A1 · Unit 3 · Lesson 2
Ir: going places
The irregular verb ir, the contractions ao and à, and how to talk about where you're headed.
The verb “ir” (to go) is irregular but everywhere — for destinations, for plans, and for inviting people along.
The irregular shapes of ir
Just memorise the four: eu vou, você/ele/ela vai, nós vamos, eles/vocês vão.
Conjugate it — ir
Present · reveal each person, then keep the cheat card.
Eu vou agora.
I'm going now.
Ela vai de carro.
She's going by car.
Nós vamos juntos.
We're going together.
Going “to” a place: ao and à
“A” (to) merges with the article: a + o = ao, a + a = à. So you go “ao mercado” or “à praça”.
Spot the pattern
“A” (to) merges with the article ahead of it. Predict the contraction.
Vou ao banco.
I'm going to the bank.
Ela vai à escola.
She goes to school.
Vamos ao parque.
Let's go to the park.
Plans and getting around
“Ir” plus a dictionary-form verb makes the everyday future: “vou comprar”. Transport takes “de” (de ônibus, de carro), except “a pé” (on foot).
Vou comprar pão.
I'm going to buy bread.
Eles vão de trem.
They're going by train.
Vamos a pé.
Let's walk.
Common mistakes
- — “A” must merge: it's “ao cinema” and “à festa”, never “a o” or “a a”.
- — Transport uses “de” (de metrô, de bicicleta), but on foot is the fixed phrase “a pé”.
- — For near-future plans, pair “ir” with a plain verb: “vou estudar”, not a one-word future.
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