Question 1

Why do we use pela instead of just por here?

Accepted Answer

Pela is a contraction. It combines the preposition por (which can mean "through") with the feminine word for "the", which is a. Because cidade (city) is a feminine noun, we must include "the" and say pela cidade (through the city).

Question 2

I thought por meant "by" or "for". Why does it mean "through" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The preposition por (and its contractions like pela) is very versatile! When it is paired with verbs of motion like passar (to pass), it usually translates to "through". So, passa pela means "passes through the".

Question 3

Why is the word for "this" Esta instead of Este?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, words like "this" have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because estrada (road) is a feminine noun, we must use the feminine form Esta. If the noun were masculine, like caminho (path), it would be Este caminho.

Question 4

There is no word for "Does" in the Portuguese sentence. How do we know it's a question?

Accepted Answer

Unlike English, Portuguese doesn't use helper words like "do" or "does" to make questions. You simply keep the exact same word order as a normal statement and just raise the pitch of your voice at the end when speaking, or add a question mark when writing.

Esta estrada passa pela cidade?

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