Breakdown of Eu não vou à estação hoje.
eu
I
não
not / no
hoje
today
à
at the (fem. sg.) / to the (fem. sg.)
Questions & Answers about Eu não vou à estação hoje.
Why do we use the preposition 'a' (hidden inside 'à') here instead of 'para'?
The verb ir (to go) pairs with both a and para, but they have different meanings. We use a for a short, temporary visit where you intend to return soon, like going to the station to run an errand or catch a train. We use para if you are moving somewhere for a long time, or to emphasize a final, long-term destination.
What does the backward accent mark on 'à' mean?
It shows a contraction (a merger of two words). The preposition a (to) meets the feminine definite article a (the), because estação is a feminine noun. Instead of writing a a, they combine into à. The grave accent tells you both words are in there.
The English translation says "am not going", but isn't 'vou' just the simple present tense "go"?
Yes, vou literally means "I go". However, Portuguese frequently uses the simple present tense for things happening in the near future or for continuous actions. "I am not going today" translates perfectly to the simple present não vou hoje.