Breakdown of De vez em quando vamos à praia.
ir
to go
a praia
the beach
de vez em quando
from time to time
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Questions & Answers about De vez em quando vamos à praia.
What does the phrase de vez em quando literally mean?
It translates literally as "of time in when" or "of turn in when". It is the standard Portuguese fixed expression for "from time to time" or "occasionally". A slightly shorter alternative you will also hear often is às vezes (sometimes).
Why do we use à before praia instead of para a?
The verb ir (to go) is usually followed by either the preposition a or para. You use a (which merges with the feminine article a to form à) for a short, temporary visit, like a day trip to the beach. You use para for a permanent or very long-term move. If you said vamos para a praia, it would imply you are moving your residence to the beach!
Can I put de vez em quando at the end of the sentence?
Yes, Portuguese word order is quite flexible with time expressions. You can absolutely say Vamos à praia de vez em quando without changing the core meaning. Placing the phrase at the beginning of the sentence just puts a little extra emphasis on how often you go.