Breakdown of Depois de deixar a paragem, o autocarro segue para sul.
depois de
after
para
to
o autocarro
the bus
deixar
to leave
o sul
the south
a paragem
the stop
seguir
to head
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Questions & Answers about Depois de deixar a paragem, o autocarro segue para sul.
Why is the verb deixar in the infinitive after depois de?
In Portuguese, any verb that follows a preposition must remain in the infinitive. “Depois de” is a prepositional phrase, so the verb that comes right after it stays as deixar (infinitive), not as a conjugated form or gerund.
What does paragem mean, and is it the same word in Brazilian Portuguese?
In European Portuguese, paragem means “bus stop.” In Brazilian Portuguese, speakers normally say parada. Both refer to the place where you get on or off a bus, but the term differs by variety.
Could I say Depois de sair da paragem instead of Depois de deixar a paragem?
Yes. sair da paragem (“to leave the stop”) and deixar a paragem are both acceptable and mean essentially the same here. deixar is idiomatic in many contexts (“deixar o local”), while sair de/da or partir de are slightly more formal or neutral alternatives.
Why is there an article in deixar a paragem, instead of just deixar paragem?
Portuguese normally uses definite articles before singular, specific places or objects. a paragem makes it clear you’re referring to that particular bus stop. Omitting the article (“deixar paragem”) would sound ungrammatical.
Why do we say o autocarro and not just autocarro?
Similarly, Portuguese typically uses a definite article with nouns when they’re identifiable or generic objects (“the bus,” “the car”). Autocarro is masculine, so you say o autocarro. In English you might drop “the” (“Bus 22 goes south”), but in Portuguese you keep o.
Why does it say segue para sul and not vira para sul?
seguir para sul means “continue/advance in a southern direction,” emphasizing the route’s ongoing direction. virar para sul would focus on making a specific turn toward the south at an intersection. Here, the sentence describes the bus’s overall path, not a single turn.
Could the sentence read segue para o sul instead of segue para sul?
Yes, both are grammatically correct. Including the article (para o sul) is fine but often omitted in European Portuguese for brevity, especially in announcements or news (“segue para sul”).
What’s the difference between para sul, a sul, and ao sul de?
- para sul = “heading south” (indicates movement toward south)
- a sul = “to the south” or “south of” (describes a location relative to something, e.g., Cidade a sul de Lisboa)
- ao sul de = “to the south of” (more explicit, often followed by a reference point, e.g., ao sul de Porto)