Podes comprar ao motorista.
You can buy it from the driver.
Language note: More explicit: “Podes comprar o bilhete ao motorista.”
Culture note: If you pay onboard, have small change ready—drivers may not have change for large notes.
Context: They give the full sentence with the first option.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Podes
[POH-d(ish)]
You can.
Informal "you can" (ability/permission).
Podes comprar ao motorista se não houver máquina.
You can buy from the driver if there isn’t a machine.
comprar
[kom-PRAR]
To buy / buy.
Infinitive used after "podes": "you can buy".
Podes comprar o bilhete no quiosque ou a bordo.
You can buy the ticket at the kiosk or on board.
ao
[ow]
To the (masculine singular).
"ao" = "a" + "o". Used with people/places you go to or buy from.
Podes comprar ao motorista e depois sentas-te.
You can buy from the driver and then sit down.
motorista
[moo-tor-EE-shtah]
Driver.
The tram/bus driver; the person you can ask/pay.
Podes comprar ao motorista quando ele parar.
You can buy from the driver when he stops.
Phrase Parts
Podes
You can
Informal (tu) of 'poder' expressing permission/possibility.
Podes repetir?
Can you repeat?
comprar
buy
Infinitive after 'podes': 'can buy'.
Quero comprar água.
I want to buy water.
ao motorista.
from the driver.
'a' + 'o' = 'ao'. Means you buy it from/with the driver.
Pergunta ao motorista.
Ask the driver.
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