por + o = polo
Contractions of Por with the Article
When por comes before o, a, os, as, they join: polo, pola, polos, polas.
How It Works
1. The four forms
- por + o = polo: polo parque (through the park)
- por + a = pola: pola mañá (in the morning)
- por + os = polos: polos teus consellos (for your advice)
- por + as = polas: polas escaleiras (by the stairs)
2. Where the l comes from
The Galician article has a second form, lo, la, los, las, used after some words that end in -r or -s. After por it is required, and the r blends with it: por + lo becomes polo. That is why these contractions have an l. You will learn more about this form in the second form of the article.
3. Common uses
- Moving through or along a place: Entra pola porta da dereita.
- Thanks and reasons: Grazas polo café. See grazas.
- Parts of the day: pola mañá, pola tarde, pola noite.
- Going to get something: Vou polo pan (I am going for the bread).
For the other meanings of por, see por.
4. Pola and póla
Pola (por + a) has no accent. Póla with an accent is a different word that means "branch".
Examples (6)
- Paseo polo parque todas as tardes.
I walk through the park every afternoon.
Word by Word: I-walk through-the park all the afternoons.
- Grazas polo café!
Thanks for the coffee!
Word by Word: Thanks for-the coffee!
- Traballo pola mañá e estudo pola tarde.
I work in the morning and study in the afternoon.
Word by Word: I-work by-the morning and I-study by-the afternoon.
- Entra pola porta da dereita.
Go in through the door on the right.
Word by Word: Enter through-the door of-the right.
- Subimos polas escaleiras.
We go up by the stairs.
Word by Word: We-go-up through-the stairs.
- Grazas polos teus consellos.
Thanks for your advice.
Word by Word: Thanks for-the your pieces-of-advice.
Common Mistakes
Writing por and the article as two words.
Paseo por o parque.Paseo polo parque.Por always joins a following o, a, os or as: polo, pola, polos, polas.
Using the Spanish article la after por.
Grazas por la axuda.Grazas pola axuda.Galician does not write por la. Por and the article join as pola.
Using the Portuguese form pela.
Traballo pela mañá.Traballo pola mañá.The Galician contraction is pola, with o.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Por joins the definite article in the forms polo, pola, polos and polas.
Related Patterns
- por for Cause, Route and Means
Explains the meanings of por that these contractions carry.
Level 2 - grazas / por favor / de nadaPlease and Thank You
Thanks for something uses polo or pola: Grazas polo café.
Level 1 - The Second Form of the Article
Explains the old article form lo that gives polo its l.
Level 5 - lo, la After -r and -sPronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s
The same r + l blending happens with pronouns after verbs.
Level 2 - de + o = doContractions of De with the Article
Another article contraction learned at the same stage.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice por + o = polo in Bubblegum
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