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Já escolhemos o destino para as férias.

Já escolhemos o destino para as férias.
We already chose the destination for the vacation.
From Lesson 83:Already and not yet (já, ainda não)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Já escolhemos o destino para as férias.

How can we tell that escolhemos is in the past tense here?
For regular verbs ending in -er like escolher, the "we" form is exactly the same in both the present tense and the simple past tense. The time word já (already) is your main clue that the action is completed, so it means "we already chose" rather than "we choose".
Does já always have to go right before the verb?
Usually, yes. In English, we often put "already" at the very end of the sentence ("We chose the destination already"). However, in Portuguese, placing já directly before the verb (Já escolhemos) is the most natural and standard word order.
Why does the sentence use the plural as férias for the singular English word "vacation"?
The Portuguese word for vacation or holidays, férias, is always feminine and plural. Even if you are talking about one single trip, you must treat the word as plural and use the plural word for "the", which is as.
Why do we use the preposition para here instead of por?
We use para because it indicates the purpose or intention of something. The destination is intended "for" the vacation. If you remember that para points forward to a goal or a purpose, it helps you choose it over por.

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