Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): A minha mãe quer entrar na casa rápido, porque está frio lá fora. - My mother wants to enter the house quickly, because it is cold outside.

In Portuguese, when the preposition em precedes the definite article a, they contract to form na. This rule applies to feminine singular nouns, so instead of saying em a casa, you correctly say na casa for a smoother, natural flow.

Why is rápido used to describe the action instead of the adverbial form rapidamente?

Although rapidamente is the full adverb meaning quickly, it’s common in everyday European Portuguese to use the adjective rápido in an adverbial sense. This informal usage effectively conveys the manner of the action and is widely accepted in colloquial communication.

Why is the adjective frio in its masculine form when it seems related to casa, which is a feminine noun?

In this sentence, frio doesn’t describe the house at all—it refers to the weather condition outside. When talking about weather or general states, Portuguese typically uses the masculine form regardless of the gender of nearby nouns.

What does the expression lá fora mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?

Lá fora literally means outside or out there. It acts as an adverbial phrase that indicates where the condition (the cold) is experienced—in this case, outdoors, away from the house.

What is the function of porque in this sentence, and how does it differ from forms like por que, por quê, or porquê?

Here, porque serves as a conjunction meaning because, introducing the reason why the action (entering the house quickly) occurs. In contrast, por que is used in questions to ask why or for what reason, por quê appears at the end of interrogative sentences, and porquê is a noun meaning reason. Thus, porque is the correct form for linking cause and effect.

What tense is used in está frio, and what does it imply about the situation?

The phrase está frio employs the present tense of the verb estar, which is used to describe temporary states or conditions. This tells us that the cold weather outside is a current, temporary condition rather than a permanent trait.