B1 · Intermediate Chapter 3

Identifying Objects: Him, Her, and It

3 Total Rules
31 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master Portuguese pronouns to make your speech flow as naturally as a native speaker's.

  • Replace nouns using indirect object pronouns like 'lhe' and 'lhes'.
  • Distinguish between direct and indirect objects to avoid common errors.
  • Attach pronouns to infinitives by modifying verb endings.
Ditch the repetition: Speak with effortless flow.

What You'll Learn

Alright, amazing B1 learner! You've got the basics down, you're building sentences like a pro, but are you ready to make your Portuguese flow effortlessly, just like a native speaker? This chapter is your ticket! We're diving deep into direct and indirect object pronouns – the linguistic glue that helps you replace nouns like him, her, and it so you never sound repetitive again. First, we'll tackle the masculine direct object pronouns like o (and its cool variations lo and no when attached to verbs). Imagine saying,

I read the book, *it* was great,
instead of repeating the book. Much smoother, right? Then, we'll introduce lhe and lhes for indirect objects – think to him or to her. This lets you elegantly say,
I gave *him* the book,
instead of
I gave the book to João.
See the difference? Next, we'll clear up the common confusion between o/a and lhe, so you always know whether you're talking about the object itself or the person receiving the action. Finally, get ready for some Portuguese magic: pronouns with infinitives! You'll learn how lo, la, los, and las cleverly attach to verbs, making those tricky «R,» «S,» or Z endings disappear and adding a crucial accent. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to effortlessly substitute nouns with the correct pronouns, making your conversations natural and sophisticated. You'll easily order it at a restaurant instead of awkwardly repeating the item, and your storytelling will glide seamlessly. Get ready to elevate your Portuguese to a truly fluent and elegant level!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'lhe' and 'lhes' to refer to people receiving an action.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Differentiate between direct objects (o/a) and indirect objects (lhe/lhes) in complex sentences.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Correctly append 'lo/la/los/las' to infinitive verbs.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome, aspiring B1 Portuguese speaker! You've mastered the basics, you're constructing sentences, and now it's time to add a layer of sophistication and natural fluency to your speech. This chapter is your essential guide to mastering Portuguese direct and indirect object pronouns, the powerful linguistic tools that will help you avoid repetition and sound incredibly natural. Think of them as the shortcuts that allow you to say "I saw *him*" instead of "I saw João," or "I gave *her* the book" instead of "I gave the book to Maria." These pronouns are crucial for smooth, flowing conversation and are a hallmark of confident B1 Portuguese grammar. We’ll demystify how to use o, a, os, as for direct objects, lhe and lhes for indirect objects, and tackle the common confusion between them. Get ready to unlock the magic of attaching pronouns like lo, la, los, las to infinitives, transforming your sentences with elegance and precision. By the end, your Portuguese grammar will be elevated, making you sound less like a textbook and more like a native speaker.

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the mechanics of these essential Portuguese object pronouns. First, we have the Portuguese Direct Object Pronouns: O (Him/It). These pronouns replace the noun that directly receives the action of the verb. They are o (him/it, masculine singular), a (her/it, feminine singular), os (them, masculine plural), and as (them, feminine plural). In most cases, they precede the verb:
Eu vejo o carro. (I see the car.) → Eu o vejo. (I see it.)
Nós lemos a carta. (We read the letter.) → Nós a lemos. (We read it.)
Next, we introduce To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes). These pronouns replace the noun that indirectly receives the action, often indicating "to whom" or "for whom" something is done. Lhe means "to him," "to her," "to it," or "to you" (formal singular). Lhes means "to them" or "to you all" (formal plural). They also typically precede the verb:
Eu dou o livro ao João. (I give the book to João.) → Eu lhe dou o livro. (I give him the book.)
Ele fala às crianças. (He talks to the children.) → Ele lhes fala. (He talks to them.)
Understanding the difference between Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe) is key. The direct object is the *thing* being acted upon, while the indirect object is the *recipient* of that action.
Eu vejo a Maria. (I see Maria.) – Maria is the direct object. → Eu a vejo. (I see her.)
Eu falo à Maria. (I speak to Maria.) – Maria is the indirect object (receiving the speaking). → Eu lhe falo. (I speak to her.)
Finally, prepare for some Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las. This is where Portuguese grammar gets truly elegant. When a direct object pronoun follows an infinitive verb (ending in -r), a verb ending in -s, or a verb ending in -z, the consonant is dropped, and the pronoun transforms.
  • Verbs ending in -r: The -r is dropped, and an acute accent is added to the preceding vowel. o becomes -lo, a becomes -la, etc.
Vou fazer o bolo. (I'm going to make the cake.) → Vou fazê-lo. (I'm going to make it.)
Quero comprar os bilhetes. (I want to buy the tickets.) → Quero comprá-los. (I want to buy them.)
This rule also applies to verbs ending in -s or -z, though less common with infinitives. For example, in Nós fizemos isso. (We did that.), it would become Nós fizemo-lo. (We did it.) However, the infinitive rule is the most frequent use for -lo/-la.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Eu vi ele na rua.
✓ Correct: Eu o vi na rua.
*Explanation:* In standard Portuguese, especially European Portuguese, subject pronouns like ele (he) are not used as direct objects. You must use the appropriate direct object pronoun (o in this case).
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Eu dou a ele o presente.
✓ Correct: Eu lhe dou o presente.
*Explanation:* While "a ele" is sometimes used in Brazilian Portuguese for indirect objects, the more grammatically standard and concise way in Portugal, and generally considered correct, is to use the indirect object pronoun lhe (to him/her).
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Eu vou fazer ele.
✓ Correct: Eu vou fazê-lo.
*Explanation:* When a direct object pronoun follows an infinitive verb ending in -r (like fazer), the -r is dropped, an accent is added to the preceding vowel, and the pronoun changes from o to -lo. Forgetting this transformation is a common error.

Real Conversations

A

A

Viste o filme novo? (Did you see the new movie?)
B

B

Sim, eu o vi ontem à noite. Gostei muito. (Yes, I saw it last night. I liked it a lot.)
A

A

Já enviaste os documentos ao teu chefe? (Did you already send the documents to your boss?)
B

B

Ainda não, mas vou enviá-los esta tarde. (Not yet, but I'm going to send them this afternoon.)
A

A

Podes explicar-me isso de novo? (Can you explain that to me again?)
B

B

Claro, eu lhe explico com prazer. (Of course, I'll explain it to you with pleasure.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between o and lhe in Portuguese?

O (and a, os, as) replaces the direct object (the thing or person directly receiving the verb's action), while lhe (and lhes) replaces the indirect object (the person or thing indirectly receiving the action, often preceded by "to" or "for").

Q

When do I use -lo instead of o in Portuguese?

You use -lo (and -la, -los, -las) when the direct object pronoun attaches to an infinitive verb (ending in -r), or a verb ending in -s or -z. The verb ending is dropped, and an accent is added to the preceding vowel.

Q

Where do Portuguese object pronouns usually go in a sentence?

In most standard affirmative sentences in European Portuguese, object pronouns precede the verb. However, with infinitives or imperative verbs, they attach to the end of the verb (e.g., fazê-lo, dá-lhe).

Q

Are these pronouns different in Brazilian Portuguese vs European Portuguese?

Yes, there are significant differences. In Brazilian Portuguese, it's very common to use subject pronouns (ele, ela, eles, elas) as direct objects, or to rephrase using full nouns, rather than the standard object pronouns (o, a, os, as). Indirect pronouns (lhe, lhes) are used more similarly, but "para ele/ela" is also very common. European Portuguese adheres more strictly to the use of object pronouns.

Cultural Context

Mastering these Portuguese object pronouns is a key step towards sounding genuinely fluent. In Portugal, the consistent and correct use of o/a, lhe/lhes, and their attached forms like -lo/-la, is expected in formal and informal speech and writing. While Brazilian Portuguese often takes a more flexible approach, frequently using full nouns or subject pronouns in place of direct object pronouns, European Portuguese speakers rely heavily on them for clarity and conciseness. Integrating these pronouns into your speech will make your B1 Portuguese sound much more natural, elegant, and sophisticated, reflecting the rhythm and structure native speakers are accustomed to.

Key Examples (6)

1

Eu lhe enviei um e-mail sobre a reunião.

I sent you an email about the meeting.

To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)
2

O garçom lhes trouxe a conta rapidamente.

The waiter brought them the bill quickly.

To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)
3

Eu o ajudei com a tarefa.

I helped him with the homework.

Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)
4

Dei-lhe um presente de aniversário.

I gave him/her a birthday gift.

Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)
5

Eu preciso entregar o relatório até amanhã.

I need to turn it in by tomorrow.

Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las
6

Você vai comer o bolo agora?

Are you going to eat it now?

Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las

Tips & Tricks (3)

💡

The 'To' Test

If you can translate the sentence with 'to him' or 'to her', you need 'lhe'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)
💡

The 'What' Test

Ask if the object is a 'what' or 'who'. If it's a direct receiver, use 'o/a'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)
💡

The Hyphen Rule

Always use a hyphen when attaching a pronoun to an infinitive. It's the visual marker of this rule.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las

Key Vocabulary (5)

entregar to deliver/give convidar to invite comprar to buy o livro the book a carta the letter

Real-World Preview

message-circle

Helping a friend

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb + lhe/lhes + Object
  • Subject + Verb + o/a/os/as
  • Verb(-r/-s/-z) + -lo/la/los/las

Common Mistakes

While grammatically possible, native speakers prefer 'lhe' to avoid redundancy.

Wrong: Eu entreguei o relatório a ele.
Correct: Eu entreguei-lhe o relatório.

You must drop the 'r' and add the circumflex accent before attaching the pronoun.

Wrong: Eu vou comprar-o.
Correct: Eu vou comprá-lo.

You used an indirect pronoun (lhe) for a direct object (the person you saw). Use 'o' for direct objects.

Wrong: Eu vi-lhe ontem.
Correct: Eu vi-o ontem.

Next Steps

You have mastered a very challenging part of Portuguese grammar! Keep practicing, and it will soon become second nature.

Rewrite 5 sentences from a news article using pronouns.

Continue to: The Rules of Pronoun Placement

Quick Practice (10)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eles querem fazer-lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles querem fazê-lo.
Accent and hyphen are required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las

Choose the correct pronoun.

Eu ___ amo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Love is direct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ vi na escola.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
See is direct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu entreguei o presente para ele. -> Eu ___ entreguei.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Give to is indirect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ escrevi uma carta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Write to is indirect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou vê-lo.
Standard enclisis.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las

Choose the correct pronoun.

Eu ___ dei o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Give is indirect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu lhe vi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vi.
See is direct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Choose the correct pronoun.

Eu ___ vi no parque.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Ver is a direct object verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu lhe amo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o amo
Amar is direct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, 'lhe' is for people. Use 'nele/nela' for things.
No, 'lhe' works for both men and women.
No, 'lhe' is for indirect objects (people).
It's a common colloquial preference for clarity.
The accent preserves the original stress of the verb after the 'r' is removed.
Yes, in formal writing, but less in casual speech.
Previous Chapter
Reflexive Verbs for Life and Relationships
Next Chapter
The Rules of Pronoun Placement
Back to Roadmap