Object Pronouns II

Os Pronomes Oblíquos II

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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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