Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Eu quis deslizar pelo corredor em meias, mas a minha mãe pediu para não o fazer. - I wanted to slide through the hallway in socks, but my mother asked me not to do it.

In Portuguese, pelo is the standard contracted form of por + o. Since corredor is a masculine noun, using pelo is both grammatically correct and natural when indicating movement “through” or “along” the hallway.

What does the object pronoun o in para não o fazer refer to?

The pronoun o stands in for the earlier action deslizar. Essentially, it means “do it,” so the phrase para não o fazer translates as “to not do it,” referring back to the sliding.

Why is the phrase em meias used to indicate wearing socks? Is em the correct preposition here?

Yes, em meias is correct in European Portuguese when describing that one is doing something while wearing socks. The preposition em conveys “in” or “while wearing,” making it the natural choice to describe the state of being clad in socks.

Why does the sentence use the preterite form quis instead of the imperfect queria to express the desire to slide?

Using quis emphasizes that the decision or desire to slide was a completed action in the past. In contrast, queria would suggest an ongoing or habitual desire. The speaker’s choice of quis indicates a specific, once-off intention.

Why is the definite article a included in a minha mãe when referring to “my mother” in European Portuguese?

In European Portuguese, it is customary to include the definite article before possessive adjectives when referring to family members. Thus, a minha mãe is the standard form, emphasizing a specific person, whereas in some dialects (like certain Brazilian varieties) the article might sometimes be omitted.