"Ele toca no lobo."

Translation: He touches the wolf.

[Italiana2014]

It would have been really nice to teach that "tocar" needs "em" before using a sentence like this one. I hate losing hearts for things that have not been previously explained and cannot be derived from simply checking the given meanings of the words.

[Jamesalex1]

DL really needs to be used along with other materials. Try gramatica ativa and modern brazilian portuguese grammar (green book)

[Shepstone2]

it should read "ele toca o lobo

[Paulenrique]

"Ele toca no lobo" is more common.

[mjarrell]

The "L" sound in this example is very difficult to understand.

[GrantBarnes91]

I agree. It sounds like the computer voice is swallowing the word lobo and I can't understand it at all

[mikemelnyk]

Hmm. Why is, "He is touching the wolf" wrong?

[samc11]

Because of zoophilia!

[Jamesalex1]

We need to translate to the present simple, not the present continuous.

[Thulsadom]

Why? Whats the reason?

[Jamesalex1]

Because Br.P. has an equivalent "Ele está tocando.."

[mikemelnyk]

Duolingo translates a number of phrases in the simple present in Portuguese to the present progressive in English, no? I think Duolingo needs to accept the present progressive English translation too.

[aimee]

Is the pronunciation on these just really off? Even coming from a background of speaking Spanish, it's really hard to actually tell what some of these words are

[ketoacidosis]

Does tocar always need the preposition "em" if the subject is touching someone/ something? (toca nas mulheres/ toca no lobo/ toca na comida)

[Paulenrique]

Yup :) "Não toque naquela camisa / Não toque em mim", But, não toque aqui (dont touch here)

[ketoacidosis]

I think I've heard that "tocar" also means to "play" an instrument. Would you also use "em" with an instrument? (ex: I play the piano.)

[Paulenrique]

You're right, but then use just tocar: "sei tocar piano/eu sabia tocar teclado" (keyboard). Plus, tocar means "to ring": your phone is ringing (seu telefone está tocando) ;)

[ketoacidosis]

Muito obrigado! Great explanations.

[philipparker]

So "em o" always becomes "no"?

[Paulenrique]

Yes, it is mandatory. No (em + o), na (em + a). Plural: nos, nas

[NitishAgar1]

y do we add "no" here ?

[Paulenrique]

no= em+o. For further explanation, just look at the previous comments ;)

[AaronPolk]

Why not "Ele toca do lobo"?

[Soy_Jaguar]

While here but not pertaining to the question directly, does tocar also mean "to play (instrument)" or "to hold (in ones hands)"? I know in this context they don't apply but i wonder if it's the same as in Spanish

[Paulenrique]

Yes, tocar = to play/to touch/to ring

[Saka263610]

Why do we have to use em here

[Paulenrique]

"em" is optional here.

[weldon02]

Could you not just say, Ele toca o lobo"?

[Paulenrique]

Also right, but less common.