Question 1

Why do we use para instead of a for "going to" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The preposition para is used when you are going somewhere to stay for a longer amount of time, like taking a vacation. If you used a (Vocês vão ao país...), it would imply a very brief visit or a quick round trip, which usually doesn't fit with traveling to a different country for the holidays.

Question 2

Why is there an o after para?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, words for places and countries almost always require a definite article like o (the). So you aren't just saying "to country" (para país), you must say "to the country" (para o país).

Question 3

I thought "his" was seu. Why does this sentence use dele?

Accepted Answer

While seu can mean "his", it can also mean "yours" or "hers", which can cause confusion. To be perfectly clear that it is "his", Portuguese speakers prefer dele, which is a combination of de + ele (literally "of him"). Notice that it always comes after the noun: o país dele.

Question 4

Why does "for the holidays" translate to nas férias?

Accepted Answer

In English, we go somewhere "for" the holidays, but in Portuguese, the expression uses the preposition em (in/on). Nas is the combination of em + as. The word for vacation or holidays, férias, is feminine and always plural in Portuguese!

Vocês vão para o país dele nas férias?

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