The Preposition A and Its Uses in EP
The preposition a in EP marks direction, indirect objects, time expressions, and appears in constructions like estar a + infinitive. EP does not use a "personal a" before direct objects as Spanish does.
PortuStories Editorial
European Portuguese Grammar Guide
The preposition a contracts with definite articles: a + o = ao, a + a = à, a + os = aos, a + as = às.
Key uses: (1) direction/destination (Fui ao mercado), (2) indirect object marker (Dei o livro ao João), (3) time expressions (às três horas, ao meio-dia), (4) estar a + infinitive, (5) verb + a collocations.
Às cinco da tarde, fomos ao jardim.
At five in the afternoon we went to the garden.
Telefonei à minha mãe.
I called my mother.
Telefonar a: indirect object introduced by a.
Unlike Spanish, Portuguese does not use a "personal a" before human direct objects. "Vi o João" (I saw João) — no preposition before the direct object in EP.
🇵🇹 European Portuguese
Vi o João ontem. (no personal a)
🇧🇷 Brazilian Portuguese
Vi o João ontem. (same — no personal a in either variety)
Neither EP nor BP uses a personal a before direct objects. This is a feature of Spanish, not Portuguese.
From a PortuStories Story
Às oito da manhã fomos ao aeroporto para dizer adeus ao avô.
At eight in the morning we went to the airport to say goodbye to grandfather.