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A Ana lê tanto em casa como na biblioteca.

A Ana lê tanto em casa como na biblioteca.
Ana reads both at home and in the library.
FromLesson 35inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A Ana lê tanto em casa como na biblioteca.

Why is there a definite article before a person’s name: A Ana?
In European Portuguese, it’s very common (and natural in speech) to place the definite article before given names: a Ana, o João. It often signals familiarity and is neutral in most contexts. You may omit it in formal writing or headlines. Don’t use the article in direct address (vocative): Ó Ana! And after chamar-se, you normally drop it: Chamo-me Ana.
What does tanto ... como do here?

It’s a correlative structure saying the action applies equally to two contexts. With a verb, tanto ... como can convey:

  • equality of amount/frequency: reads just as much at home as in the library
  • simple coordination, close to both ... and ...: reads at home and in the library
Could I say tão ... como or tanto ... quanto instead?
  • tão ... como/quanto is for adjectives/adverbs: A Ana lê tão bem em casa como na biblioteca.
  • With verbs/quantities, use tanto ... como/quanto: A Ana lê tanto em casa como/quanto na biblioteca. In Portugal, como is more common than quanto, but both are understood.
Why em casa but na biblioteca?
  • em casa (no article) = at home in the general sense.
  • na biblioteca = em + a (in the library), because it’s a specific place that takes the article. Compare: na casa = in the house (a particular house), not the idiomatic at home.
What does na stand for?

It’s the contraction of em + a. Others:

  • em + o = no
  • em + os = nos
  • em + as = nas
Can I swap the places or move the pair?

Yes:

  • A Ana lê tanto na biblioteca como em casa.
  • Fronted for emphasis: Tanto em casa como na biblioteca, a Ana lê. All are natural.
How do I say the opposite (she doesn’t read as much at home)?

Use negation:

  • A Ana não lê tanto em casa como na biblioteca. = She doesn’t read as much at home as in the library. To say she reads more at home, flip the comparison: A Ana lê mais em casa do que na biblioteca.
Any other natural ways to say both at home and in the library?
  • Quer em casa quer na biblioteca, a Ana lê.
  • A Ana lê em casa e na biblioteca.
  • A Ana lê em casa, bem como na biblioteca. (more formal)
How is ler conjugated in the present (European Portuguese)?
  • eu leio
  • tu lês
  • ele/ela/você lê
  • nós lemos
  • vocês/eles/elas leem Note: vós ledes exists but is archaic/rare.
Pronunciation tips for the sentence?
  • A Ana: the article a is a short schwa-like sound; Ana ~ AH-nuh.
  • lê: closed e, like leh (not lay).
  • tanto: TAHN-too (first vowel like a in father, but shorter).
  • em: nasalized, often like ẽ (before a vowel it can sound like ẽy).
  • casa: KAH-zuh (s becomes [z] between vowels).
  • como: KOH-moo.
  • na: nah.
  • biblioteca: stress on TE: bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah.
Is biblioteca a library or a bookstore?

biblioteca = library (borrow).
livraria = bookstore (buy). Easy to mix up.

Can I replace the name with a pronoun?
Yes: Ela lê tanto em casa como na biblioteca. Portuguese often drops subject pronouns when the verb form makes the subject clear, but using the name (with article) is very common in European Portuguese.
Do I need any commas with tanto ... como?
No comma is needed inside the pair. Use a comma only if you front the whole tanto ... como phrase: Tanto em casa como na biblioteca, a Ana lê.
How do I talk about movement to/from these places?
  • to home: a casa (EP) or para casa — Vou a/para casa.
  • from home: de casa — Venho de casa.
  • to the library: à biblioteca / para a biblioteca — Vou à biblioteca.
  • in/at the library: na biblioteca. Use à = a + a for to the with feminine nouns.
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