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Verbs that require the preposition 'a'

English speakers often assume that if a verb takes a direct object in English, it will do the same in Portuguese. However, several common Portuguese verbs require the preposition a to connect to their object. If you translate word-for-word, you might miss the preposition completely.

For example, in English you watch a movie, answer a question, and obey the rules. In standard Portuguese, you do these actions to the movie, to the question, and to the rules.

Word list
assistirA1 to watch assistir ao filme = watch the movie ligarA1 to call ligar ao João = call João perguntarA1 to ask perguntar ao professor = ask the teacher responderA1 to answer responder à pergunta = answer the question telefonarA1 to call telefonar à mãe = call Mom assistirA2 to watch assistir a uma apresentação = watch a presentation pagarA2 to pay pagar a alguém = pay someone agradarB1 to please agradar aos clientes = please the customers agradecerB1 to thank agradecer a alguém = thank someone assemelhar-seB1 to look like assemelhar-se a alguém/algo = resemble someone/something assistirB1 to attend assistir à reunião = attend the meeting comparecerB1 to attend comparecer à reunião = attend the meeting (em is also heard) interessarB1 to interest interessar aos alunos = interest the students perdoarB1 to forgive perdoar a alguém = forgive someone obedecerB2 to obey obedecer às regras = obey the rules renunciarB2 to quit renunciar ao cargo = resign the post sobreviverB2 to survive sobreviver ao acidente = survive the accident desobedecerC1 to disobey desobedecer a uma ordem = disobey an order
Making the connection

When using verbs like assistir (to watch), responder (to answer), obedecer (to obey), desobedecer (to disobey), and sobreviver (to survive), you must include the preposition a.

Because the object that follows often has a definite article like o, a, os, or as, the preposition blends with the article. This means you will frequently use the contractions ao, à, aos, and às.

Nós assistimos ao filme ontem à noite.
(We watched the movie last night.)
Você precisa responder ao e-mail hoje.
(You need to answer the email today.)
Eles sobreviveram à tempestade.
(They survived the storm.)
O meu cão sempre obedece às regras.
(My dog always obeys the rules.)
When the object is a person

Verbs like agradecer (to thank), perdoar (to forgive), and pagar (to pay) also require the preposition a when the object is a person. In English, you thank the teacher or pay the driver directly. In Portuguese, the structure literally translates as thanking or paying to that person.

O aluno agradeceu à professora.
(The student thanked the teacher.)
Eu já paguei ao motorista.
(I already paid the driver.)
Ela não quer perdoar ao marido.
(She does not want to forgive her husband.)
Spoken shortcuts

It is worth noting that spoken Brazilian Portuguese can be quite relaxed with these rules. In casual conversation, many Brazilians drop the a after assistir. You will often hear people say they watched the movie using just the direct object.

Eu assisti o jogo na televisão.
(I watched the game on television.)

While this is incredibly common in everyday speech, you should always use assistir a in writing, formal situations, or language tests.

Summary

Certain Portuguese verbs require the preposition a before their object, even though English uses no preposition. Always remember to combine a with the definite article of the following noun to create ao or à.