"Every morning she helps her mother to prepare breakfast."

Translation: Toda manhã ela ajuda sua mãe a preparar o café da manhã.

[MargaridaRast]

I am portuguese and I would say " Todas as manhãs ela ajuda a sua mãe a preparar o pequeno almoço"

[rcrichards]

okay, why is the article "o" necessary?

[Paulenrique]

we usually use "o" before "café da manhã"

[SpencerCarran]

Out of curiosity, is there another word for "breakfast?" Not that I don't wholeheartedly approve of using the phrase "morning coffee" to describe breakfast.

[pietvo]

pequeno almoço em Portugal

[Paulenrique]

People usually shorten this word to just "café", but not meaning coffee =)

[Danmoller]

There is "desjejum" in Portuguese. (For cult ones)

[rcrichards]

So it is habit then? For me it is a bit confusing when it is necessary and when it is not to use the article. With the European dialect I just put it on and it is right 90% of the time, but with the Brazilian it is less clear to me.

[Paulenrique]

It's a point you'll learn over the time and by using them until it comes up naturally!! =)

[douglascrp]

Hi Rob... actually, in this case, you are indicating the object, the breakfast, and here you will always use the article. And I think in this case it is the same you have described like the use in european portuguese. I can't remember now one case where the article is not used.

[Chimpunk]

When do I need "a" before the infinitive and when not?

[Paulenrique]

Actually, it depends on the verb. If you have another verb after ajudar, you add the "a" between them.

[emeyr]

Is it correct to write "...ajuda sua mae para preparer o cafe...."?

[Paulenrique]

No. "Para" usually translates "to + infinitive" when you can add "in order to" in the sentence. In this case, only "a" works though. It is the structure "ajudar + a + to do something".

[EsteveTheSteve]

"Toda manhã" e "todas as manhãs" significam os mesmos?

[Danmoller]

Sim!

Literally:

• Toda manhã = every morning
• Todas as manhãs = all (the) mornings.

[emeyr]

Obrigada. Como eu não sabia disso?

[Paulenrique]

Oh... that's not a big problem! =)

[Spacegryphon]

DL should know the difference between an article and a preposition. It's the preposition "a" you need here, not the (feminine definite) article "a".

[emeyr]

Is DL correct in rejecting "cada manhã" in preference for "toda manhã?

[Paulenrique]

that's right too, just less usual.

[lucasvmagia]

In that case the translation would be 'each morning'. The meaning is similar, but the phrasing is not.

[Carlospicareta]

Toda a manha ela ajuda a sua mae a preparar o cafe da manha

[Paulenrique]

Toda a manhã = the whole morning.