a + a = à
Contraction À
à = a (preposition) + a (feminine article). It means 'to the' or 'at the' before feminine nouns.
How It Works
The contraction à (and its plural às) is essential for writing and speaking correctly. It occurs when two 'a' sounds meet.
1. The Formula:
Preposition a (demanded by a verb or noun) + Article a (defining a feminine noun) = à.
2. How to test for it:
If you aren't sure whether to use à, try replacing the feminine noun with a masculine one (like mercado). If the masculine version uses ao, then the feminine version must use à.
- Vou ao mercado (Masculine) → Vou à feira (Feminine).
3. Common Uses:
- Destinations: Vou à escola (I am going to the school).
- Time: Às nove horas (At nine o'clock).
- Fixed Expressions: às vezes (sometimes), à direita (to the right).
4. Important Exceptions:
- Masculine Nouns: Generally, do not use à before masculine nouns, unless the phrase 'à moda de' (in the style of) is implied, such as Bife à Oswaldo Aranha.
- Pronouns: While most pronouns do not take the article 'a', demonstrative pronouns starting with 'a' merge with the preposition to form àquele, àquela, or àquilo.
- Verbs: Never use à before verbs.
Examples (4)
- Eu vou à biblioteca.
I am going to the library.
Word by Word: I go to-the library.
The verb 'ir' (to go) requires the preposition 'a', and 'biblioteca' is a feminine noun requiring the article 'a'.
- Ela entregou a chave à professora.
She handed the key to the teacher.
Word by Word: She delivered the key to-the teacher.
The verb 'entregar' (to deliver/hand over) is followed by 'to someone' (a) + 'the teacher' (a professora).
- Nós chegamos às oito horas.
We arrived at eight o'clock.
Word by Word: We arrived at-the eight hours.
The plural form 'às' is used here because 'horas' is feminine and plural.
- Ele está à mesa.
He is at the table.
Word by Word: He is at-the table.
Used to indicate position at a specific feminine object.
Common Mistakes
Using à before a verb.
Começamos à estudar.Começamos a estudar.Verbs never take articles, so there is no second 'a' to merge with. Use only the preposition 'a'.
Confusing à with the verb há.
Moro aqui à dois anos.Moro aqui há dois anos.Use há (from the verb haver) for time that has passed (ago). Use 'à' for destinations or specific points in time.
Omitting the accent in fixed adverbial phrases.
Eu estudo as vezes.Eu estudo às vezes.The accent is crucial for meaning. 'As vezes' means 'the times' (plural noun), while às vezes means 'sometimes' (adverb).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the contraction 'à', you need to recognize that it is the fusion of the preposition 'a' (indicating direction or location) and the feminine definite article 'a'. Knowledge of basic definite articles and how the preposition 'a' behaves with masculine articles (ao) is essential for grasping this phonetic and orthographic merger.
Related Patterns
- o/a/os/asDefinite Articles
Understanding definite articles is necessary to know when a feminine 'a' is present to form the contraction.
Foundations - háThere Is/There Are
Often confused with 'à' in writing, though 'há' refers to existence or time passed.
Foundations - às vezes/à noite/à tardeCrase in Fixed Expressions
These are common fixed adverbial phrases that always use the crase.
Level 3 - àquele/àquela/àqueles/àquelasCrase with Demonstratives
The preposition 'a' can also merge with feminine demonstrative pronouns.
Level 4 - ir + a/para + DestinationIr with Destination
The verb 'ir' is the most common trigger for the preposition 'a' which leads to the contraction 'à'.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice a + a = à in Bubblegum
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