Amidst so many exceptions, it's sometimes simpler for you to memorize when The back not used than when it is!
So, let's look at the cases:
- Before nouns male
a) He came on foot.
b) We do not sell on installments.
c) Let's visit the farm on horseback.
d) You must dress in character.
- Before verb in the infinitive
a) He started to smile when I broke the news!
b) You've been thinking about her all day!
c) He was celebrating his victory!
- Faced with city names
a) she arrived safely in Belo Horizonte.
b) Whoever has a mouth goes to Rome.
c) It was Vitória to discover the sea.
Important detail: When specifying the city, put the backline: I will go to the Venice of lovers. I mean eighteenth-century England.
- In nouns that are repeated
drop by drop, face to face, day to day, face to face, end to end.
- Faced with pronouns (personal, demonstrative, treatment, undefined and relative)
a) I asked her to be calm, because everything would work out!
b) Are you leaving at this time?
c) I will communicate your decision to Your Highness!
d) Feed anyone who is hungry!
e) I thank God, who owns everything I am and have!
- Before the indefinite article “one”:
He went to communion.
- Faced with plural nouns:
a) The prize was awarded to winning students.
b) I don't like to be around people who talk too much!
c) I like to go to squares to read!
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
- Before numbers cardinals
I'm leaving in fifteen minutes.
- Before the names of famous women:
a) I refer to Brigitte Bardot and her bad posture!
b) This book makes reference to Joan of Arc.
- In front of the word "house" when it is not specified
It was the house. He returned home.
Important detail: If the word "house" is determined by an adnominal adjunct, that is, if it is specified, the crasis is accepted: I went to the house of my grandparents or I returned home of my parents.
- In front of the word "land" when it means "firm land" and is not specified
After traveling a lot across the seas, we returned to land.
However, when it has the sense of planet, the crasis will occur. Ex.: Astronauts returned to Earth.
In case the word land is specified, the backquote will be confirmed. Ex.: We returned to my grandparents' land.
Important note
The use of the back letter is optional:
a) before possessive (Take the gift to your friend);
b) before names of women who are not famous (It was Ana talking about her love);
c) with “until”: He went to the nearest school to register.
By Sabrina Vilarinho
Graduated in Letters
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "When not to use the backquote?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/quando-nao-usar-crase.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.