Breakdown of A touca é obrigatória no spa, desde que vás à piscina.
ser
to be
em
in / on / at
a
to / at (direction)
ir
to go
a piscina
the swimming pool
o
him/it (m)
o spa
the spa
desde que
provided that
a touca
the swimming cap
obrigatório
mandatory
Questions & Answers about A touca é obrigatória no spa, desde que vás à piscina.
Why is the verb form vás used instead of vais?
The phrase desde que means "provided that" or "as long as". It sets up a condition and always triggers the subjunctive mood. Since we are talking about a present or future possibility, we use the present subjunctive of ir (to go) for the tu (you) form, which is vás.
I learned chapéu for hat. When do I use touca?
Touca specifically refers to a close-fitting cap without a brim. In a pool or spa context, it means a swimming cap (short for touca de natação). It is also used for shower caps or surgical caps. For a regular hat with a brim, you still use chapéu, and for a winter beanie, you use gorro.
Could I say para a piscina instead of à piscina?
You could, but the preposition a is much more natural here. In Portuguese, going somewhere with a implies a short visit with the intention of returning soon (like going to the pool to swim). Using para usually implies moving somewhere for a longer time. À is just the contraction of the preposition a and the feminine article a.
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