Breakdown of A aula começa às dez em ponto.
dez
ten
começar
to begin
a aula
the class
em ponto
on the dot, sharp
Questions & Answers about A aula começa às dez em ponto.
Why is the plural feminine às used before the number dez?
It is a contraction of the preposition a and the plural article as. We use the feminine plural because it implies the word horas (hours), making it effectively às dez horas. This rule applies to all hours except one o'clock, which is singular (à uma).
Can I use the word classe instead of aula in this sentence?
In European Portuguese, aula is the correct word for a lesson, lecture, or period of instruction. The word classe is usually used for a group of students (a school class) or a social category, not the event of teaching itself.
What is the literal meaning of the phrase em ponto?
It translates literally to "in point." It is the standard idiomatic phrase used to mean "on the dot" or "sharp" when telling time.
Would I need a preposition after começa if I added an action, like "The class starts to end"?
Yes. When the verb começar is followed by an infinitive verb to mean "starting to do something," you must connect them with the preposition a. For example, A aula começa a acabar. In our current sentence, since it just says when the class starts without a second verb, no preposition is needed directly after começa.
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