Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ele chega à cidade hoje.
Why is there an accent on “à” in “à cidade”?
The accent in “à” indicates the contraction of the preposition a (meaning “to”) with the feminine definite article a (meaning “the”). Since cidade is a feminine noun, combining them correctly gives à.
Why is the present tense of “chega” used if the sentence refers to a future event?
In Portuguese, it’s common to use the present tense for scheduled or imminent future actions. Although “chega” is in the present, the sentence Ele chega à cidade hoje implies that his arrival is planned for later today.
What is the literal translation of “Ele chega à cidade hoje” into English?
The literal translation is “He arrives at the city today.” In natural English, you might also say “He is arriving in the city today” or “He arrives in the city today.”
Why is the preposition a (contracted to à) used before “cidade” instead of using another preposition like “em”?
The verb chegar naturally pairs with the preposition a to denote direction or destination. Since cidade is a feminine noun, the preposition a combines with the article a to form à. Using “em” would not be standard for this verb in Portuguese.
What role does “hoje” play in the sentence?
“Hoje” means “today.” It provides a time frame, indicating that the arrival is happening on the day in question, adding immediacy to the action described.