Portuguese Phrase
Vou bastante ao mercado.
Meaning
The sentence means 'I go to the market quite often' or 'I go to the market a lot.' It emphasizes frequency rather than distance, indicating a regular habit of shopping.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about how often you visit the market, perhaps in response to a question about your shopping routine or daily activities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Voubastanteaomercado
Verb 'ir' (present)
The verb 'ir' is irregular; in the first person singular present it becomes 'vou', meaning 'I go' or 'I am going'.
Adverb 'bastante'
'Bastante' is an adverb meaning 'quite a lot' or 'frequently' when placed before a verb.
Contraction 'ao'
'Ao' is the contraction of the preposition 'a' + definite article 'o', used before masculine singular nouns.
Definite article with place nouns
When referring to a specific place like 'mercado', the definite article 'o' is required.
🗨In Conversation
Você costuma fazer compras em casa?
Do you usually do your shopping at home?
Não, vou bastante ao mercado.
No, I go to the market quite often.
✕Common Mistakes
Vou bastante o mercado.
Learners sometimes misuse 'bastante' as a noun; here it must stay as an adverb modifying the verb.
Vou bastante mercado.
Dropping the article changes the meaning; 'ao' is required before a masculine singular place.
Ir bastante ao mercado.
Using the infinitive 'ir' instead of the conjugated form is incorrect in this context.
↔Alternatives
Vou ao mercado com frequência.
I go to the market frequently.
Costumo ir ao mercado.
I usually go to the market.
Frequento o mercado.
I frequent the market.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the 'mercado' can refer to a large supermarket or a traditional open‑air market (feira). When speaking about a regular habit, Brazilians often use adverbs like 'bastante', 'frequentemente' or the expression 'com frequência'. The phrase sounds natural in informal conversation; in formal writing you might prefer 'com frequência'.