Portuguese Prepositions: Through and Along (Por)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'por' to describe movement through a space, the cause of an action, or the duration of time.
- Movement through: 'Caminhamos por Lisboa' (We walked through Lisbon).
- Cause/Reason: 'Não fui por causa da chuva' (I didn't go because of the rain).
- Duration: 'Estudei por duas horas' (I studied for two hours).
Overview
The Portuguese preposition por is a multifaceted word, critical for articulating various relationships, including cause, duration, exchange, and means. At the B1 CEFR level, you are expected to grasp its fundamental application in describing movement through or along a space. This specific function of por serves as a linguistic connector, delineating the trajectory of an action rather than merely its ultimate destination or point of origin.
It conveys the concept of traversing, passing across, or following a particular route, whether the movement is physical or conceptual.
While English frequently employs distinct prepositions such as "through," "along," "via," or "by," depending on the specific context, Portuguese often unifies these meanings under por. Mastering this usage is paramount for fluent and natural communication, enabling you to articulate not only where something is going, but also how it navigates its environment. The core insight is that por describes the path itself, the medium of passage, or the surface being followed, consistently emphasizing the journey over the final endpoint.
How This Grammar Works
por when expressing "through" and "along" is its capacity to signify traversal. This principle involves movement from one side of a defined space to another, following a linear trajectory alongside an object, or utilizing a specific medium as a conduit. Por functions to outline the path taken by a subject or an object, detailing the intermediate stages of a journey or the territory covered, or the specific route chosen.por can be broadly categorized into three primary interpretations:- Passing Through a Space: This implies entering a delimited space and subsequently exiting it, or moving entirely within its boundaries from one point to another. The space functions as a container or an element that is navigated. For example,
Passamos pela floresta(We passed through the forest). Here, the forest is the integral space being traversed from one side to another. - Moving Along a Path or Surface: This describes movement that occurs parallel to an extended feature, adhering to its course, or following its boundary. This application is common for geographical features like rivers and coasts, or linear structures such as roads and corridors. For instance,
Caminhamos pela margem do rio(We walked along the riverbank). In this case,porindicates the action of following the river's edge. - Using a Medium or Channel:
Poralso specifies the means or channel through which an action is executed, even if the action is not strictly physical locomotion. This is particularly relevant in contemporary communication contexts.Enviei a mensagem pelo email(I sent the message via email). Here, the email serves as the instrumental conduit for the transmission of the message.
por in these scenarios, as it highlights the dynamic nature of the action and the continuous engagement with the path or medium.Formation Pattern
por regularly undergoes an obligatory contraction with definite articles (o, a, os, as) that immediately follow it. This grammatical rule is a cornerstone of standard Portuguese and is essential for achieving fluent and natural expression. Failure to contract por with an article results in grammatically incorrect and notably awkward phrasing.
por + Article | Resulting Contraction | Gender & Number |
por + o | pelo | Masculine Singular |
por + a | pela | Feminine Singular |
por + os | pelos | Masculine Plural |
por + as | pelas | Feminine Plural |
Eu andei por o parque. becomes Eu andei pelo parque. (I walked through the park.) The noun parque is masculine singular, requiring pelo.
Nós passamos por a cidade. becomes Nós passamos pela cidade. (We passed through the city.) The noun cidade is feminine singular, requiring pela.
Os livros foram enviados por os correios. becomes Os livros foram enviados pelos correios. (The books were sent via the post office.) The noun correios is masculine plural, requiring pelos.
Eles viajam por as autoestradas. becomes Eles viajam pelas autoestradas. (They travel along the highways.) The noun autoestradas is feminine plural, requiring pelas.
por does not necessitate a definite article, then no contraction takes place, and por is used in its unconjugated form. This situation arises when the noun is indefinite, refers to a generalized concept, or is a proper noun that conventionally does not take an article.
Vou enviar a informação por email. (I will send the information via email.) Here, email is used as a generic means, not a specific, defined email.
Viajámos por avião. (We traveled by plane.) avião is treated as a general mode of transport.
Passaremos por Lisboa a caminho do Porto. (We will pass through Lisbon on the way to Porto.) Lisboa is a proper noun, typically used without a definite article.
When To Use It
por to signify "through" or "along" is extensive, covering a wide array of literal and figurative contexts. Proficiently employing these applications is indispensable for expressing precise movements and various means of transit.- Physical Movement Through a Delimited Space: Use
porwhen a subject physically moves inside or across a defined area, transitioning from one point within it to another. This area can be enclosed or open, but the fundamental sense of penetration or traversal is paramount. The space is actively navigated. Caminhámos pelo túnel escuro.(We walked through the dark tunnel.) This highlights the action of moving from one entrance of the tunnel to its exit.Ele espreitou pela janela.(He peeked through the window.) This implies that his gaze passed through the opening provided by the window frame.Passamos pela cidade para chegar à praia.(We passed through the city to get to the beach.) Here, the urban area served as the route for their journey.
- Movement Along a Linear Path, Surface, or Perimeter:
Poris the correct choice when movement occurs alongside an extended geographical feature or an architectural element, adhering to its course, or following its boundary. This is common for roads, rivers, coastlines, or corridors. Corremos pela praia ao nascer do sol.(We ran along the beach at sunrise.) This describes a trajectory parallel to the stretch of the coastline.O rio corre pelo vale.(The river runs through/along the valley.) This signifies the river's continuous course within the confines of the valley.Andámos pelos corredores do museu.(We walked along the museum corridors.) This conveys the act of following the length of the various corridors within the museum.
- Means of Transportation or Communication (Via/By): In this specific context,
poridentifies the channel, vehicle, or method used to facilitate movement or communication. It designates the intermediary conduit. Viajámos por comboio até Coimbra.(We traveled by train to Coimbra.) Thecomboio(train) is explicitly identified as the mode of transport.A notícia espalhou-se pela internet.(The news spread via the internet.) The internet is the medium through which the information disseminated.Fizemos a reserva por telefone.(We made the reservation by phone.) Thetelefoneserved as the instrument of communication for the reservation.
- General Direction or Approximate Area (Informal): In colloquial and less formal speech,
porcan indicate a general direction to move through or around, or an approximate locality. Vamos por aqui.(Let's go this way/through here.) This is used when pointing to a general route or shortcut.Ele vive por Lisboa.(He lives around/near Lisbon.) This implies residence within the general vicinity or metropolitan area of Lisbon.
- Time Period (Throughout/During): While
poralso functions to denote duration, it can, in some instances, imply passing throughout an entire period, highlighting the continuity of an action within that timeframe. Estudou por toda a noite.(He studied throughout the whole night.) This conveys that the studying spanned the entirety of the night.
por serves to illustrate the path, the medium, or the extent of interaction with a given space or channel. It effectively answers the question "how?" or "by what route?" rather than simply "where to?".Common Mistakes
por due to linguistic interference, particularly from English, which employs a broader array of prepositions for analogous concepts. Recognizing and comprehending these common errors is critical for achieving accurate and idiomatic usage.- Confusing
porwithpara: This is arguably the most pervasive error among Portuguese learners. Paraconsistently indicates a destination, purpose, or a definitive direction towards an endpoint. It signifies the ultimate goal or target of an action.Vou para a praia.(I'm going to the beach.) The beach is the explicit destination.Porconsistently indicates a path, traversal, or the means by which an action occurs. It signifies the route taken or the medium utilized.Passei pela praia.(I passed through/along the beach.) The beach functions as the path traversed during the passage.- Common Mistake: Using
Vou para a florestawhen the intention is "I'm passing through the forest." The correct phrasing would beVou pela floresta. The incorrect usage implies that the forest is the final destination, rather than a route.
- Overusing
através de: While English "through" can sometimes be translated asatravés de, this Portuguese phrase is often more formal or denotes a more literal, sometimes forceful, crossing. For the vast majority of physical movements through a space,por(or its contractionspelo/pela) is the natural, common, and idiomatic choice in everyday speech. Eu caminhei através da floresta.(I walked through the forest.) While grammatically acceptable,Eu caminhei pela florestais considerably more natural and frequently used for simple physical traversal.Através deis better reserved for abstract concepts or means of perception, such asver através dos olhos de alguém(to see through someone's eyes) oraprender através da experiência(to learn through experience). Employingatravés defor routine physical movement can sound unduly formal or even somewhat stilted.
- Omitting
por+ article contractions: As detailed in the Formation Pattern, the failure to contractporwith a following definite article (e.g., sayingpor oinstead ofpelo, orpor ainstead ofpela) is a strong indicator of a non-native speaker. These contractions are an obligatory grammatical feature of Portuguese. - Common Mistake:
Andamos por a rua.(Incorrect grammar). - Correct Usage:
Andamos pela rua.(We walked along the street.)
- Substituting
emforporwhen describing movement along a surface: The prepositionem(in/on) fundamentally denotes a static position or location. In contrast,poris used to describe movement along or through a surface or space, emphasizing the trajectory rather than the fixed placement. Os carros estão na rua.(The cars are on the street.) This describes a static location.Os carros passaram pela rua.(The cars passed along the street.) This describes movement and traversal.- Common Mistake:
Corri na praia.(This implies running while on the beach, but does not convey the primary sense of moving along its length). - Correct Usage:
Corri pela praia.(I ran along the beach, emphasizing the path).
- Misinterpreting English "by" in relation to
por: The English preposition "by" is highly polysemous, meaning proximity, means, or agency. Portugueseporaccurately covers means and agency but does not consistently translate to proximity in the same way. When English "by" means "along" (e.g., "by the river"),poris the correct translation. However, when "by" means "next to" (e.g., "by the door"), prepositions likeao lado deorperto dewould be appropriate. Passei pelo rio.(I passed along/by the river.)Ele está ao lado do rio.(He is next to the river.)
por.Real Conversations
Examining the usage of por in authentic, daily Portuguese interactions is invaluable for understanding its natural rhythm and idiomatic expressions, moving beyond mere textbook examples. These scenarios illustrate typical exchanges in both European and Brazilian Portuguese, demonstrating how por integrates into fluent speech.
1. Discussing Routes and Shortcuts:
- A: Como é que chegaste aqui tão rápido? (How did you get here so fast?)
- B: Ah, cortei caminho pelo parque. É mais curto. (Oh, I cut through the park. It's shorter.)
- Linguistic Insight: cortar caminho pelo parque is a very common and natural idiom for taking a shortcut through a park, illustrating por for physical traversal.
2. Describing Commutes and Scenic Paths:
- A: Costumas ir trabalhar pela marginal? (Do you usually go to work along the coast road?)
- B: Sim, gosto da vista. E tu, vens pela autoestrada? (Yes, I like the view. And you, do you come via the highway?)
- Linguistic Insight: marginal (coast road) specifically refers to a road running alongside the coast, and pela aptly describes movement along its length. Vens pela autoestrada? similarly indicates the route taken.
3. Digital Interaction and Communication Channels:
- A: Recebeste o email que te enviei pela plataforma? (Did you receive the email I sent you via the platform?)
- B: Ainda não vi. Vou verificar já agora pelo telemóvel. (I haven't seen it yet. I'll check now on my phone.)
- Linguistic Insight: pela plataforma and pelo telemóvel are excellent examples of por specifying the digital medium or device through which an action (sending/checking an email) is performed.
4. Giving Directions to a Location:
- A: Onde é a padaria? (Where's the bakery?)
- B: É só ir por aquela rua e virar à direita. (Just go along that street and turn right.)
- Linguistic Insight: ir por aquela rua is a straightforward and common way to instruct someone to follow a particular street as their path. The use of por makes the direction clear and natural.
5. Referring to General Locality or Incidental Passage:
- A: Sabes se a Ana ainda mora por aqui? (Do you know if Ana still lives around here?)
- B: Acho que sim, vejo-a a passar pela rua de vez em quando. (I think so, I see her passing along the street from time to time.)
- Linguistic Insight: por aqui signifies
Contractions of 'Por'
| Preposition | Article | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
|
por
|
o
|
pelo
|
|
por
|
a
|
pela
|
|
por
|
os
|
pelos
|
|
por
|
as
|
pelas
|
Common Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
Por que
|
Why
|
|
Por causa de
|
Because of
|
|
Por fim
|
Finally
|
|
Por acaso
|
By chance
|
Meanings
The preposition 'por' is a versatile tool used to express movement through a physical space, the reason or cause behind an event, and the duration of time.
Movement through
Passing through or along a location.
“O trem passa por aqui.”
“Caminhamos por todo o parque.”
Cause or Reason
Indicating the motive for an action.
“Fiz isso por você.”
“Ele está triste por causa do trabalho.”
Duration
How long an action lasts.
“Vou ficar por uma semana.”
“Eles conversaram por horas.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Sujeito + verbo + por + local
|
Eu vou pelo parque.
|
|
Negative
|
Sujeito + não + verbo + por + local
|
Eu não vou pelo parque.
|
|
Question
|
Por que + verbo + sujeito?
|
Por que você vai pelo parque?
|
|
Duration
|
Verbo + por + tempo
|
Fiquei por uma hora.
|
|
Cause
|
Verbo + por + motivo
|
Fiz por amor.
|
|
Agent
|
Verbo passivo + por + agente
|
Foi feito por mim.
|
Formality Spectrum
Transitarei pelo parque. (Daily movement)
Vou passar pelo parque. (Daily movement)
Vou pelo parque. (Daily movement)
Vou ali pelo parque. (Daily movement)
Uses of Por
Movement
- pelo parque through the park
Cause
- por medo out of fear
Time
- por horas for hours
Examples by Level
Eu passo pelo parque.
I pass through the park.
Vou por aqui.
I am going this way.
Estudo por uma hora.
I study for one hour.
Fiz isso por você.
I did this for you.
O ônibus passa pela rua principal.
The bus passes through the main street.
Não fui à festa por causa da chuva.
I didn't go to the party because of the rain.
Eles viajaram por todo o país.
They traveled through the whole country.
Por que você está triste?
Why are you sad?
O projeto foi aprovado pelo diretor.
The project was approved by the director.
Andamos por horas sem parar.
We walked for hours without stopping.
Ele foi multado por excesso de velocidade.
He was fined for speeding.
Por fim, conseguimos terminar.
Finally, we managed to finish.
A decisão foi tomada por consenso.
The decision was made by consensus.
Passamos por dificuldades financeiras.
We went through financial difficulties.
Ele é conhecido por sua generosidade.
He is known for his generosity.
Por mais que eu tente, não consigo.
As much as I try, I can't.
A obra foi traduzida por um especialista.
The work was translated by an expert.
Por entre as árvores, vi o sol.
Through the trees, I saw the sun.
Ele agiu por impulso.
He acted on impulse.
Porventura você sabe onde ele está?
By any chance do you know where he is?
Por conseguinte, a medida foi revogada.
Consequently, the measure was revoked.
Ele foi aclamado por toda a multidão.
He was acclaimed by the whole crowd.
Por mais que se argumente, a lei é clara.
No matter how much one argues, the law is clear.
O caminho por onde passamos era estreito.
The path through which we passed was narrow.
Easily Confused
Both are prepositions that translate to 'for' in English.
They sound identical but have different functions.
Learners forget gender agreement.
Common Mistakes
Vou por o parque
Vou pelo parque
Vou por casa
Vou para casa
Estudo por o dia
Estudo pelo dia
Por que você vai?
Por que você vai?
Fiz isso para você (meaning 'because of you')
Fiz isso por você
Caminhei para a floresta (meaning 'through')
Caminhei pela floresta
Ele trabalha por dinheiro (meaning 'for the purpose of')
Ele trabalha para ganhar dinheiro
O bolo foi feito para a Maria (meaning 'by Maria')
O bolo foi feito pela Maria
Vou por o centro
Vou pelo centro
Ele está aqui por estudar
Ele está aqui para estudar
Por entre as casas (incorrect usage)
Por entre as casas
Por conseguinte (wrong context)
Por conseguinte
Ele foi visto por o vizinho
Ele foi visto pelo vizinho
Por mais que ele tenta
Por mais que ele tente
Sentence Patterns
Eu passo ___ ___.
Não fui ___ ___ da chuva.
Estudei ___ ___ horas.
O livro foi escrito ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Vou viajar por toda a Europa.
Por que vc n veio?
Fui responsável por este projeto.
O pedido foi entregue pelo motoboy.
Estou feliz por você!
Siga por esta rua.
Contractions are mandatory
Por vs Para
Duration
Por que vs Porque
Smart Tips
Use 'por causa de' instead of just 'por' for clarity.
Always check if you need to use 'pelo'.
Always use two words for 'why'.
Switch to 'para'.
Pronunciation
Contraction Pronunciation
Pelo is pronounced 'PEH-loo' in Brazil and 'PEH-lu' in Portugal.
Question intonation
Por que você vai? ↗
Rising intonation at the end for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'POR' as the 'Path, Occasion, and Range' (time).
Visual Association
Imagine a person walking through a tunnel (Path), holding a gift because it's a birthday (Occasion), and waiting for an hour (Range).
Rhyme
Para is the goal, the destination you see, but Por is the path, the cause, and the time for me.
Story
Maria walked through (por) the city. She was happy because of (por) the sunshine. She stayed there for (por) three hours.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day using 'por' for movement, cause, and duration.
Cultural Notes
Brazilians often omit 'por' in duration (e.g., 'Estudei duas horas').
Portuguese speakers are more likely to keep the 'por' in duration.
The phrase 'por causa de' is the standard way to express causality.
Comes from the Latin 'per', meaning 'through'.
Conversation Starters
Por que você está aprendendo português?
Você costuma passar pelo centro da cidade?
Por quanto tempo você pretende ficar aqui?
Você já passou por alguma situação engraçada?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu passei ___ parque.
Vou ___ casa.
Find and fix the mistake:
Fiz isso por o meu pai.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I did it because of you.
Answer starts with: Fiz...
___ você não veio?
O projeto foi aprovado ___ diretoria.
Build a sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu passei ___ parque.
Vou ___ casa.
Find and fix the mistake:
Fiz isso por o meu pai.
por / horas / conversamos / três
I did it because of you.
___ você não veio?
O projeto foi aprovado ___ diretoria.
Build a sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesEles viajaram ______ (por + os) Estados Unidos.
Eu vi o vídeo através do YouTube.
rua / Ele / pela / caminha
We go through the park.
Along the beaches:
O passarinho voou ______ janela.
Match these paths:
Choose the phrase for 'this way':
Mandei as fotos ______ (por + as) redes sociais.
Eu olhei para o buraco da fechadura.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
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.
Ask yourself: is it a path/cause (por) or a destination/purpose (para)?
Yes, e.g., 'por volta das oito' (around eight).
Because it is a question. 'Porque' (one word) is for answers.
Yes, to introduce the agent (the person doing the action).
Yes, especially regarding the omission of 'por' in duration.
Confusing 'por' with 'para'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
por
The contractions are slightly different (e.g., 'por el' in Spanish vs 'pelo' in Portuguese).
par
French uses 'pendant' for duration.
durch
German separates movement and cause into different prepositions.
o / de / tame ni
Japanese is a postpositional language.
min khilal / bi-sabab
Arabic does not have a single preposition that covers all three functions.
tōngguò / yīnwèi
Chinese lacks a direct prepositional equivalent for 'por'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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