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O apartamento fica à esquerda do mercado.

O apartamento fica à esquerda do mercado.
The apartment is to the left of the market.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Portuguese (Brazil)

Questions & Answers about O apartamento fica à esquerda do mercado.

Why use fica here instead of é or está?

In Brazilian Portuguese, ficar is very common to indicate location or give directions. It roughly means “to be located” or “to be (situated).”

  • O apartamento fica à esquerda do mercado. = The apartment is located to the left of the market.
  • estar can also work for location: O apartamento está à esquerda do mercado. It sounds a bit more neutral/current state.
  • ser is not used for physical location of things: O apartamento é à esquerda... sounds wrong.
What does the accent in à esquerda mean?

That grave accent marks a contraction called crase: a + a = à. Here it’s the preposition a plus the feminine article a before the noun esquerda.

  • Set phrase: à esquerda (de) = “to the left (of)”
  • Parallel: à direita (de) = “to the right (of)” Note: The accent is not for pronunciation or stress; it just shows the contraction.
Why is it do mercado and not de o mercado?

Portuguese contracts prepositions with articles:

  • de + o = do (masculine singular)
  • de + a = da
  • de + os = dos
  • de + as = das So de o mercado becomes do mercado because mercado is masculine.
Could I say ao lado do mercado instead?

You can, but it changes the meaning:

  • à esquerda do mercado = specifically to the left of the market.
  • ao lado do mercado = next to/beside the market (either side), focuses on adjacency, not left/right.
Can I drop the article and say Apartamento fica à esquerda do mercado?
Not in normal speech. Portuguese typically uses articles with nouns. O apartamento fica... is the natural form. You might see article-less phrases in headlines, notes, or labels (e.g., building directories), but in full sentences include the article.
Why is esquerda feminine, and does that matter?

Esquerda (left) and direita (right) are feminine nouns referring to the left/right side. That’s why you see:

  • à esquerda (a + a)
  • à direita (a + a) The feminine gender triggers the à contraction.
When do I use de vs do/da after à esquerda?

Use de if the following noun doesn’t take a definite article; otherwise contract:

  • à esquerda de São Paulo (proper names often lack an article)
  • à esquerda do parque (de + o)
  • à esquerda da igreja (de + a) Note: Some place names in Brazil take an article (e.g., do Rio de Janeiro).
Is O apartamento fica esquerda do mercado okay?

No. You need the preposition: à esquerda de. Correct forms:

  • O apartamento fica à esquerda do mercado.
  • Never drop à in this expression.
How do I ask “Where is the apartment?” naturally?
  • Most natural for location: Onde fica o apartamento?
  • Also acceptable: Onde está o apartamento?
  • Avoid: Onde é o apartamento? for physical location.
How is this pronounced?

Approximate Brazilian pronunciation:

  • O apartamento: [oo ah-par-tah-MEN-toh] (stress on -men-)
  • fica: [FEE-kah]
  • à: same sound as a; the accent doesn’t change pronunciation
  • esquerda: [ees-KEHR-dah] (initial “es” like “is”; the r is a guttural h in many regions)
  • do mercado: [doo mehr-KAH-doo]
Does à esquerda mean “west of,” like a compass direction?

No. à esquerda is relative (left-hand side), not a cardinal direction. For “west of,” use a oeste de:

  • O apartamento fica a oeste do mercado.
Can I just switch it to “right”?

Yes:

  • O apartamento fica à direita do mercado. = The apartment is to the right of the market.
Are there other common à + noun location expressions?

Yes:

  • à frente de = in front of
  • à beira de = on the edge/bank of
  • Time expressions: à tarde, à noite, às 10 horas
How do I say it with indefinites (“an apartment,” “a market”)?

Use um/uma:

  • Um apartamento fica à esquerda de um mercado.
Can I invert the sentence?

Yes, for emphasis or style:

  • À esquerda do mercado fica o apartamento.
How do I make it negative?

Place não before the verb:

  • O apartamento não fica à esquerda do mercado.
What changes in the plural?

The verb and article agree, but à esquerda stays the same:

  • Os apartamentos ficam à esquerda do mercado.
How do I say “to my/your left” in Portuguese?

Use a possessive with esquerda:

  • à minha esquerda, à sua esquerda, à nossa esquerda Example: O prédio fica à minha esquerda.
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