🇵🇹 PORTUGUESE GRAMMAR MASTERCLASS • CEFR A2 - B1 • 8 MIN READ
Portuguese "Há" vs "A": Time, Distance & Pleonasms
Even native Portuguese speakers frequently stumble over the distinction between "há" (with an 'h' and accent) and "a" (the bare preposition). When writing emails, essays, or academic texts, mixing these up is one of the most glaring orthographic giveaways. Here is the definitive diagnostic guide.
⚡ The 10-Second Golden Rule
HÁ (Verb Haver)
Indicates PAST elapsed time (Can be replaced by 'faz')
"Moro aqui há cinco anos."
= Faz cinco anos (5 years ago / for 5 years)
A (Preposition)
Indicates FUTURE time or PHYSICAL distance
"O comboio chega daqui a pouco."
"O hotel fica a dois quilómetros."
1. The "Faz" Substitution Diagnostic
If you are unsure whether to write há or a when talking about time, try substituting the word with "faz":
- If "faz" sounds natural and makes sense, write HÁ:
"Não o vejo [faz / há] três meses." → Both work, so write há. - If "faz" makes zero sense, write A:
"A reunião começará daqui [faz / a] dez minutos." → "Faz" sounds completely broken, so write a!
2. The Cardinal Sin: "Há anos atrás" (Pleonasm)
In everyday Brazilian and Portuguese speech, you will often hear "Eu comprei o carro há dois anos atrás". In grammar exams, journalism, and academic writing, this is considered an egregious redundancy (pleonasmo vicioso):
❌ Redundant / Incorrect:
*"Ele viajou há dez dias atrás."
(Because 'há' already explicitly means 'in the past', adding 'atrás' says 'in the past' twice!)
*"Ele viajou há dez dias atrás."
(Because 'há' already explicitly means 'in the past', adding 'atrás' says 'in the past' twice!)
✅ Correct Options (Pick ONE):
1. "Ele viajou há dez dias." (Preferred formal)
2. "Ele viajou dez dias atrás." (Acceptable conversational)
1. "Ele viajou há dez dias." (Preferred formal)
2. "Ele viajou dez dias atrás." (Acceptable conversational)
🎯 Diagnostic Quiz: Há vs A
Complete the sentence correctly: "Nós chegámos [...] três dias e partiremos daqui [...] duas semanas."