Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Ela olha para o quadro.

Ela olha para o quadro.

She looks at the painting.

Breakdown of Ela olha para o quadro.

Questions & Answers about Ela olha para o quadro.

Why didn't we use the present continuous (está a olhar) here?

This sentence uses the simple present tense: olha ("she looks"). If you wanted to say "she is looking" right in this moment, you would use the structure from this lesson: Ela está a olhar para o quadro. Seeing simple present sentences in this lesson helps you practice the difference between an action that happens generally versus one happening right now.

In English we say "looks at". Why does the Portuguese use para (for/to)?

Prepositions rarely translate perfectly word-for-word between languages. In Portuguese, the verb olhar requires the preposition para when you are directing your eyes toward something. So, olhar para is the standard way to say "to look at".

Do people actually say para o as two separate words?

In formal writing, you will always see para o. However, in spoken, everyday Portuguese, people almost always smash them together and pronounce them as pro. You will even see pro written down in casual text messages, so it's very helpful to know both!

I've seen the word quadro used in a classroom. Does it mean "painting" or "board"?

It means both! Quadro is a flexible word that can refer to a framed painting or picture on a wall, but it is also the standard word for a classroom board (like a chalkboard or whiteboard). You just have to use the context of the situation to know which one is meant.