Introduction
Many Portuguese verbs combine with the preposition a to form meanings and structures that confuse English speakers. This article explains verbs with a in Brazilian Portuguese for beginners and lower-intermediate learners, showing when to use a, how it changes verb meaning, and practical example sentences to build confidence.
- What does it mean when a verb is followed by a?
- Verbs that take a before an infinitive
- Verbs that take a before a noun or pronoun
- Fixed expressions and idioms with a
- How to conjugate and contract a with articles and pronouns
- Meaning changes when you add a
- Practical tips for learners
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Quick reference list of common verbs with a
- Conclusion
What does it mean when a verb is followed by a?
In Portuguese, some verbs require the preposition a before an infinitive, a noun, or a pronoun. This can mark direction, purpose, a change of state, or a fixed idiomatic pattern. Unlike English, where many verbs take direct objects without prepositions, Portuguese often uses a to connect the verb to what comes next. Learning these patterns helps you avoid common mistakes and sound more natural.
Two main types of verb + a constructions
The verb + a constructions usually fall into two categories: verbs that take a before an infinitive and verbs that take a before a noun or pronoun. Each type follows different logic and has examples that are useful to memorize.
Verbs that take a before an infinitive
Some verbs require a when followed by another verb in the infinitive. This is similar to English structures like going to do something, but the rules differ. Below are common verbs that use this pattern and explanations of their meaning.
Começar a + infinitivo (to begin to)
Começar a indicates the start of an action. It is followed by a verb in the infinitive.
Examples:
Ela começou a estudar ontem.
He/she began to study yesterday.
O filme começa a às oito.
The movie begins at eight.
Continuar a + infinitivo (to continue to)
Continuar a expresses continuation of an action that was already happening.
Examples:
Nós continuamos a trabalhar no projeto.
We continue to work on the project.
Ele continuou a falar depois da pergunta.
He continued to speak after the question.
Voltar a + infinitivo (to do something again)
Voltar a means to return to an action or to do it again.
Examples:
Você pode voltar a ligar mais tarde?
Can you call again later?
Ela voltou a estudar piano depois de anos.
She started studying piano again after years.
Aprender a + infinitivo (to learn to)
Aprender a is used to indicate learning how to do something.
Examples:
Eu aprendi a cozinhar com minha avó.
I learned to cook with my grandmother.
Crianças aprendem a falar muito rápido.
Children learn to speak very quickly.
Atenção: some verbs can use either no preposition or different prepositions
Not all verbs follow a single rule. For example, começar often appears as começar a, but you may also see começar a and less commonly começar por in certain contexts. Context and regional usage (European vs Brazilian Portuguese) can influence choices, but for Brazilian Portuguese, the patterns above are reliable.
Verbs that take a before a noun or pronoun
Other verbs require a before a noun or pronoun, often to mark direction, recipient, or a target of an action. These constructions mirror English prepositional phrases like to someone or at something, but their usage must be learned for each verb.
Assistir a + noun (to watch)
In Brazilian Portuguese, assistir can mean to watch and often takes a when followed by the object. Note that in everyday spoken Brazilian Portuguese, many speakers use assistir without the preposition, but formal usage includes a.
Examples:
Eu assisti ao jogo ontem.
I watched the game yesterday.
Você costuma assistir a séries à noite?
Do you usually watch series at night?
Pagar a + pessoa (to pay someone)
Pagar normally takes a direct object without a preposition when you mention the thing paid. But when you mention the recipient, you use a.
Examples:
Eu paguei a conta.
I paid the bill. (Direct object, no preposition needed before conta)
Eu paguei ao garçom.
I paid the waiter. (Here ao = a + o marks the recipient)
Começar a + pessoa or coisa (directional or causative uses)
Some verbs like dar and mandar can use a to mark the recipient of an action.
Examples:
Ela deu a carta ao amigo.
She gave the letter to the friend.
Ele mandou a mensagem para a equipe.
He sent the message to the team.
Fixed expressions and idioms with a
Many idiomatic verbs require a and are best learned as chunks. These expressions often confuse learners because literal translation fails. Here are common idioms you will hear in Brazil.
Estar a + infinitivo (to be about to or in the process of)
In Brazilian Portuguese, estar a + infinitive is less common than in European Portuguese, but you will still encounter it in formal or written contexts meaning in the process of doing something or about to do it.
Examples:
O trem está a chegar.
The train is about to arrive.
Ele está a terminar o relatório.
He is finishing the report.
Ir a + infinitivo (to go to do something)
Ir a can express movement toward an activity, but Brazilian speakers often use ir + infinitive without a. Still, you will see ir a in formal writing or in set phrases.
Examples:
Vou ir ao médico amanhã.
I will go to the doctor tomorrow.
Vamos ir a pé ao cinema.
We will go to the cinema on foot.
How to conjugate and contract a with articles and pronouns
The preposition a contracts with definite articles. This is important for forming natural sentences. The contractions are common and appear in everyday speech and writing.
Common contractions
a + o = ao
a + a = à (with accent when meaning to the, contraction of a + a for feminine)
a + os = aos
a + as = às
Examples:
Eu vou ao mercado.
I am going to the market.
Ela chegou às oito da manhã.
She arrived at eight in the morning.
Preposition a + pronouns
When a is followed by object pronouns, the pronoun form changes depending on whether you use stressed pronouns or clitic pronouns. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, you will often hear forms like a mim, a você, a ele, a ela, a nós, a vocês, a eles, a elas.
Examples:
Ele entregou o presente a mim.
He gave the gift to me.
Ela disse a você o segredo?
Did she tell you the secret?
Meaning changes when you add a
Adding a can change a verb’s meaning or make an expression idiomatic. Knowing these shifts helps you avoid misunderstandings.
Examples of meaning changes
Olhar vs olhar a
Olhar means to look. Olhar a can mean to look at something specific with purpose or attention.
Ouvir vs ouvir a
Ouvir means to hear or listen. Ouvir a is less common, but you may see constructions like ouvir a opinião, meaning to hear the opinion of someone.
Chegar vs chegar a
Chegar means to arrive. Chegar a can mean to reach a point or do something: Ele chegou a chorar means He even cried or He came to cry, indicating a change of state.
Practical tips for learners
Use these strategies to master verbs with a:
1. Learn common verb + a combinations as chunks rather than translating word by word. Memorize examples like começar a, voltar a, assistir a, and pagar a.
2. Listen to Brazilian Portuguese media to hear how people use a. Spoken Brazilian Portuguese sometimes omits prepositions in casual speech; listening helps you recognize both formal and informal usage.
3. Practice contractions ao, à, aos, às so you can use them naturally.
4. Pay attention to the object type: infinitive vs noun vs person. That will tell you whether a preposition is required.
5. When in doubt, consult a reliable grammar source or native speaker. Context often decides whether a is needed.
Cultural and usage notes
Brazilian Portuguese is flexible and regionally varied. In some regions or informal contexts, speakers omit prepositions more often. For example, many Brazilians say Eu assisti o jogo instead of Eu assisti ao jogo. Both will be understood, but the version with a is grammatically standard. Formal writing, news, and literature tend to follow the prescriptive rules that include a where appropriate.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Here are frequent learner errors and quick fixes.
Omitting necessary a
Incorrect: Ela começou estudar.
Correct: Ela começou a estudar.
Fix: Remember verbs like começar, continuar, voltar, and aprender often need a before an infinitive.
Using a when none is needed
Incorrect: Eu gosto a música.
Correct: Eu gosto de música.
Fix: Some verbs take de, not a. Gosto requires de. Always check the required preposition for common verbs: gostar de, precisar de, lembrar de, etc.
Confusing ao and à
Remember ao is the contraction of a + o (masculine singular), while à (with accent) is the contraction of a + a (feminine singular). Use the correct article to match the noun gender.
Quick reference list of common verbs with a
Começar a + infinitive — começar a estudar
Continuar a + infinitive — continuar a trabalhar
Voltar a + infinitive — voltar a tentar
Aprender a + infinitive — aprender a dirigir
Assistir a + noun — assistir ao filme
Pagar a + person — pagar ao vendedor
Dar a + person — dar a carta ao amigo
Mandar a + person — mandar a mensagem ao chefe
Chegar a + infinitive — chegar a entender
Conclusion
Verbs with a are a key feature of Brazilian Portuguese grammar. Recognizing when a connects verbs to infinitives, nouns, or people will improve your accuracy and fluency. Practice common patterns, listen for real speech, and remember contractions like ao and à. With time, using a will become natural and help you communicate more clearly in Portuguese.
