Object Pronouns II

Os Pronomes Oblíquos II

Introduction

Introdução

This lessons covers two special forms personal pronouns have when used after certain verb endings and when they appear in the middle of a verb.

In the conditional and future tense, pronouns can also be used in the middle of the verb. When this happens it is called a mesoclitic pronoun. While for the most part these are identical to their normal case o (him; it), a (her; it), os (them) and as (them) all get an "l" added to the front. This is to create a natural flow to the language's sound. If the pronoun comes attached to a verb ending in a consonant it also takes this additional "l" form.

   Eu fá-lo-ia
   I would do it.

   Faz-lo.
   Do it.

The reason pronouns can be mesoclitic (as opposed to proclitic or enclitic) in the future tense and conditional mood is because originally these were compound verbs: verb + pronoun + hei/hás.

If the pronoun comes attached at the end of a verb, this is called enclitic, and the verb ends in a nasal diphthong, o (him; it), a (her; it), os (them) and as (them) all get an "n" added to the front. Again, this is to maintain a more flowing pronunciation.

   Comeram-nos.
   They ate them.
After nasal diphthongMesoclitic or after consonant
Singular Third-person
Play no
him it masculine
Play na
her it feminine
Play lo
him it it, he, she
Play la
her it feminine
Plural Third-person
Play nos
them masculine
Play nas
them feminine
Play los
them masculine
Play las
them feminine

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