। यह किसी भी चीज़ के लिए काम करता है जो एक जगह से गुज़र रही हो।
यह पुरानी पुर्तगाली भाषा के विकास की वजह से है। बोलने में आसानी के लिए 'por' और 'o' मिलकर pelo बन गए।
पिछला अध्याय
The Rules of Pronoun Placement
अगला अध्याय
Nuanced Comparisons and Passive Actions
रोडमैप पर वापस