Eu vou ao mercado agora.

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Breakdown of Eu vou ao mercado agora.

• agora: now
• ao: to the
• ir: to go
• o mercado: the market

Questions & Answers about Eu vou ao mercado agora.

Why do we say ao mercado instead of something like para o mercado?

In Brazilian Portuguese, ir ao mercado emphasizes the destination in a more finalized way. Both ir ao mercado and ir para o mercado can be correct, but ao is a contraction of a + o (meaning “to the”), and it’s commonly used when talking about going somewhere specific. Para o often carries a sense of movement towards somewhere or future intent, but in everyday speech ao sounds more natural for certain fixed expressions like going to the market, going to the bank, etc.

Why do we use eu here instead of just saying vou ao mercado agora?

In Portuguese, it’s often optional to state the subject pronoun (eu, você, ele, etc.) because the verb conjugation usually clarifies who is performing the action. However, using eu can add emphasis or clarity. Both eu vou ao mercado agora and vou ao mercado agora are correct.

What does agora really mean in this context?

Agora literally means “now.” It conveys that you are going to the market at this very moment. You could also say já (“already” or “right now”), but agora is the most straightforward way to emphasize you’re leaving immediately.

Could I change the order and say Agora eu vou ao mercado?

Yes, you can. In Portuguese, word order can be flexible. Agora eu vou ao mercado puts a bit more emphasis on "Agora,” making it clear that now is the important point. Both orders are grammatically correct and commonly used.

Does vou mean "I go" or "I am going" in English?

Portuguese doesn’t distinguish between “I go” and “I am going” the same way English does. The present tense vou can translate to either depending on context. In this sentence, because of agora, it’s equivalent to “I am going now.” If you just say Eu vou ao mercado, it could mean “I go to the market” (as a habit) or “I am going to the market” (as in right now).