Pronouns: Disjunctive

01

Usage After Prepositions

The primary function of these pronouns is to follow prepositions like a, de, en, para, por, and sin.

• Este regalo es para ti.

  This gift is for you.

• No quiero ir sin vosotros.

  I don't want to go without you.

• ¿Por qué no hablas de ello?

  Why don't you talk about it?

02

Usage for Emphasis

Disjunctive pronouns can also add emphasis or clarify who is being discussed. This is often done with the preposition a, especially with verbs like gustar.

• A mí me encanta el chocolate, pero a él no le gusta.

  I love chocolate, but he doesn't like it.

• ¿A ti te han dicho algo?

  Have they told you anything?

• A nosotros nos parece una buena película.

  We think it's a good movie.

03

The Special Forms: Mí, Ti, and Sí

Only the first-person singular (yo), second-person informal singular (tú), and the third-person reflexive (se) have unique disjunctive forms.

• yo → mí
• tú → ti
• se → sí (reflexive)

Note that mí has an accent mark to distinguish it from the possessive adjective mi (my). In contrast, ti never takes an accent.

• ¿Confías en mí?

  Do you trust me?

• Mi padre compró un coche para mí.

  My father bought a car for me.

• Pienso en ti todos los días.

  I think about you every day.

04

Special Cases with 'Con'

When the preposition con (with) is used with mí, ti, or the reflexive sí, they merge to form single words.

• con + mí → conmigo (with me)
• con + ti → contigo (with you)
• con + sí → consigo (with oneself)

For all other pronouns, con remains a separate word.

• ¿Quieres venir conmigo al cine?

  Do you want to come with me to the cinema?

• Estoy muy a gusto contigo.

  I'm very comfortable with you.

• Siempre lleva el paraguas consigo.

  He always carries the umbrella with him(self).

05

Exceptions: When to Use Subject Pronouns

In certain situations, the subject pronouns yo and tú are used after prepositions instead of mí and ti.

1. After specific prepositions

This occurs with entre, excepto, salvo, incluso, menos, and según.

• Entre tú y yo, no creo que sea una buena idea.

  Between you and me, I don't think it's a good idea.

• Todos fueron a la fiesta excepto yo.

  Everyone went to the party except me.

• Según tú, ¿cuál es la respuesta correcta?

  According to you, what is the correct answer?

2. In comparisons

After que and como in comparative structures, subject pronouns are used.

• Mi hermano es más alto que yo.

  My brother is taller than me.

• Ella sabe tanto como tú.

  She knows as much as you.

06

The Reflexive Pronoun 'Sí'

The pronoun sí is reflexive. It refers back to the third-person subject of the same clause (él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes). It is often followed by mismo/misma for emphasis.

Use sí when the action reflects back on the subject. Use él, ella, etc., when referring to a different person.

• Ana solo piensa en sí misma.

  Ana only thinks about herself.

• Ana solo piensa en él.

  Ana only thinks about him.

• Se lo guardó todo para sí.

  He kept it all for himself.