Prepositions (e.g.: para, de, a, com, sobre, em, etc.)

Questions about Prepositions

Q: Why is it Vou a México and NOT Vou ao México?
In Portuguese, country names usually take a definite article, so the preposition contracts:

• Vou ao México. (standard EP)

👉 Some place names do not take an article, but many do:

• Vou a Portugal (no article)

• Vou ao Brasil (with article)

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Q: Why is it Nós procuramos uma casa grande and NOT Nós procuramos por uma casa grande?
The verb procurar is not normally followed by a preposition:

• procurar uma casa

👉 procurar por exists but:

• more colloquial / emphatic

• not the neutral default

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Q: Why is it Eu visitei os meus avós and NOT Eu visitei oas meus avós?
Portuguese does NOT use a “personal a”:

• visitei os meus avós

• not Spanish-style a mis abuelos

👉 Same structure for people and things.

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Q: Why is it Ele joga futebol but Ele toca piano?
Portuguese differs from Spanish:

• jogar futebol (no preposition)

• tocar piano (no preposition)

👉 Do NOT use a:

• ❌ joga ao futebol (non-standard in this sense)

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Q: Why is it Vou ajudar o João / Vou ajudar a minha mãe and NOT contractions like ao João?
The verb ajudar:

• usually takes a direct object

• no preposition needed

👉 So:

• ajudar o João (not ao João)

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Q: Why is it Comprei o presente para a minha mãe and NOT por?
Both exist but have different meanings:

• para → recipient

  • Comprei o presente para a minha mãe.

• por → reason / on behalf of

  • Comprei o presente por ela.

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🔑 Key differences (EP vs Spanish)

• No personal “a”

• Many verbs take no preposition in EP

• Countries often take articles → contractions (ao, do, no)

• para vs por is semantically distinct

• Sports/instruments → no preposition