Portuguese Phrase
A banda começa a tocar às oito.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the band will begin its performance at eight o’clock. It is a simple statement of schedule, often used when talking about concerts, rehearsals, or any timed musical event.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to give or ask about the exact start time of a musical act, a rehearsal, or any event where a band will play. It works both in casual conversation and in more formal announcements.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Abandacomeçaatocaràsoito.
Definite article + noun
"A" is the feminine singular definite article that agrees with "banda".
Present tense verb
"começa" is the third‑person singular present of "começar" (to start).
Infinitive marker
"a" before an infinitive is a common Portuguese construction meaning "to" (e.g., "a tocar").
Contraction for time
"às" is the contraction of the preposition "a" + the feminine plural article "as", used before clock times.
Cardinal numeral
"oito" is the cardinal number eight; when used with "às" it indicates the hour.
🗨In Conversation
A que horas a banda vai tocar?
What time does the band play?
A banda começa a tocar às oito.
The band starts playing at eight.
✕Common Mistakes
A banda começa tocar às oito.
The infinitive must be preceded by the preposition "a"; dropping it makes the sentence ungrammatical.
A banda começa a tocar as oito.
The preposition + article contracts to "às" with a grave accent; writing "as" loses the prepositional meaning.
A banda começa a tocar às oito horas.
While not wrong, adding "horas" is redundant in everyday speech; learners often over‑specify.
↔Alternatives
A banda inicia a apresentação às oito.
The band begins the performance at eight.
A banda vai começar a tocar às oito.
The band will start playing at eight.
A banda toca a partir das oito horas.
The band plays from eight o’clock.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, "às oito" can refer to either 8 a.m. or 8 p.m.; the context (e.g., a concert) usually makes it clear. When you want to avoid ambiguity, you can say "às oito da manhã" (8 a.m.) or "às oito da noite" (8 p.m.). Also, the contraction "às" must always carry the grave accent; omitting it is a common error for learners.