Question 1

Why do we use pela here instead of através da for 'through the'?

Accepted Answer

While através da does mean 'through the', native Portuguese speakers much prefer using the preposition por (which combines with the feminine article a to make pela) when talking about movement through a door, window, or along a path. It is much more natural and concise for everyday movement.

Question 2

Wait, doesn't the verb entrar usually take the preposition em (in)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when you specify the final destination you are entering, you use em (for example, entram no quarto for 'they enter the room'). But here, the window is not the final destination; it is the path they take to get inside. When expressing the route through which someone enters, you switch to using por.

Question 3

Why is there a grave accent (the backwards accent mark) on às?

Accepted Answer

The grave accent indicates a contraction. It combines the preposition a (at) with the plural feminine article as (the). We use the plural as because it refers to the implied word horas (hours). So às essentially means 'at the hours of'.

Question 4

Could I say de noite instead of da noite here?

Accepted Answer

Not in this specific case. When you attach a time of day directly to a specific hour (like 'eight in the evening'), Portuguese always uses the specific contractions da manhã, da tarde, or da noite. You only use de noite when talking generally about things happening 'at night' without mentioning a specific hour on the clock.

Os mosquitos entram pela janela às oito da noite.

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