Direction and destination
Where is it going, or which way is it headed?
Significado
We can show where something is going or what it is directed toward. We can name a destination or just a direction, without saying that it is reached. Languages use words, endings, or parts of the verb, and some have no special direction endings. Unlike Place, Direction and destination describes where something is headed, not where it is.
Como identificar
Look for the part that answers where something is going, which way it is headed, or what it is directed toward.
Na tua língua materna
Destinations commonly use para or a, while até marks how far movement goes. A combines with articles, giving ao and à. Everyday Brazilian speech also uses em with motion verbs, as in ir no mercado; edited writing generally favors a or para in that pattern.
Vamos para a praia no sábado.
A gente caminhou até a esquina.
Até marks the endpoint of this movement.
Chegamos à escola antes das oito.
À combines the destination preposition a with the article a.
Na tua língua de aprendizagem
English uses to for many destinations, into for movement inside, and onto for movement to a surface. Toward names a direction without saying the destination is reached. Destination words such as home, here, and there normally follow a movement verb without to.
We're going to the library.
To names the destination.
She stepped into the kitchen.
Into shows movement from outside to inside.
It's late. Let's go home.
Home already names a destination, so no to is needed.
Learners whose language uses one general destination marker may confuse to, into, and onto. Learners whose language marks all destinations in the same way may add to before home, here, or there.