Breakdown of Eu gosto de fazer compras no mercado.
eu
I
gostar de
to like
em
at
o mercado
the market
fazer compras
to shop
Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de fazer compras no mercado.
Why do we use gosto de + infinitive instead of saying Eu gosto fazer compras?
In Portuguese, the verb gostar requires the preposition de when it’s followed by another verb or a noun. The pattern is gostar de + infinitive (for example, gosto de estudar, gosta de correr). Without de, the sentence is considered ungrammatical.
Why is compras in the plural? Why not Eu gosto de fazer compra?
When talking about the activity of shopping, Portuguese uses the plural compras (“purchases”), even if you buy only a few items. Thus fazer compras is a fixed expression meaning “to go shopping.” Saying fazer compra would sound like “to make a single purchase.”
Could I say Eu gosto de comprar no mercado? What’s the difference?
Yes. Eu gosto de comprar no mercado literally means “I like to buy at the market,” focusing on the act of buying goods. In contrast, fazer compras emphasizes the overall shopping activity—browsing, choosing, and buying.
Why do we say no mercado instead of em o mercado?
Portuguese often contracts prepositions with definite articles. Em + o = no, and em + a = na. So instead of em o mercado, you say no mercado.
Can I say Eu gosto de ir às compras no mercado?
Yes. Ir às compras (“to go shopping”) is another common way to express the idea. Here às is the contraction of a + as. So Eu gosto de ir às compras no mercado is perfectly natural.
What’s the difference between mercado and supermercado?
Mercado usually refers to a traditional market (often open-air or with individual stalls), while supermercado is a larger, self-service grocery store. Both are correct but imply different shopping experiences.
How would I say “I like to do my shopping at the market” with a possessive?
You can add a possessive adjective before compras:
Eu gosto de fazer as minhas compras no mercado.
Note that minhas agrees in gender (feminine) and number (plural) with compras.
If I want to mention the time, like “on weekends,” how do I change the sentence?
You can say:
Eu gosto de fazer compras aos fins de semana.
Here aos is the contraction of a + os, and fins de semana means “weekends.”
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning PortugueseMaster Portuguese — from Eu gosto de fazer compras no mercado to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions