à/às
Crase Before Feminine Articles
Crase (à) is a contraction of two 'a's: a preposition (to/at) + a feminine article (the). It is used before feminine nouns when the verb or noun requires the preposition 'a'.
How It Works
The term crase refers to the fusion of two identical vowels. In Portuguese, this most commonly happens when the preposition a meets the feminine definite article a.
1. The Basic Formula:
Preposition a + Article a = à
Preposition a + Article as = às
2. The 'Ao' and 'Place' Tests:
- The 'Ao' Test: Replace the feminine word with a masculine one. If a turns into ao, use crase. Example: Vou à praia -> Vou ao clube.
- The Place Test: Use the rhyme 'Vou a, volto da, crase há; vou a, volto de, crase pra quê?'. If you return da (de+a) a place, the destination needs crase. Example: Vou à França (volto da França) vs. Vou a Roma (volto de Roma).
3. Mandatory Fixed Expressions:
Crase is mandatory in many feminine adverbial, prepositive, or conjunctive expressions, such as às vezes, à noite, à direita, and à medida que.
4. Usage with Hours:
Crase is used to indicate specific hours (às três horas). However, it is prohibited if the hour is already preceded by prepositions such as para, desde, após, or entre (e.g., Estou aqui desde as nove).
5. Optional Crase (Crase Facultativa):
You can choose whether or not to use crase in three specific cases:
- Before feminine proper names: Entreguei o livro à Maria OR a Maria. Note: Crase is prohibited before famous historical figures or celebrities where an article is not used (e.g., Refiro-me a Clarice Lispector).
- Before feminine possessive adjectives: Escrevi à minha mãe OR a minha mãe.
- After the preposition até: Fui até à escola OR até a escola.
6. Demonstratives and Special Cases:
- Demonstratives: Crase occurs when the preposition 'a' meets pronouns starting with 'a', such as àquele, àquela, and àquilo.
- Implicit Style: Use crase if 'à moda de' is implied (e.g., Bife à milanesa or Gol à Pelé). Do not use it in 'bife a cavalo' as no style is implied.
Examples (6)
- Eu vou à biblioteca todas as manhãs.
I go to the library every morning.
Word by Word: I go to-the library all the mornings.
The verb 'ir' requires the preposition 'a', and 'biblioteca' is a feminine noun that takes the article 'a'. Their fusion results in 'à'.
- Nós chegamos às duas horas da tarde.
We arrived at two o'clock in the afternoon.
Word by Word: We arrived at-the two hours of-the afternoon.
Crase is used for specific hours when the preposition 'a' is required. However, it is blocked by prepositions like 'desde' or 'para' (e.g., 'desde as duas').
- Ele deu um presente à Maria.
He gave a gift to Maria.
Word by Word: He gave a gift to-the Maria.
Before feminine proper names, the use of the definite article is optional in many regions, making the crase optional as well. Note: This only applies to familiar names, not historical figures.
- Eu entreguei as chaves à minha irmã.
I handed the keys to my sister.
Word by Word: I handed the keys to-the my sister.
Crase is optional before feminine possessive adjectives like minha.
- Nós fomos àquele restaurante novo.
We went to that new restaurant.
Word by Word: We went to-that restaurant new.
Crase also occurs when the preposition 'a' fuses with the initial 'a' of demonstrative pronouns like àquele.
- Ele pediu um bife à milanesa.
He ordered a Milanese-style steak.
Word by Word: He ordered a steak to-the Milanese.
Crase is used even before masculine words if the expression 'à moda de' (in the style of) is implied, such as 'bife à milanesa'.
Common Mistakes
Using crase before verbs.
Estou disposto à ajudar.Estou disposto a ajudar.Verbs are never preceded by feminine articles, so the 'a' before a verb is only a preposition and cannot have a crase.
Using crase before masculine words.
Nós fomos à pé.Nós fomos a pé.Since 'pé' is a masculine noun, it cannot take the feminine article 'a'. Therefore, no fusion (crase) can occur.
Confusing 'à' (contraction) with 'há' (verb).
Eu te vi à dez minutos.Eu te vi há dez minutos.Use 'há' (from the verb haver) for time elapsed in the past. Use 'à' for direction or specific future/current clock times.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the crase (à/às), a learner must first recognize that it is not just an accent mark, but a contraction of two identical sounds: the preposition 'a' (required by a verb or noun) and the feminine definite article 'a/as' (required by the following noun).
Related Patterns
- a + o = aoContraction Ao
This is the masculine counterpart to 'à'. Testing if a sentence uses 'ao' with a masculine word helps determine if 'à' is needed for a feminine one.
Level 1 - o/a/os/asDefinite Articles
Crase requires the presence of the feminine definite article 'a' or 'as'.
Foundations - a/de/em/com/para/porBasic Prepositions
Crase is built upon the basic preposition 'a'.
Foundations - às vezes/à noite/à tardeCrase in Fixed Expressions
These are common fixed expressions that always use the crase.
Level 3 - àquele/àquela/àqueles/àquelasCrase with Demonstratives
Crase also occurs when the preposition 'a' merges with demonstrative pronouns starting with 'a'.
Level 4 - háThere Is/There Are
Often confused with 'à', but 'há' is used for existence or time passed.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice à/às in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Portuguese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
