Pronouns: Following a Verb

01

When to Attach Pronouns to a Verb

Pronouns are attached to the end of the verb, a process called enclisis, in the following forms:

1. The Infinitive: The basic, unconjugated form of a verb (e.g., parlar, beure, dormir).

• Vull comprar-lo demà.

  I want to buy it tomorrow.

• Pots ajudar-nos amb això?

  Can you help us with this?

• És important rentar-se les mans.

  It's important to wash one's hands.

2. The Gerund: The form indicating an ongoing action, ending in -ant, -ent, or -int.

• Estic mirant-la des de la finestra.

  I am watching her from the window.

• Va marxar sense dir-nos res.

  He/She left without telling us anything.

3. The Positive Imperative: When giving a command or instruction.

• Fes-ho ara mateix!

  Do it right now!

• Escolta'm amb atenció.

  Listen to me carefully.

Note that with negative commands, the pronouns are placed before the verb.

• No ho facis!

  Don't do it!

• No m'escoltis.

  Don't listen to me.

02

How to Attach Pronouns

The way a pronoun attaches to a verb depends on the final sound of the verb. The pronouns themselves may change form.

If the verb ends in a consonant or a diphthong (vowel combination like -au, -eu)

The "full form" (forma plena) of the pronoun is attached using a hyphen.

• em → -me (me)
• et → -te (you, singular)
• el → -lo (him, it)
• la → -la (her, it)
• es → -se (himself, herself, etc.)
• ens → -nos (us)
• us → -vos (you, plural)
• els → -los (them, masculine)
• les → -les (them, feminine)
• ho → -ho (it, that)

• Has de portar-los a l'escola.

  You have to bring them to school.

• Beu-te el suc.

  Drink the juice.

• Vull saber-ho tot.

  I want to know everything.

If the verb ends in a vowel

The "reduced form" (forma reduïda) of the pronoun is attached using an apostrophe. This involves dropping the pronoun's vowel.

• em → 'm
• et → 't
• el → 'l
• es → 's
• ens → 'ns
• els → 'ls

• Ajuda'm, si us plau.

  Help me, please.

• Posa'l sobre la taula.

  Put it on the table.

Pronouns that do not have a vowel to drop (la, li, les, ho) are attached with a hyphen, even after a vowel.

• Dona-li el regal.

  Give him/her the gift.

• Vaig veure-la ahir.

  I saw her yesterday.

03

Accent Marks and Stress

Adding one or more pronouns to a verb adds syllables. To maintain the original stress of the verb, an accent mark may be required. This happens if the new word's natural stress pattern doesn't match the verb's original stress.

The rule is: if adding the pronoun(s) makes the verb's stressed syllable the third-to-last syllable (or earlier) of the new word, that syllable must get a written accent.

• Menja la sopa. → Menja-la.

  Eat the soup. → Eat it. (Stress on 'men', no accent needed)

• Dóna el llibre a mi. → Dóna-me'l.

  Give the book to me. → Give it to me. (The verb dóna is already accented, so it stays)

• Acaba la feina. → Acàba-la.

  Finish the work. → Finish it. (Stress is on 'ca'. The new word acàbala needs an accent to keep the stress there).

04

Combining Two Pronouns

It is very common to attach two pronouns to a verb. The order is generally: Indirect Object + Direct Object.

When combining, the first pronoun often uses its full form (me, te, se) to make pronunciation easier, followed by the second pronoun, which may be reduced.

After a verb ending in a consonant

Both pronouns are attached with hyphens.

• Vull comprar-te-la.

  I want to buy it for you. (comprar + te + la)

• Pot portar-nos-ho?

  Can he/she bring it to us? (portar + nos + ho)

After a verb ending in a vowel

The connection can be a mix of hyphens and apostrophes. The first pronoun connects to the verb, and the second pronoun connects to the first.

• Dóna-me'l.

  Give it to me. (dóna + me + el → 'l)

• Volia vendre-se-la.

  He/She wanted to sell it to himself/herself. (vendre + se + la)

• Explica'ns-ho tot.

  Explain it all to us. (explica + ens → 'ns + ho)