Breakdown of Ela anda para ir à costureira fazer a bainha das calças.
ela
she
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
a
to / at (direction)
ir
to go
as calças
the pants
fazer
to do
o
him/it (m)
a bainha
the hem
andar para
to have been meaning to
a costureira
the seamstress
Questions & Answers about Ela anda para ir à costureira fazer a bainha das calças.
What exactly does andar para add to this sentence, and how does it mean "has been meaning to"?
The structure andar para + infinitive is used to express a delayed or ongoing intention. It implies that the subject has been planning or wanting to do something for a while but keeps putting it off. Combined here with ir, it perfectly captures the English concept of "has been meaning to go".
Could I use estar para ir instead of andar para ir here?
You could, but it changes the nuance. Estar para + infinitive often implies that someone is on the verge of doing something or is "about to" do it. Using andar para specifically highlights a lingering, continuous intention that has been delayed over a period of time.
Why is there no preposition like para between costureira and fazer to express "in order to hem"?
Why does the Portuguese sentence use fazer a bainha instead of a single verb for "to hem"?
While English has the specific verb "to hem", European Portuguese typically uses the descriptive phrase fazer a bainha (literally "to make the hem") when talking about altering the length of clothes.
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