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Questions & Answers about Vou jantar às seis.
What tense/construction is Vou jantar?
It’s the “going to” future: ir (present) + infinitive. Here vou (I go/am going) + jantar (to have dinner) expresses a plan or intention for the near future: “I’m going to have dinner …”
Does vou here imply physical movement?
No. With an infinitive, vou functions as a future marker (plan/intention), not necessarily physical movement. Compare:
- Future/intention: Vou jantar às seis.
- Literal movement: Vou ao restaurante. (“I’m going to the restaurant.”)
Do I need to say eu (Eu vou jantar…)?
No. Portuguese is a pro‑drop language; the verb ending already marks the subject. Eu is optional and used for emphasis or contrast:
- Neutral: Vou jantar às seis.
- Emphatic/contrast: Eu vou jantar às seis (mas eles não).
Why does às have a grave accent, and what does it mean?
The grave accent marks the contraction a + as = às (called “crase”). It literally means “at the (feminine plural),” referring to an implicit horas (hours):
- às seis (horas) = at six (o’clock). Other common contractions with a:
- a + o = ao
- a + os = aos
- a + a = à
Can I write as seis without the accent?
No. As (without the accent) is “the” (feminine plural) or the object pronoun “them.” For “at six,” you must use às with the grave accent.
Is jantar a verb or a noun here?
A verb: jantar = “to have dinner.” As a noun, it’s o jantar (“the dinner”):
- Verb (plan): Vou jantar às seis.
- Noun (event): Vou ao jantar às seis. (“I’m going to the dinner at six.”)
Could I say Jantarei às seis instead?
Grammatically yes, but the simple future (jantarei) sounds formal or more distant/planned-in-advance in everyday speech. For spoken, natural Portuguese, Vou jantar às seis is preferred for plans. For habits, use the simple present:
- Habit: Janto às seis. or Costumo jantar às seis.
What’s the difference between Vou jantar às seis and Janto às seis?
- Vou jantar às seis = a plan/intention for a specific time (often today or soon).
- Janto às seis = a habitual action (“I have dinner at six” as a routine).
Can I say Vou comer às seis or Vou cear às seis?
- Vou comer às seis is understandable but less specific; it just says “eat.”
- Vou jantar às seis specifically means the dinner meal and is the natural choice.
- Cear (to have supper) exists but in Portugal it’s rare in everyday speech; ceia is more like a late/holiday supper.
How do I make it negative or turn it into a question?
- Negative: Não vou jantar às seis.
- Yes/no question (intonation): Vais jantar às seis?
- With emphasis: É que vais jantar às seis? Subject pronouns can be added for emphasis: Tu vais jantar às seis?
How do I say “around six” or “exactly at six”?
- Around: pelas seis, por volta das seis, cerca das seis
- Exactly: às seis em ponto
Can I use 24‑hour time? What about às dezoito?
In writing or formal contexts, yes: às 18 horas or às 18h. In casual speech, people usually say às seis. Às dezoito without horas sounds odd; include horas if you speak the 24‑hour time.
Is às seis horas also correct?
Yes. Adding horas is optional. Às seis is perfectly natural; às seis horas is a bit more formal or explicit.
Can I say Vou para jantar às seis?
Not as a substitute for the future construction. Use:
- Plan: Vou jantar às seis. Use para only to express purpose after a destination: Vou ao restaurante para jantar às seis.
Any tips for saying other times like half past or quarter to?
- 6:30 = às seis e meia
- 6:15 = às seis e quinze or às seis e um quarto
- 5:45 (a quarter to six) = às seis menos um quarto
Pronunciation (European Portuguese)?
- Vou ≈ “voh” [vo(w)]
- jantar ≈ “zhuhn-TAR” [ʒɐ̃ˈtaɾ] (nasal ã)
- às ≈ “ahs” [aʃ]
- seis ≈ “saysh” [ˈsejʃ] Whole sentence: [vo(w) ʒɐ̃ˈtaɾ aʃ ˈsejʃ]
Why is às feminine plural?
Because it contracts with the implied noun horas, which is feminine plural: as horas. That’s why it’s às (a + as).