A, À, Or Há? Tricky Portuguese Grammar Quiz!

Hey everyone! Let's dive into a common source of confusion in Portuguese: the correct usage of a, à, and há. This is a classic question that often pops up in exams like FUVEST, and mastering it can significantly improve your grammar skills. So, let's break it down and make sure you understand the nuances.

Understanding A, À, and Há

First off, let's clarify what each of these words means and when to use them. This is super important because they sound alike but have totally different functions!

A

The letter a can function in several ways, but here are the most common:

• Preposition: It indicates time, distance, or manner. Think of it as similar to "to" in English. For example, "Vou a São Paulo" (I'm going to São Paulo).
• Article: It's a feminine singular article, like "the" in English. For example, "A casa é bonita" (The house is beautiful).

When used as a preposition, a doesn't have an accent. When used as an article, it's just a regular article!

À

À is a contraction of the preposition a and the feminine article a. It's used when the verb or noun before it requires the preposition a, and the noun following it is feminine. It's like a combination of "to the" but specifically for feminine nouns. For example, "Vou à escola" (I go to the school – escola is feminine).

Key Tip: If you can replace à with "a o" (to the - masculine), you're on the right track! But remember, à is specifically for feminine nouns.

Há

Há is the third-person singular form of the verb haver. It's used to indicate existence, time passed, or to express "there is/are" or "ago" in English. For example:

• "Há muitos livros na estante" (There are many books on the shelf).
• "Há dois anos que não a vejo" (I haven't seen her for two years).

Important Note: Há is a verb form, so it's used to express an action or state of being, unlike the preposition a or the contraction à.

Analyzing the Sentence

Now, let’s tackle the original sentence: "Diga. Elas que estejam daqui. Pouco. Porta da biblioteca."

We need to fill in the blanks with the correct forms of a, à, or há to make the sentence grammatically sound and meaningful. Let's analyze each part:

1. First Blank: "Diga. Elas que estejam daqui." This part needs a word that indicates a period of time. The correct word here is Há. This indicates "It's been a while since they've been here". Therefore, it becomes "Diga. Há, elas que estejam daqui." (It's been a while. They have been here.)
2. Second Blank: "Pouco." This requires a preposition indicating proximity or location. The correct choice is a. This creates the phrase "Pouco a porta da biblioteca." (Close to the library door).
3. Third Blank: "Porta da biblioteca." We need to connect "Pouco" to "porta da biblioteca." Since porta (door) is a feminine noun, we could consider à, but the sentence structure calls for a simple preposition indicating direction or proximity. Thus, simply using a is most suitable. This becomes "Pouco a porta da biblioteca." (Close to the library door).

Putting It All Together

So, the complete sentence should read: "Diga. Há, elas que estejam daqui. Pouco a porta da biblioteca." This translates to: "Say. It's been a while since they have been here. Close to the library door."

Therefore, the correct option is Option B: a, há, à

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Let’s quickly examine why the other options don't work:

• Option A: à, há, a: Using à in the first blank doesn't make sense because it requires a verb or noun that takes the preposition a, and there isn't one in that context. Also, using há and a in the second and third would result in an incoherent phrase, since it would mean you're pointing to existence of something near the library door, which doesn't fit the phrase's intent. The sentence would be saying “Tell. To the, they are here. There is little to the library door.” This doesn’t make sense.
• Option C: a, a, a: While a can be a preposition, using it in all three blanks doesn't provide the necessary context or grammatical correctness. The sentence would read as “Tell. They are here. Little to the library door.” This is not grammatically correct.
• Option D: à, a, a: The same reasoning as option A applies here. à doesn't fit in the first blank. It needs to connect to a word that requires the preposition a. This option translates to “Tell. To the, they are here. Little to the library door” which is equally incorrect.
• Option E: a, a, à: This doesn't work because the last à requires a verb of movement implying you are going to the library door, and the sentence isn’t structured like that. The sentence would be saying “Tell. They are here. Little to the library door,” which is grammatically incorrect.

Tips for Remembering

Here are some handy tips to keep these straight:

• Há (existence or time): Think "Há tempo" (There is time). If you can replace it with "there is/are" or indicate time passed, há is likely the correct choice.
• A (preposition/article): This is your basic "to" or "the" (feminine). Use it when you’re indicating direction, time, or simply using the feminine article.
• À (contraction): Remember this is a + a. If you're going to a feminine noun, à is your go-to.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to master these tricky words is through practice. Try creating your own sentences using a, à, and há. The more you use them, the more natural they will become. You can also find exercises online or in Portuguese grammar books to test your knowledge.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Understanding the difference between a, à, and há is crucial for mastering Portuguese grammar. Remember the rules, practice regularly, and you’ll be well on your way to using them correctly every time. Good luck, and keep practicing, guys!