Portuguese Year 4: Unstressed pronouns: before or after the verb?
Portuguese, Year 4 (Portugal): Vi-o, but Não o vi: where me, te, o, a, lhe go in an affirmative sentence, with «não» and with words like «já».
Hyphen after the verb, or before it without a hyphen
The unstressed pronouns (me, te, o, a, lhe, nos, os, as, lhes) lean on the verb and are written next to it. In an affirmative sentence they go after the verb, joined by a hyphen: «Vi-o.» (I saw him/it.), «Chamo-te.» (I call you.), «Dei-lhe o livro.» (I gave him the book.) If there is a negation («não», «nunca») or a word like «já», «também», «sempre» or «ainda» before the verb, the pronoun moves in front of the verb, with no hyphen: «Não o vi.», «Já te chamei.»
So it sounds and reads right
In Portugal, we say «Vi-o» and «Não o vi»; «Não vi-o» sounds wrong. Putting the pronoun in the right place is part of writing and speaking Portuguese well: in compositions, in letters and in messages. The pronoun moves around the verb, but it follows a simple rule that is worth knowing.
Replace «a Rita» with a pronoun
Replace «a Rita» with an unstressed pronoun. Step 1: affirmative, «Vi a Rita.» (I saw Rita.) becomes «Vi-a.» The pronoun «a» goes after the verb, with a hyphen. Step 2: with a negation, «Não vi a Rita.» becomes «Não a vi.» The «não» pulls the pronoun in front of the verb. Step 3: with «já», «Já vi a Rita.» becomes «Já a vi.» Step 4: the rule: with nothing before the verb, after it with a hyphen; with «não», «nunca» or «já», before it, no hyphen.
Leaving it behind the verb, or forgetting the hyphen
The commonest mistake is to leave the pronoun after the verb even when there is a «não» or a «já»: «Não vi-o» ✗ and «Já vi-o» ✗. The right forms are «Não o vi» and «Já o vi». The other mistake is to forget the hyphen after the verb: «Vi o» ✗ looks like “I saw the …” (something); write «Vi-o». A trick: look before the verb for words like «não», «nunca», «já», «também».
In messages and in speech
You already use these pronouns when you speak, without thinking: «Chamo-te já!» (I'll call you right away!), «Não te esqueças!» (Don't forget!), «Já lhe disse.» (I already told him.) In messages and letters, the rule helps you write well: «Ajudo-te no TPC.» (I'll help you with homework.) and «Também te ajudo com a leitura.» (I'll also help you with reading.)
Test what you learned
You want to replace «o bolo» in «Comi o bolo.» (I ate the cake.) with a pronoun. Which sentence is right?
- a) Comi o.
- b) Comio.
- c) Comi-o.
- d) Comi-lhe.
Correct answer: c) Comi-o. — Yes: in an affirmative sentence, the pronoun «o» goes after the verb, with a hyphen.
You want to replace «a Rita» in «Não vi a Rita.» (I did not see Rita.) with a pronoun. Which sentence is right?
- a) Não vi-a.
- b) Não a vi.
- c) Vi-a não.
- d) Não vi a.
Correct answer: b) Não a vi. — Yes: the «não» pulls the pronoun in front of the verb, and there is no hyphen.
You want to replace «o filme» in «Já vi o filme.» (I have already seen the film.) with a pronoun. Which sentence is right?
- a) Já vi-o.
- b) Já lhe vi.
- c) Já-o vi.
- d) Já o vi.
Correct answer: d) Já o vi. — Yes: «já» before the verb pulls the pronoun in front of it, without a hyphen.
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