Question 1

What does mesmo com o calor mean and how does mesmo com work here?

Accepted Answer

Mesmo com literally means “even with” or “despite.” It introduces a concession (something that doesn’t stop the main action). Structure: mesmo com + [noun]. Here o calor (“the heat”) is the condition that Pedro is overlooking. You could paraphrase as apesar do calor (“despite the heat”).

Question 2

Why is there an o before Pedro?

Accepted Answer

In European Portuguese it’s common to use the definite article before people’s names: o Pedro, a Maria. It’s a regional feature (especially in Portugal). Omitting the article is also understood (Pedro quer correr...), but including it is more natural in many parts of Portugal.

Question 3

Why do we say ao meio-dia and not à meio-dia or no meio-dia?

Accepted Answer

Meio-dia is masculine, so the preposition a + the definite article o contract to ao (a + o → ao).  
– à would be a + a (for feminine nouns).  
– no is em + o, which means “in the/noon,” but for “at noon” we prefer ao meio-dia.

Question 4

Why is quer (present tense) used instead of a future tense like quererá or vai querer?

Accepted Answer

Portuguese often uses the simple present to talk about planned or scheduled future events. O Pedro quer correr ao meio-dia can mean “Pedro plans to run at noon.” You could also say O Pedro vai correr ao meio-dia, but the present is more concise and very common in speech.

Question 5

Can we drop the article in com o calor and just say mesmo com calor?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Both mesmo com o calor and mesmo com calor are possible. With o you refer to “the specific heat” you’re experiencing; without it it’s more general (“even with heat in general”). Neither is wrong.

Question 6

Could the concessive phrase appear at the end of the sentence instead?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Word order is flexible in Portuguese. You could say:  
  O Pedro quer correr ao meio-dia mesmo com o calor.  
Placing mesmo com o calor at the end often feels more conversational.

Question 7

What’s the difference between mesmo com o calor and apesar do calor?

Accepted Answer

They’re near synonyms:  
- mesmo com o calor = colloquial “even with the heat”  
- apesar do calor = slightly more formal “despite the heat”  
Grammar-wise apesar de + o contracts to apesar do. Semantically they both express concession; the choice is stylistic.

Mesmo com o calor, o Pedro quer correr ao meio-dia.

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