A1 Prepositions & Connectors 15 min read Easy

Going Places: Preposition A (ao, à)

Use 'a' for movement toward a place, specific times, and fixed expressions like 'on foot' or 'by hand'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'ao' for masculine and 'à' for feminine nouns when indicating movement toward a destination.

  • Use 'ao' before masculine nouns: 'Vou ao mercado' (I'm going to the market).
  • Use 'à' before feminine nouns: 'Vou à praia' (I'm going to the beach).
  • Use 'a' before names of cities or countries that don't take an article: 'Vou a Lisboa'.
A + [Masculine Article O] = AO | A + [Feminine Article A] = À

Overview

In Portuguese, the preposition a is a fundamental element for expressing movement, time, manner, and other relationships. Unlike single prepositions in languages like English, a frequently combines with definite articles (o, a, os, as) to form contractions. This process, known as crase when it involves two a sounds merging, is a cornerstone of Portuguese grammar, crucial for both comprehension and accurate expression, even at the beginner A1 level.

Understanding a and its contracted forms (ao, à, aos, às) is essential for describing movement to destinations, indicating specific times, and articulating how actions are performed. This rule is often challenging due to the mandatory contractions, which require careful attention to gender and number of the subsequent noun.

How This Grammar Works

The preposition a functions as a connector, establishing a relationship between a verb, noun, or adjective and a subsequent noun or pronoun. Its primary linguistic role is to indicate direction toward a place, point in time, or manner of action. The complexity arises because Portuguese, like other Romance languages, seeks to avoid the phonetic awkwardness of two adjacent vowels from different word types.
When the preposition a is followed by a definite article (e.g., o for masculine singular, a for feminine singular), these two words merge into a single contracted form. This phonological rule is consistently applied across standard Portuguese, ensuring a smoother flow of speech.
Consider the phrase "going to the bank." In English, to is the preposition and the is the article. In Portuguese, ir (to go) requires the preposition a to indicate direction. Since banco (bank) is a masculine noun, it takes the masculine definite article o.
The preposition a and the article o cannot stand separately (a o banco). Instead, they contract to ao (ir ao banco). This contraction is not merely a stylistic choice but a mandatory grammatical rule.
For feminine nouns, the situation is similar but involves the phenomenon of crase. When the preposition a is followed by the feminine definite article a, they merge into à. This contraction is marked by a grave accent (à), which serves as a visual indicator that two a's have combined.
For example, ir (to go) + a (preposition) + a (article for escola, feminine noun) becomes ir à escola. This grave accent is vital for distinguishing the contracted à from the simple feminine article a or the preposition a standing alone.
These contractions simplify pronunciation and are integral to the structure of Portuguese sentences. The choice between a (uncontracted) and ao/à/aos/às depends entirely on whether the noun following the preposition requires a definite article and its gender and number. If the noun does not take a definite article (e.g., Portugal in ir a Portugal), the preposition a remains uncontracted.

Formation Pattern

1
Understanding the contractions of the preposition a with definite articles is crucial for correct usage. These contractions are not optional; they are a mandatory feature of standard Portuguese grammar. The process involves merging the preposition a with the masculine singular (o), feminine singular (a), masculine plural (os), and feminine plural (as) definite articles. The resulting forms create a seamless connection between the verb (or other requiring element) and the noun it governs. The grave accent (à) is exclusively used for the feminine singular contraction, indicating the merger of the preposition a and the feminine definite article a.
2
Here's a breakdown of the contractions:
3
| Preposition | + Definite Article | = Contracted Form | Example Phrase (Translation) |
4
|:--------------|:-------------------|:------------------|:--------------------------------------------|
5
| a (to/at) | o (the, masc. sg.) | ao | Vou ao mercado. (I'm going to the market.) |
6
| a (to/at) | a (the, fem. sg.) | à | Vou à praia. (I'm going to the beach.) |
7
| a (to/at) | os (the, masc. pl.)| aos | Vou aos escritórios. (I'm going to the offices.) |
8
| a (to/at) | as (the, fem. pl.) | às | Vou às aulas. (I'm going to the classes.) |
9
It is important to note that the contraction à (with the grave accent) specifically signifies the presence of the preposition a AND the feminine definite article a. If a is followed by a feminine noun that does not require an article (e.g., proper names, some place names), then the preposition a remains a without the accent. For instance, Vou a Lisboa (I'm going to Lisbon) because Lisboa does not typically take a definite article.
10
Similarly, when the preposition a is followed by a masculine noun that does not require an article, it remains a. For example, Ele dedicou a sua vida a Deus (He dedicated his life to God), where Deus does not take an article. This distinction is crucial for understanding when to use a versus ao or à.

When To Use It

The preposition a and its contracted forms are indispensable for a variety of grammatical constructions in Portuguese. Its usage extends beyond simple directional movement, encompassing expressions of time, manner, distance, and even specific verb complements.
1. Expressing Movement to a Destination:
This is the most common and fundamental use of a. It indicates the direction toward a specific place. Verbs of motion, such as ir (to go), chegar (to arrive), voltar (to return), levar (to take/carry), and vir (to come), frequently require the preposition a to introduce their destination.
The a here typically suggests a movement towards, often with an implication of a temporary stay or simply reaching a point.
  • Vou ao trabalho todos os dias. (I go to work every day.)
  • Chegámos à estação a tempo. (We arrived at the station on time.)
  • Ele foi aos Estados Unidos o mês passado. (He went to the United States last month.)
When referring to cities or countries, the use of the definite article (and thus the contraction) depends on whether the geographical name typically takes an article. Many cities do not take articles, while some countries do.
  • Vou a Paris. (I'm going to Paris.) - No article for Paris.
  • Vou ao Brasil. (I'm going to Brazil.) - Brasil takes the masculine article o.
  • Vou à Alemanha. (I'm going to Germany.) - Alemanha takes the feminine article a.
2. Indicating Specific Times or Time Periods:
The preposition a is used to specify when an event occurs, particularly with hours and certain time expressions. In this context, it functions similarly to "at" in English.
  • A reunião é às dez horas. (The meeting is at ten o'clock.)
  • Encontramo-nos à noite. (We meet at night.)
  • Acordei à meia-noite. (I woke up at midnight.)
Note that for specific hours, the contraction às (preposition a + feminine plural article as) is almost always used, as horas (hours) is feminine plural, even if implicitly. For à noite and à tarde, the a combines with the feminine singular article because noite and tarde are feminine nouns, forming à.
3. Describing Manner or Mode of Action:
A can also introduce the way in which something is done or the means used, often translating to "by" or "on."
  • Prefiro viajar a pé. (I prefer to travel on foot.)
  • Escrevo à mão. (I write by hand.)
  • Trabalho à máquina. (I work by machine/typewriter.)
In these constructions, the noun following a usually does not take an article (e.g., pé, mão, máquina in these fixed expressions). However, if the noun requires an article in other contexts, the contraction would occur if appropriate.
4. Expressing Distance:
To state how far away something is, a is used with a numerical value followed by a unit of distance.
  • A minha casa fica a cinco quilómetros da praia. (My house is five kilometers from the beach.)
  • Estamos a cem metros do destino. (We are a hundred meters from the destination.)
5. Indicating Price or Rate:
When expressing the price per unit or a rate, a serves a similar function to "per" or "at."
  • Vendemos a fruta ao quilo. (We sell the fruit by the kilo.)
  • Pagou à hora. (He paid by the hour.)
6. With Verbs That Require a (Verb Complements):
Certain verbs in Portuguese inherently require the preposition a to introduce their indirect object or complement. These are known as transitive indirect verbs or verbs that take a prepositional complement. While many of these are more common at higher CEFR levels, some appear early.
  • Começar a fazer algo. (To start to do something.)
  • Ajudar a alguém. (To help someone/to someone.)
  • Obedecer ao professor. (To obey the teacher.) - professor is masculine, so a + o = ao.
  • Assistir ao filme. (To watch the film.) - In European Portuguese, assistir means 'to watch' and takes a. In Brazilian Portuguese, assistir (to watch) often takes no preposition, but assistir a means 'to assist' or 'to attend' (assistir ao jogo - to attend the game). (EP/BP difference)
7. Fixed Expressions:
Many idiomatic expressions and common phrases in Portuguese incorporate a or its contractions. These often do not follow a simple logical rule but are learned as complete units.
  • Ficar à vontade. (To make oneself at home/feel comfortable.)
  • Fazer algo à moda antiga. (To do something the old-fashioned way.)
  • Pagar à vista. (To pay in cash.)

Common Mistakes

Even at an A1 level, learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when navigating the use of a and its contractions. These errors often stem from direct translation from English or a lack of understanding of Portuguese's unique grammatical structures.
  • Confusion between a (preposition) and a (feminine definite article): A beginner might see a menina (the girl) and mistakenly assume a always means "the." It is crucial to remember that the preposition a exists independently and acts as a connector. When you say Vou a escola, you are using the preposition a but omitting the required definite article a for escola.
  • Omitting the Crase (the grave accent à): This is perhaps the most common and visually noticeable error. Writing Vou a praia instead of Vou à praia is grammatically incorrect. The rule is that if the preposition a is required AND the following feminine singular noun also requires the feminine definite article a, then crase must occur. A simple test: replace the feminine noun with a similar masculine noun. If the masculine noun takes o (e.g., banco), then the feminine noun takes à.
  • Vou à escola. (Feminine escola takes a. Test: Vou ao banco.)
  • Vou a casa. (No crase if casa means 'home' and is not specified, e.g., 'the big house.' Test: Vou a casa vs. Vou à casa da Maria.)
  • Vou a Portugal. (No crase because Portugal does not take an article.)
  • Confusing a with para: While both can express direction, their nuance differs significantly. A generally implies movement towards a destination, often for a shorter duration or simply reaching a point. Para conveys destination with intent, purpose, or a longer, more permanent stay, similar to "for" or "in order to." For A1 learners, thinking of a for brief trips or simple direction and para for moving permanently or going somewhere for a reason is a good starting point.
  • Vou ao supermercado. (I'm going to the supermarket - likely a quick trip for groceries.)
  • Vou para o Brasil. (I'm going to Brazil - implying moving there, a long trip, or for a specific purpose.)
  • Using em for movement (especially in BP): In colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, it is very common to hear and use em and its contractions (no, na) with verbs of motion, such as ir. For example, Vou no banheiro (I'm going to the bathroom). While this is widely understood and used colloquially, especially in Brazil, standard grammar (both BP and EP) prescribes a for movement to a destination. Therefore, Vou ao banheiro is grammatically correct. Learners aiming for standard Portuguese should adhere to a for movement.
  • Forgetting contractions with plural articles: Just as a + o becomes ao, a + os becomes aos, and a + as becomes às. Neglecting these plural contractions, such as saying Vou a os museus instead of Vou aos museus, is a common error.
  • Ignoring fixed expressions: Some expressions consistently use a or its contractions without a clear logical reason. Trying to apply the general rules can lead to errors. Learning these as vocabulary items is essential.

Real Conversations

In everyday Portuguese, the preposition a and its contracted forms are ubiquitous. From casual greetings to scheduling and describing daily activities, mastering these constructions is key to sounding natural and being correctly understood.

E

Example 1

Planning an outing
M

Maria

* Olá, Pedro! O que vais fazer à tarde? (Hi, Pedro! What are you doing in the afternoon?)
P

Pedro

* Vou ao centro comercial para comprar um presente. (I'm going to the shopping center to buy a present.)
M

Maria

* Ah, posso ir contigo? Talvez vá às lojas também. (Oh, can I go with you? Maybe I'll go to the shops too.)
P

Pedro

* Claro! Encontramo-nos às três, à entrada principal. (Of course! Let's meet at three, at the main entrance.)

In this exchange:

- à tarde (at afternoon) uses a + a (for tarde).

- ao centro comercial (to the shopping center) uses a + o (for centro comercial).

- às lojas (to the shops) uses a + as (for lojas).

- às três (at three o'clock) uses a + as (for implicit horas).

- à entrada principal (at the main entrance) uses a + a (for entrada).

E

Example 2

Discussing travel (BP context)
A

Ana

* E aí, Marcos! Você já foi à Bahia? (Hey, Marcos! Have you been to Bahia?)
M

Marcos

* Ainda não, mas quero ir à Europa nas férias. (Not yet, but I want to go to Europe on vacation.)
A

Ana

* Que legal! Eu vou viajar a trabalho a São Paulo semana que vem. (How cool! I'm traveling for work to São Paulo next week.)
M

Marcos

* Boa viagem! Cheguei em casa agora, estou cansado. (Good trip! I just got home, I'm tired.)

In this Brazilian Portuguese dialogue:

- à Bahia (to Bahia) uses a + a (for Bahia, which takes an article in BP).

- à Europa (to Europe) uses a + a (for Europa).

- a trabalho (for work) uses a without an article, as trabalho is abstract here.

- a São Paulo (to São Paulo) uses a without an article, as São Paulo typically doesn't take one.

- Cheguei em casa (I arrived home) shows the common colloquial BP use of em for destination instead of the grammatically prescriptive a (which would be cheguei a casa).

E

Example 3

Social Media Comment

User A on a photo of a restaurant:* Que delícia! Preciso ir aí um dia! (How delicious! I need to go there one day!)

U

User B

* Sim! Recomendo chegar às sete para não pegar fila. (Yes! I recommend arriving at seven so you don't get in line.)

Here, aí (there) is an adverb, so a remains uncontracted. às sete (at seven) uses the contraction for time.

These examples illustrate how a and its contractions are naturally integrated into various communication forms, highlighting the importance of recognizing the context and the gender/number of the noun.

Quick FAQ

  • How can I tell if a is a preposition or an article?
  • A as a preposition: It connects a verb (often motion) or another word to a noun, indicating direction, time, manner, etc. It usually precedes a verb that implies movement or a fixed expression. Example: Vou a Portugal. (I'm going to Portugal.)
  • A as a definite article: It precedes a feminine singular noun and means "the." Example: A menina canta. (The girl sings.)
  • Tip: If you can replace a with para (for direction) or em (for time/manner), it's likely a preposition. If you can replace it with "the," it's an article. If it has a grave accent (à), it is always a contraction of preposition a + article a.
  • Is crase always used for à?
  • Yes, the grave accent on à (crase) specifically indicates the mandatory merger of the preposition a and the feminine singular definite article a. Its absence where required is considered a grammatical error. However, crase is only used before feminine singular nouns that take the definite article. It is never used before masculine nouns, plural nouns, verbs, pronouns (with some specific exceptions not for A1), or nouns that do not take an article.
  • How do I type the à (crase) on my keyboard?
  • Windows: Alt + 0224 (on the numeric keypad) or use a Portuguese keyboard layout. Some systems allow ' + a.
  • macOS: Option + followed by a`.
  • Linux: Often AltGr + followed by a` (depending on layout), or use the Compose key functionality.
  • Mobile Keyboards: Typically, long-pressing the a key will reveal á, à, ã, â, etc.
  • Does a combine with demonstrative pronouns like aquilo (that thing)?
  • Yes, the preposition a also contracts with demonstrative pronouns that start with a, such as aquele (that - masculine), aquela (that - feminine), aqueles (those - masculine), aquelas (those - feminine), and aquilo (that - neuter). The contraction uses the grave accent: àquele, àquela, àqueles, àquelas, àquilo. This is common at higher levels. For A1, focus on contractions with definite articles.
  • Example: Não vou àquela festa. (I'm not going to that party.)
  • Are there any other prepositions that contract with articles?
  • Yes, de (of/from) contracts with articles (do, da, dos, das) and demonstratives (daquele). Em (in/on) also contracts (no, na, nos, nas) and (naquele). Por (by/through) contracts to pelo, pela, pelos, pelas. These related contractions highlight a consistent pattern in Portuguese grammar to create smoother phonetic transitions.
  • Is the use of a for movement the same in European and Brazilian Portuguese?
  • The standard grammatical rule for a and its contractions (ao, à) to indicate movement to a destination is the same in both European Portuguese (EP) and Brazilian Portuguese (BP). However, as noted earlier, colloquial Brazilian Portuguese often uses em (and its contractions no, na) in situations where standard grammar, and typically European Portuguese, would use a. For A1 learners, it is recommended to learn and use the standard a for movement to avoid confusion and ensure grammatical correctness across all contexts.

Preposition 'a' + Article

Preposition Article Result
a
o
ao
a
a
à
a
os
aos
a
as
às

Common Contractions

Form Usage
ao
Masculine singular
à
Feminine singular
aos
Masculine plural
às
Feminine plural

Meanings

These are contractions formed when the preposition 'a' (to/at) meets the definite articles 'o' (masculine) or 'a' (feminine).

1

Direction/Movement

Indicating movement toward a specific location.

“Vou ao parque.”

“Vamos à festa.”

2

Time/Schedule

Indicating a specific time.

“Às oito horas.”

“Ao meio-dia.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Going Places: Preposition A (ao, à)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Vou ao...
Vou ao parque.
Negative
Não vou ao...
Não vou ao parque.
Question
Você vai ao...?
Você vai ao parque?
Feminine
Vou à...
Vou à praia.
Plural
Vou aos...
Vou aos Estados Unidos.
Time
Às...
Às oito horas.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Dirijo-me ao estabelecimento.

Dirijo-me ao estabelecimento. (Daily errands)

Neutral
Vou ao mercado.

Vou ao mercado. (Daily errands)

Informal
Tô indo no mercado.

Tô indo no mercado. (Daily errands)

Slang
Vou ali no mercado.

Vou ali no mercado. (Daily errands)

The Crase Flowchart

Preposition A

Masculine

  • o the
  • ao to the

Feminine

  • a the
  • à to the
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Examples by Level

1

Eu vou ao mercado.

I go to the market.

2

Ela vai à praia.

She goes to the beach.

3

Nós vamos ao cinema.

We go to the cinema.

4

Eles vão à escola.

They go to school.

1

Vou aos Estados Unidos.

I am going to the United States.

2

Chegamos às oito horas.

We arrived at eight o'clock.

3

Ele vai ao médico amanhã.

He is going to the doctor tomorrow.

4

Vamos à festa da Ana.

We are going to Ana's party.

1

Refiro-me ao problema mencionado.

I am referring to the mentioned problem.

2

Damos atenção à saúde pública.

We give attention to public health.

3

Ele voltou ao trabalho cedo.

He returned to work early.

4

Ela foi à reunião de negócios.

She went to the business meeting.

1

O acesso ao sistema é restrito.

Access to the system is restricted.

2

A solução cabe à diretoria.

The solution is up to the board.

3

Ele dedicou-se aos estudos.

He dedicated himself to his studies.

4

A resposta à pergunta foi clara.

The answer to the question was clear.

1

Aludiu ao fato de que era tarde.

He alluded to the fact that it was late.

2

A obediência à lei é fundamental.

Obedience to the law is fundamental.

3

O retorno aos valores tradicionais.

The return to traditional values.

4

A resistência à mudança é natural.

Resistance to change is natural.

1

A adesão ao tratado foi unânime.

Adherence to the treaty was unanimous.

2

A alusão à obra de Camões é clara.

The allusion to Camões' work is clear.

3

O respeito aos direitos humanos.

Respect for human rights.

4

A entrega à causa foi total.

The dedication to the cause was total.

Easily Confused

Going Places: Preposition A (ao, à) vs Ao vs. No

Learners mix up 'ao' (to the) and 'no' (in the).

Going Places: Preposition A (ao, à) vs A vs. Para

Both mean 'to'.

Going Places: Preposition A (ao, à) vs À vs. A

Forgetting the accent.

Common Mistakes

✗

Vou a o mercado

✓

Vou ao mercado

Must contract a+o.
✗

Vou a praia

✓

Vou à praia

Missing the grave accent.
✗

Vou ao praia

✓

Vou à praia

Wrong gender agreement.
✗

Vou a a escola

✓

Vou à escola

Must contract a+a.
✗

Vou aos praia

✓

Vou às praias

Plural agreement error.
✗

Vou a casa

✓

Vou a casa

No article needed here.
✗

Vou à restaurante

✓

Vou ao restaurante

Gender mismatch.
✗

Vou à Portugal

✓

Vou a Portugal

Countries without articles.
✗

Vou ao Maria

✓

Vou à casa da Maria

People don't take articles.
✗

Vou à cinema

✓

Vou ao cinema

Gender mismatch.
✗

Vou à aquele lugar

✓

Vou àquele lugar

Contraction with demonstrative.
✗

Vou a a qual

✓

Vou à qual

Relative pronoun contraction.
✗

Vou a a mesma

✓

Vou à mesma

Contraction with 'mesma'.

Sentence Patterns

Eu vou ___ ___.

Nós vamos ___ ___ às ___.

Ele prefere ir ___ ___ do que ___ ___.

Acesso ___ ___ é permitido.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Vou ao mercado, quer algo?

Travel very common

Vou ao aeroporto.

Food Delivery common

Vou ao restaurante buscar.

Job Interview occasional

Vou ao escritório amanhã.

Social Media common

Indo ao show!

Directions very common

Vá ao final da rua.

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💡

Check the Gender

Always identify if the noun is masculine or feminine first.
⚠️

Don't forget the Crase

The grave accent is mandatory for feminine nouns.
🎯

Plurals Matter

Remember to use 'aos' and 'às' for plural destinations.
💬

Regional Differences

In Brazil, 'no' is common, but 'ao' is safer for formal writing.

Smart Tips

Always check for the grave accent.

Vou a praia. → Vou à praia.

Always use 'ao'.

Vou a o mercado. → Vou ao mercado.

Use 'às' for hours.

Vou a as oito. → Vou às oito.

Match the plural article.

Vou a as lojas. → Vou às lojas.

Pronunciation

/a/

Crase

The 'à' is pronounced exactly like a single 'a'.

Declarative

Vou ao mercado. ↘

Falling intonation for statements.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

A + O = AO (like a circle), A + A = À (the accent is the mark).

Visual Association

Imagine a man walking into a circle (ao) and a woman walking into a sharp triangle (à).

Rhyme

Masculine is ao, feminine is à, use them correctly every day!

Story

João goes to the market (ao mercado). Maria goes to the beach (à praia). They meet at the park (ao parque) at eight (às oito).

Word Web

aoàaosàsmercadopraiaescolaparque

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about where you are going today using 'ao' and 'à'.

Cultural Notes

In many regions, 'no' (em + o) is used instead of 'ao' in speech.

The distinction between 'ao' and 'no' is strictly maintained.

Follows standard European Portuguese patterns.

Derived from Latin 'ad' + 'illum'/'illam'.

Conversation Starters

“

Para onde você vai hoje?

“

Você gosta de ir ao cinema?

“

Você costuma ir à praia no verão?

“

Você vai ao trabalho de carro?

Journal Prompts

Descreva o seu dia de ontem.
Onde você quer viajar?
Como é a sua rotina semanal?
Por que é importante ir ao médico?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu vou ___ mercado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ao
Mercado is masculine.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ela vai ___ praia.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: à
Praia is feminine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vou a o banco.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou ao banco
a+o = ao.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou ao cinema
Standard word order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I go to the schools.

Answer starts with: Vou...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou às escolas
Feminine plural.
Match the noun to the preposition. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. ao, 2. à
Gender matching.
Conjugate the preposition. Conjugation Drill

a + os = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aos
Masculine plural.
Is this true? True False Rule

The crase is only used for feminine nouns.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Crase is a+a.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu vou ___ mercado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ao
Mercado is masculine.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ela vai ___ praia.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: à
Praia is feminine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vou a o banco.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou ao banco
a+o = ao.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

ao / cinema / vou / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou ao cinema
Standard word order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I go to the schools.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou às escolas
Feminine plural.
Match the noun to the preposition. Match Pairs

1. Mercado, 2. Praia

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. ao, 2. à
Gender matching.
Conjugate the preposition. Conjugation Drill

a + os = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aos
Masculine plural.
Is this true? True False Rule

The crase is only used for feminine nouns.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Crase is a+a.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Nós vamos ___ parque amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ao
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Ele vai ___ escola de ônibus.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: à
Choose the correct translation for 'at night'. Multiple Choice

Which phrase means 'at night'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: à noite
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Eu assisti o filme ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu assisti ao filme ontem.
Match the contraction to the gender. Match Pairs

Match the preposition form to the article it contains.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["ao : Masculine Singular","\u00e0 : Feminine Singular","aos : Masculine Plural"]
Put the words in order. Sentence Reorder

supermercado / vou / Eu / ao

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou ao supermercado
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Bem-vindo ___ Portugal!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Bem-vindo ___ Brasil!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ao
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

You want to say you go on foot.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou a pé.
Translate this sentence. Translation

I help to cook.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu ajudo a cozinhar.
Fix the preposition. Error Correction

Nós fomos para a festa e voltamos logo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós fomos à festa e voltamos logo.

Score: /11

FAQ (8)

It is the grave accent (à) showing the contraction of 'a' + 'a'.

No, we don't use articles before names.

The rule is the same, but usage varies in speech.

Use 'aos' for masculine and 'às' for feminine.

Yes, but 'a' is more common for simple movement.

Portuguese prefers contractions for flow.

No, just remember the gender of the noun.

Before masculine nouns, verbs, or names.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

al / a la

Spanish does not contract 'a la'.

French high

au / à la

French uses 'au' for masculine.

German moderate

zu dem / zu der

German uses different prepositions.

Japanese low

ni

Japanese has no gendered articles.

Arabic low

ila

Arabic articles are prefixes.

Chinese low

qu

Chinese has no prepositions like 'a'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The Swiss Army Knife Preposition: EM (no/na)
Next
Portuguese Word Mergers: Prepositions + Articles (do, na, ao)

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