Question 1

Why is there a de between gostamos and viajar?

Accepted Answer

The verb gostar (to like) almost always needs the preposition de right after it. In Portuguese, you don't just "like" something; you "like of" something. Whenever you connect gostar to a noun or another action, you must include de.

Question 2

Why is viajar left in its original form instead of changing to match "we"?

Accepted Answer

When you have two verbs working together to express an idea, only the first verb (gostamos) changes its ending to match the person doing the action. The second verb (viajar) stays in its base dictionary form (the infinitive) because it translates directly to "to travel".

Question 3

I learned that the word a means "to". Why does this sentence use para Lisboa?

Accepted Answer

Both a and para can mean "to", but they suggest different lengths of stay. Using para Lisboa implies traveling there as a main destination or staying for a proper visit. If you used a Lisboa, it would sound like popping in for a very quick, brief errand and leaving immediately. Because viajar means to travel, para is the most natural choice.

Question 4

Is it okay to drop the word Nós at the beginning?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can simply say Gostamos de viajar para Lisboa. Because the -amos ending on gostamos is only ever used for "we", the listener already knows who is doing the liking. Including Nós is correct, but it just adds a little extra emphasis to the "we".

Nós gostamos de viajar para Lisboa.

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