Eu quero caminhar para a cidade.

I want to walk to the city.

Breakdown of Eu quero caminhar para a cidade.

• eu: I
• querer: to want
• caminhar: to walk
• a cidade: the city
• para: to

Questions & Answers about Eu quero caminhar para a cidade.

Why is "para" used in this sentence instead of something else like "até"?

"Para" emphasizes the intention or direction toward a destination in a more general sense, meaning "to the city". Meanwhile, "até" often emphasizes the endpoint or limit of a journey, as in "up to the city". Although "Eu quero caminhar até a cidade" is also acceptable, it slightly highlights the endpoint or boundary, whereas "para" focuses on going toward that place.

Could "caminhar" be replaced with another verb for walking, such as "andar"?

Yes! "Andar" and "caminhar" are often interchangeable in Brazilian Portuguese when you talk about moving on foot. However, "caminhar" can suggest a more leisurely or intentional walk, while "andar" can mean simply to walk or move about. For example, "Eu quero andar até a cidade" has essentially the same meaning, but "caminhar" can imply a slightly more purposeful walk.

Is the structure "Eu quero + [infinitive]" common?

Absolutely. In Portuguese, it's very common to express desires or intentions using "Eu quero + infinitive", which means "I want to + verb". Other examples might be "Eu quero comer" (I want to eat) or "Eu quero aprender" (I want to learn).

Why do we need the article "a" before "cidade"?

In Portuguese, nouns typically need an article such as "a" (feminine), "o" (masculine), or their variations ("as", "os") to specify definiteness. "Cidade" is a feminine noun (a cidade), so we use "a". Although in English you can say "to the city" or sometimes just "to town" without the article, in Portuguese the article is usually required for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Does it matter if I say "Eu quero caminhar para a cidade agora" or "Agora eu quero caminhar para a cidade"?

Both are correct. In Portuguese, word order is more flexible compared to English. Placing "agora" (meaning "now") at the beginning or end of the sentence doesn’t change the meaning. You might hear variations like "Agora eu quero caminhar para a cidade" or "Eu quero caminhar para a cidade agora", and both are perfectly grammatical.