També va portar una forquilla i un ganivet per al peix.

Because va portar is the very common Catalan periphrastic past.

• va = literally goes/went in other contexts, but here it is part of a past tense
• portar = to bring / to carry

So va portar means he/she/it brought.

This structure is extremely common in Catalan:

• va menjar = ate
• va arribar = arrived
• va comprar = bought

So even though it looks like go + infinitive, in Catalan it often simply expresses the past.

The subject is not stated explicitly.

In Catalan, verb endings often make the subject clear enough, so pronouns are often omitted. Here, va portar is third person singular, so it can mean:

• he brought
• she brought
• it brought
• sometimes even you brought in the formal singular sense, depending on context

You need the wider context to know exactly who did it.

També means also / too.

At the beginning of the sentence, it means something like:

• Also, he/she brought...
• He/she also brought...

Catalan often places també before the verb or near the beginning of the sentence. That position is very natural.

Examples:

• També va venir. = He/She also came.
• També en vull. = I want some too.

So in your sentence, També adds the idea that this was in addition to something else already mentioned.

Because Catalan nouns have grammatical gender.

• forquilla is feminine → una forquilla
• ganivet is masculine → un ganivet

So the indefinite article must match the noun:

• un = masculine singular
• una = feminine singular

This is just something you learn with each noun.

Usually yes in this context. Forquilla means fork.

But like many words, it can have other uses depending on context. For example, it can also refer to fork-like shapes or parts in other situations. In this sentence, though, it simply means the eating utensil: fork.

Yes, i means and and is used very similarly.

So:

• una forquilla i un ganivet = a fork and a knife

One pronunciation note: i is pronounced like ee.

There is also a spelling change before words beginning with i or hi in some cases:

• pares e fills = parents and children

But in your sentence it stays i, because un ganivet does not begin with that sound.

Per al peix means for the fish.

It is made up of:

• per = for
• al = a + el = to the / for the masculine singular article combination

So:

• per al peix = for the fish

This often means for eating fish or for the fish course, depending on context.

Why not pel peix?

• pel = per + el
• In some varieties or styles, you may hear or see pel peix
• But per al is often preferred when learners are taught the fuller, clearer form

So per al peix is perfectly good standard Catalan.

It most likely means for the fish course or for eating fish.

With cutlery, Catalan often uses per a / per al to show purpose:

• una cullera per a la sopa = a spoon for soup
• un ganivet per a la carn = a knife for meat

So una forquilla i un ganivet per al peix means these utensils are intended to be used with fish.

Catalan often uses the definite article where English does not.

English might say:

• for fish

But Catalan commonly says:

• per al peix = literally for the fish

This does not necessarily mean one specific fish. It can refer more generally to fish as a dish/course/type of food.

This is a common difference between English and Catalan.

A rough guide for an English speaker:

• ganivet ≈ gah-nee-VET
• peix ≈ paysh or pehsh depending on accent

A few helpful points:

• x in peix sounds like sh
• the final t in ganivet is generally pronounced

Pronunciation varies somewhat across Catalan-speaking regions, but those approximations will help.

Yes, absolutely.

You could say:

• Ell també va portar una forquilla i un ganivet per al peix.

That would mean:

• He also brought a fork and a knife for the fish.

But Catalan usually leaves subject pronouns out unless they are needed for:

• emphasis
• contrast
• clarity

So the version without ell is more neutral and very natural.

The sentence as given is very natural, but Catalan can move també depending on emphasis.

Your sentence:

• També va portar una forquilla i un ganivet per al peix.

Possible variation:

• Va portar també una forquilla i un ganivet per al peix.

Both are possible, but the first one is especially common when also connects this sentence to previous information.

So the position of també can shift a little, but its placement affects rhythm and emphasis.

Not always. Portar can mean several related things, such as:

• to bring
• to carry
• to wear
• to take in some contexts

Examples:

• Porta una bossa. = He/She is carrying a bag.
• Porta un vestit blau. = He/She is wearing a blue dress/suit.
• Va portar vi. = He/She brought wine.

In your sentence, because the objects are a fork and a knife, brought is the most natural meaning.