O Pedro está a estudar para o exame agora.

Pedro

Breakdown of O Pedro está a estudar para o exame agora.

• estar: to be
• agora: now
• estudar: to study
• para: for
• o exame: the exam

Questions & Answers about O Pedro está a estudar para o exame agora.

Why is the name preceded by O in O Pedro?

In European Portuguese, it’s common to use the definite article before a person’s name, especially in informal settings. You’ll often hear people say O Pedro, A Maria, etc. This doesn’t change the meaning much; it’s mostly a stylistic or regional habit in Portugal.

Why do we say está a estudar instead of está estudando as in Brazilian Portuguese?

European Portuguese typically uses the construction estar a + infinitive to express an ongoing action (the present continuous tense), whereas Brazilian Portuguese often uses estar + gerúndio (e.g., estudando). Both forms convey the same idea that the action is happening now, but the estar a + infinitive form is standard in Portugal.

Is there a difference in meaning between está a estudar and estuda?

Yes. Estuda (simple present) can simply mean he studies, without necessarily indicating that he’s studying right at this moment. Está a estudar explicitly indicates that he is studying right now, so it’s a continuous action in progress.

Why is para used instead of por in para o exame?

In this context, para indicates a purpose or goal—Pedro is studying for (i.e., in preparation for) the exam. If you used por, it could imply a different reason or motivation and wouldn’t sound natural here. Para is the standard preposition in Portuguese when referring to the purpose or objective of an action.

Does adding agora change the sentence’s emphasis?

Yes, agora (meaning now) emphasizes the fact that the studying is happening at this very moment. You could say O Pedro está a estudar para o exame without agora, but including agora highlights the immediacy and ongoing nature of the action.