Understanding Portuguese Direct Object Pronouns
In Portuguese, direct object pronouns are words that replace nouns and show what or who is receiving the action of the verb in a sentence. They help us avoid repeating the same nouns and make sentences shorter and clearer.
Common Direct Object Pronouns in Portuguese
Important Points
- me - me
- te - you (informal)
- o - him, it (masculine)
- a - her, it (feminine)
- nos - us
- vos - you all (informal)
- os - them (masculine)
- as - them (feminine)
These pronouns are placed before the verb most of the time. However, in some cases, they can come after the verb, attached with a hyphen, especially in affirmative commands, infinitives, and gerunds.
Using Direct Object Pronouns
Let's see how to use these pronouns in sentences. Imagine you have a sentence with a noun that is the direct object. You can replace that noun with the correct pronoun.
Examples
- Eu vejo o carro. -> Eu o vejo.
- Ela compra o livro. -> Ela o compra.
- Nós amamos a música. -> Nós a amamos.
Notice how 'o carro' becomes 'o', 'o livro' becomes 'o', and 'a música' becomes 'a'. This makes the sentences shorter and avoids repeating the object.
Important Points
- In affirmative commands, the pronoun comes after the verb: 'Compre o livro!' becomes 'Compre-o!'
- With infinitives, the pronoun can attach to the verb: 'Quero ver o filme.' becomes 'Quero vê-lo.'
- With gerunds, the pronoun also attaches: 'Estou lendo o livro.' becomes 'Estou lendo-o.'
Examples
- Leia o livro! -> Leia-o!
- Vou comprar a casa. -> Vou comprá-la.
- Ele está fazendo o trabalho. -> Ele está fazendo-o.
By understanding these rules, you can use direct object pronouns to make your Portuguese sentences smoother and more natural.