Breakdown of Hoje ele realmente vai ao banco abrir uma conta com um cartão novo.
hoje
today
um
a
uma
a
com
with
ao
to the
ele
he
ir
to go
abrir
to open
novo
new
o cartão
the card
o banco
the bank
realmente
actually
a conta
the account
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Questions & Answers about Hoje ele realmente vai ao banco abrir uma conta com um cartão novo.
Why is ao banco used instead of no banco?
Portuguese uses the preposition a to indicate movement or direction. Since banco is masculine, a + o = ao, giving ao banco (to the bank). No banco is a contraction of em + o, meaning in the bank, and does not express direction.
Why is the infinitive abrir used after vai?
The combination of a conjugated form of ir (e.g. vai) + an infinitive verb (abrir) expresses a near-future action equivalent to English is going to open. The infinitive remains unchanged.
Could we say vai ao banco para abrir uma conta instead of omitting para?
Yes. Portuguese often omits para in ir + infinitive constructions when the purpose is clear, especially in spoken language. Adding para (i.e. vai ao banco para abrir...) is also correct and makes the purpose explicit.
Why is uma conta indefinite instead of a conta?
Uma conta introduces a new, unspecified account (an account). A conta would refer to a specific account already known to both speaker and listener.
What does com um cartão novo convey, and could we use e instead of com?
Com means with, indicating that the new card accompanies or is part of the account-opening process. Using e (and) would simply link two items or actions without expressing that the card is provided as part of the opening.
Why is realmente placed before vai, and can we move it?
Realmente is an adverb meaning really or truly, and its position is flexible:
- Ele realmente vai emphasizes the action.
- Realmente ele vai stresses the certainty.
- Ele vai realmente ao banco highlights the location.
All are grammatically correct; the nuance shifts with placement.
Why is Hoje at the beginning, and can it appear elsewhere?
Hoje is an adverb of time meaning today. Placing it first highlights timing. You could also say Ele vai ao banco abrir uma conta com um cartão novo hoje, though starting with Hoje is more common and fluid.
Does vai ao banco abrir uma conta mean he goes first and then opens, or that he goes in order to open the account?
This structure (ir + destination + infinitive) expresses movement with purpose: he goes to the bank to open an account. It implies intention, not two separate trips.
Is there any difference between com um cartão novo and com um novo cartão?
Both are correct. Placing the adjective after the noun (cartão novo) is more common and neutral. Putting it before (novo cartão) can slightly emphasize the adjective or suggest it’s an additional new card, but the difference is subtle.