Revision of Pronominal Placement

In Portuguese, the correct placement of pronouns in a sentence can greatly impact clarity and understandability. It is important to follow the proper rules to avoid confusion. This guide will refresh your knowledge on pronoun placement and help you improve your communication skills in Portuguese.

1. Pronoun Placement with Verbs

1.1. Direct Object Pronouns

When using a direct object pronoun in combination with a verb, there are a few rules to follow:

• Before the verb:
  • When the verb is in the infinitive form, the pronoun comes before it.
    • Eu quero encontrá-lo. (I want to meet him.)
  • When the verb is in the gerund form, the pronoun comes before it.
    • Estou comprando-os. (I am buying them.)
  • When the verb is in the imperative form, the pronoun comes before it.
    • Dê-me um minuto. (Give me a minute.)
• Attached to the verb:
  • When the verb is in the indicative or subjunctive form, the pronoun can be attached to the verb.
    • Ele me telefona todos os dias. (He calls me every day.)
    • Espero que me ajudes. (I hope you help me.)

1.2. Indirect Object Pronouns

Indirect object pronouns also have specific placement rules:

• Before the verb:
  • When the verb is in the infinitive, gerund, or imperative form, the pronoun comes before it.
    • Preciso lhe falar. (I need to speak to you.)
  • When the verb is in the indicative or subjunctive form, the pronoun can be attached to the verb.
    • Maria nos convidou para o jantar. (Maria invited us for dinner.)
    • Espero que te lembres disso. (I hope you remember that.)

1.3. Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used to indicate that the action of the verb is performed by the subject itself. The placement of reflexive pronouns follows similar rules:

• Before the verb:
  • When the verb is in the infinitive, gerund, or imperative form, the pronoun comes before it.
    • Vou me maquiar. (I'm going to do my makeup.)
  • When the verb is in the indicative or subjunctive form, the pronoun can be attached to the verb.
    • Ela se arrependeu do que disse. (She regretted what she said.)

2. Pronoun Placement with Other Sentence Elements

2.1. Pronouns with Prepositions

When a pronoun is combined with a preposition, the pronoun is placed after the preposition.

• Ele está falando sobre isso comigo. (He's talking about it with me.)
• Eles foram com ela ao concerto. (They went to the concert with her.)

2.2. Pronouns with Infinitive Phrases

When a pronoun is used with an infinitive phrase, it is placed before the infinitive.

• Preciso te ver amanhã. (I need to see you tomorrow.)
• Ela quer nos ajudar com a mudança. (She wants to help us with the move.)

2.3. Pronouns with Commands

When a pronoun is used with a command, it is placed after the verb form.

• Fale comigo depois. (Talk to me later.)
• Traga as bebidas para nós. (Bring the drinks for us.)

3. Conclusion

By following these rules for pronoun placement, you will be able to communicate more effectively in Portuguese. Remember to pay attention to verb forms, prepositions, and the specific rules for each type of pronoun. With practice, using pronouns correctly will become second nature, making your Portuguese more fluent and understandable. Obrigado por estudar conosco! (Thank you for studying with us!)