B2 Pronouns 17 min read Medium

Portuguese Pronoun Magnets (Próclise)

Certain 'magnet' words (like não, que, and quando) physically pull object pronouns to the front of the verb.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Certain words act like magnets, pulling object pronouns to the front of the verb instead of the back.

  • Negative words like 'não' pull the pronoun: 'Não me diga.'
  • Adverbs like 'sempre' pull the pronoun: 'Sempre me ajuda.'
  • Relative pronouns like 'que' pull the pronoun: 'O livro que me deste.'
Magnet (Negative/Adverb/Relative) + Pronoun + Verb

Overview

Portuguese object pronouns, such as me, te, o, a, nos, se, lhe, and lhes, typically attach directly to a verb. The position of these pronouns is not arbitrary; it follows a precise set of grammatical rules that dictate whether the pronoun precedes (próclise), follows (ênclise), or is inserted within (mesóclise) the verb. At the B2 level, mastering these placements is crucial for both grammatical accuracy and sounding natural to native speakers.

This article focuses on próclise, the placement of an object pronoun before the verb, which is governed by the presence of specific "attractive words" (palavras atrativas) that exert a strong magnetic pull on the pronoun.

Understanding proclisis is vital because its application often differs significantly between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP), particularly in informal contexts. While EP generally adheres strictly to formal rules in all registers, BP frequently employs proclisis in spoken language even where formal grammar would prescribe enclisis, leading to distinct regional variations. However, for formal writing and examinations in both variants, the rules for proclisis are largely consistent.

This grammatical phenomenon is deeply rooted in the prosodic and syntactic structure of the language, where certain elements inherently attract unstressed pronouns to their immediate vicinity.

How This Grammar Works

Portuguese pronouns, as clitics, are phonologically dependent on an adjacent word, often a verb. Their placement is primarily influenced by the stress pattern and the syntactic environment of the sentence. Proclisis occurs when a preceding word, deemed a "magnetic word" or palavra atrativa, is strong enough to attract the unstressed pronoun away from its default enclitic position (after the verb).
This attraction is not merely a stylistic choice; it's a fundamental aspect of Portuguese syntax designed to maintain a smooth flow of speech and clarify grammatical relations.
The palavras atrativas typically carry a certain grammatical weight or are intrinsically linked to the verb's meaning, thus creating a linguistic "vacuum" that pulls the pronoun forward. When such a word appears immediately before the verb, it creates an environment where placing the pronoun after the verb would disrupt the natural rhythm or clarity of the sentence. Conversely, if no such magnetic word is present, especially at the beginning of a clause, the pronoun usually defaults to enclisis, meaning it attaches to the end of the verb.
This demonstrates a preference in Portuguese for avoiding clause-initial unstressed clitics unless explicitly attracted forward. The core principle is that clitic pronouns tend to cluster around the most prominent or syntactically active element in their immediate domain.
Consider the sentence Não me disseram nada. (They didn't tell me anything.) Here, the negative adverb não acts as the magnet, pulling me before the verb disseram. Without não, the pronoun would typically follow the verb in formal EP, as in Disseram-me tudo. (They told me everything.). In BP, however, Me disseram tudo. is common in speech, highlighting the dialectal differences in applying these rules informally.
The strength of the "magnet" determines the pronoun's position, reflecting a consistent structural mechanism within the language.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming a sentence with proclisis involves identifying three core components: the magnetic word, the object pronoun, and the verb. The fundamental structure is always Magnetic Word + Object Pronoun + Verb. There is no hyphen connecting the pronoun to the verb in proclisis. This straightforward pattern simplifies application once you recognize the attractive words.
2
Identify the Object Pronoun: Determine whether you need a direct object pronoun (o, a, os, as) or an indirect object pronoun (lhe, lhes, me, te, nos, vos, se). Remember that se can function as both, as well as a reflexive or impersonal pronoun.
3
Example: For "he calls me," the pronoun is me.
4
Scan for a Magnetic Word: Look at the word immediately preceding the verb. If it belongs to one of the categories of palavras atrativas, proclisis is required. These words are typically adverbs, negative words, relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, or interrogative words.
5
Example: For "he never calls me," nunca (never) is the magnetic word.
6
Place the Pronoun: Insert the chosen object pronoun directly between the magnetic word and the verb.
7
Final Structure: Nunca me liga. (He never calls me.)
8
Proclisis with Simple Tenses:
9
| Magnetic Word | Pronoun | Verb | Example (EP/BP) | Translation |
10
|---------------|---------|--------------|---------------------------|------------------------|
11
| não | o | vi | Eu não o vi. | I didn't see him. |
12
| sempre | nos | ajudam | Eles sempre nos ajudam. | They always help us. |
13
| que | te | trouxe | A carta que te trouxe. | The letter I brought you.|
14
Proclisis with Compound Tenses (Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb):
15
When dealing with compound tenses (e.g., ter + past participle, estar + gerund), the pronoun is placed before the auxiliary verb if a magnetic word precedes the auxiliary. The auxiliary verb acts as the primary verb for attraction.
16
Eu não o tenho visto ultimamente. (I haven't seen him lately.)
17
Ela sempre se estava queixando. (She was always complaining.)
18
If the magnetic word appears after the auxiliary verb but before the main verb (e.g., in relative clauses modifying the auxiliary itself, which is less common for proclisis), the rule becomes more nuanced, but generally, the pronoun will still precede the auxiliary if a magnet is present. However, the most frequent scenario involves the magnet before the auxiliary.
19
Important Note on Commas: A comma placed between a potential magnetic word and the verb cancels the magnetic effect. The comma creates a pause that breaks the immediate syntactic connection, forcing the pronoun into enclisis (or sometimes mesoclisis, if context allows).
20
Incorrect: Aqui, se trabalha muito. (The comma breaks the attraction of Aqui.)
21
Correct (EP/formal BP): Aqui, trabalha-se muito. (Enclisis is used.)
22
Correct (no comma): Aqui se trabalha muito. (Proclisis is used, as Aqui is now immediately before the pronoun.)

When To Use It

Proclisis is mandatory whenever a palavra atrativa appears immediately before the verb. Understanding these categories is the cornerstone of correct pronoun placement. Here are the main categories:
  1. 1Negative Words: Any word that expresses negation universally triggers proclisis.
  • não (not, no)
  • nunca (never)
  • jamais (never, ever)
  • ninguém (nobody, no one)
  • nada (nothing)
  • nem (neither, nor)
  • em parte alguma (nowhere)
  • Example: Eu não o conheço. (I don't know him.)
  • Example: Ninguém se lembra disso. (Nobody remembers that.)
  • Example: Nunca me ligaste de volta. (You never called me back.)
  1. 1Relative Pronouns: These pronouns introduce dependent clauses and are powerful magnets.
  • que (that, which, who)
  • quem (who, whom)
  • onde (where)
  • cujo(a/s) (whose)
  • Example: A pessoa que te ajudou é minha irmã. (The person who helped you is my sister.)
  • Example: O lugar onde se encontraram era lindo. (The place where they met was beautiful.)
  • Example: Estudantes a quem se ensina. (Students whom one teaches.)
  1. 1Interrogative Pronouns and Adverbs: In direct and indirect questions, these words attract the pronoun.
  • quem (who)
  • que (what)
  • onde (where)
  • como (how)
  • quando (when)
  • quanto (how much)
  • Example: Quem te disse isso? (Who told you that?)
  • Example: Quando me entregas o relatório? (When do you hand me the report?)
  • Example: Ele perguntou como se faz aquilo. (He asked how that is done.)
  1. 1Subordinating Conjunctions: Conjunctions that introduce subordinate clauses are strong magnets.
  • se (if, whether)
  • quando (when)
  • porque (because)
  • embora (although, even though)
  • para que (so that, in order that)
  • conforme (as, according to)
  • logo que (as soon as)
  • à medida que (as, while)
  • desde que (since, provided that)
  • visto que (given that, seeing that)
  • Example: Se me ajudares, termino mais cedo. (If you help me, I'll finish earlier.)
  • Example: Quando a virmos, avisaremos. (When we see her, we'll let you know.)
  • Example: Ele estuda muito porque se prepara para o exame. (He studies a lot because he's preparing for the exam.)
  1. 1Adverbs (excluding sentence-initial adverbs not followed by a pause): Many adverbs, when immediately preceding the verb, act as magnets. This is a large category, and context is key.
  • já (already)
  • sempre (always)
  • ainda (still, yet)
  • talvez (perhaps, maybe)
  • aqui (here)
  • ali (there)
  • bem (well)
  • mal (badly)
  • agora (now)
  • ontem (yesterday)
  • hoje (today)
  • muito (very, a lot - when modifying a verb/adjective)
  • pouco (little - when modifying a verb/adjective)
  • Example: Já me disseram isso. (They already told me that.)
  • Example: Ela sempre se veste bem. (She always dresses well.)
  • Example: Aqui se vive bem. (One lives well here.)
  • Note: When an adverb begins a sentence and is followed by a slight pause (which might be indicated by a comma in writing), it often loses its magnetic force, and enclisis is preferred in formal contexts, especially in EP. E.g., Ontem, vi-o na rua. (Yesterday, I saw him on the street.) vs. Ontem o vi na rua. (BP)
  1. 1Indefinite Pronouns and Adverbs: Words that refer to an unspecified quantity or person.
  • tudo (everything)
  • nada (nothing)
  • alguém (someone)
  • ninguém (nobody)
  • outro(a/s) (another, other)
  • algum(a/s) (some, any)
  • qualquer (any, whatever)
  • todo(a/s) (all, every)
  • muito(a/s) (many, much)
  • pouco(a/s) (few, little)
  • onde quer que (wherever)
  • Example: Alguém me chamou. (Someone called me.)
  • Example: Tudo se resolverá a seu tempo. (Everything will resolve itself in due time.)
  • Example: Qualquer coisa que te incomode, fala-me. (Whatever bothers you, tell me.)
  1. 1Exclamatory and Optative Sentences: Sentences expressing strong emotion or wishes often trigger proclisis.
  • Example: Como te amo! (How I love you!)
  • Example: Deus o ajude! (May God help him!)
  • Example: Quanto se esforçou! (How much he/she strived!)
  1. 1Gerunds and Past Participles preceded by em or a: Although less common, the prepositions em (often contracted with articles like ao, na, no) and a can act as weak magnets, especially with gerunds and participles.
  • Example: Ao se aproximar, viu a placa. (Upon approaching, he saw the sign.)
  • Example: Em se tratando de política... (When it comes to politics...)

Common Mistakes

Navigating pronoun placement can be challenging, and several common errors arise, especially for B2 learners grappling with the nuances between formal grammar and spoken usage, particularly across Portuguese variants.
  1. 1Starting a Sentence with a Pronoun (EP/Formal BP): This is perhaps the most frequent and glaring error. In formal Portuguese (both EP and BP), a sentence cannot begin with an unstressed object pronoun. If there is no preceding magnetic word, the pronoun must go after the verb (enclisis).
  • Incorrect: Me disseram a verdade.
  • Correct (EP/Formal BP): Disseram-me a verdade. (They told me the truth.)
  • Why this happens: Learners often transfer the common spoken BP pattern (Me liga!) directly to formal writing without realizing this rule. The linguistic principle here is that unstressed clitics require a preceding stress-bearing word to lean on; a sentence-initial position offers no such support.
  1. 1Ignoring the "Comma Rule": As mentioned, a comma between a magnetic word and the verb effectively neutralizes the magnet's pull. This is a common oversight.
  • Incorrect: Talvez, se faça o trabalho amanhã. (The comma breaks talvez's attraction.)
  • Correct: Talvez, faça-se o trabalho amanhã. (Enclisis after the comma).
  • Also Correct: Talvez se faça o trabalho amanhã. (No comma, proclisis is valid).
  • Why this happens: Learners may correctly identify a magnet but fail to recognize the comma's disruptive power, treating it as mere punctuation rather than a syntactic divider that affects clitic placement.
  1. 1Misplacing Pronouns in Compound Tenses: In compound tenses (e.g., ter + participle, estar + gerund), the pronoun's placement depends on the magnet's position relative to the auxiliary and main verb.
  • If the magnet is before the auxiliary, the pronoun precedes the auxiliary:
  • Correct: Eu não o tenho visto. (I haven't seen him.)
  • Incorrect: Eu não tenho-o visto. (This would be enclisis on the auxiliary, which is incorrect with a preceding magnet.)
  • If there's no magnet before the auxiliary, the pronoun can often attach to the auxiliary (enclisis) or to the main verb (infinitive/gerund) depending on the context and variant, but not precede the auxiliary without a magnet.
  • Why this happens: The multi-word nature of compound tenses can confuse learners about which verb element the pronoun should attach to or precede.
  1. 1Over-generalizing Spoken BP Proclisis: While Me liga! is ubiquitous in casual Brazilian speech, applying this pattern to all formal written contexts or to EP can lead to errors.
  • Incorrect (Formal/EP): Te amo muito.
  • Correct (Formal/EP): Amo-te muito. (I love you very much.)
  • Why this happens: Exposure to informal BP without a clear understanding of its formal grammatical distinction leads to incorrect generalization. This is a key cultural and linguistic insight: BP's spoken language tolerates more flexibility, but formal BP and all EP adhere strictly to proclisis rules.
  1. 1Confusing Proclisis with Enclisis/Mesoclisis: While this rule focuses on proclisis, a common mistake is not recognizing when enclisis or mesoclisis are required instead.
  • Enclisis is the default when no magnet is present, especially at the start of a sentence in formal contexts (Ajuda-me!).
  • Mesoclisis is primarily used with future simple and conditional tenses, particularly in formal EP (Ajudar-te-ei). Incorrectly applying proclisis or enclisis in these rare mesoclitic contexts is an error.
  • Why this happens: The existence of three distinct placement rules can be overwhelming, leading to misapplication based on incomplete understanding of each rule's triggers.

Real Conversations

Observing pronoun placement in authentic communication reveals the practical application, and sometimes divergence, of grammatical rules. The most striking difference emerges between Brazilian and European Portuguese, particularly in informal spoken contexts.

In European Portuguese, the rules of proclisis are adhered to rigorously, even in casual conversation and informal writing like text messages. If a magnetic word is present, proclisis is used. If not, enclisis is the standard. This consistency makes EP pronoun placement generally more predictable from a formal grammar standpoint.

- EP Text Message: "Olha, não te consigo ligar agora. Ligo-te mais tarde." (Look, I can't call you now. I'll call you later.) – Here, não te consigo correctly uses proclisis due to não, while Ligo-te uses enclisis as there's no magnet.

- EP Email: "Agradeço a informação que me enviou." (I appreciate the information you sent me.) – que me enviou correctly uses proclisis due to the relative pronoun que.

In Brazilian Portuguese, particularly in informal speech and writing (e.g., WhatsApp, social media comments), there is a strong tendency to favor proclisis almost universally, often disregarding the formal grammatical rules. This means pronouns frequently appear before the verb even when no palavra atrativa is present, and even at the beginning of a sentence. This is a hallmark of spoken BP and contributes to its distinct rhythm.

- BP Text Message: "Me liga depois! Estou te esperando." (Call me later! I'm waiting for you.) – Both Me liga and Estou te esperando are common in spoken/informal BP, even though me liga violates the formal rule against sentence-initial pronouns, and estou te esperando places the pronoun before the gerund in a way that would be less typical in formal writing (where Estou esperando-o/a or Estou-o esperando might be expected depending on the auxiliary/main verb interaction and formal register).

- BP Social Media: "Ele se arrependeu, mas já era tarde." (He regretted it, but it was already too late.) – Ele se arrependeu is standard in both formal and informal BP due to the subject Ele acting as a subtle attractor and the reflexive se often preferring proclisis.

However, it is crucial to remember that in formal Brazilian Portuguese (e.g., academic papers, official correspondence, news articles, most literature), the rules of proclisis largely align with those of EP. A Brazilian university student writing an essay, or a professional drafting a formal email, would generally avoid sentence-initial pronouns and adhere to the palavras atrativas rules.

This dichotomy in BP usage illustrates a significant cultural insight: while grammar guides provide prescriptive rules, the living language, especially in its spoken form, evolves and adapts for communicative efficiency and regional identity. For a B2 learner, this means being able to recognize and understand both formal and informal usages, and to apply the formal rules consistently when producing written Portuguese in any formal context, regardless of variant.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Do I always use proclisis if a magnet is present?
  • A: Yes, in formal Portuguese (EP and written BP), the presence of a palavra atrativa immediately before the verb mandates proclisis. The only major exception is if a comma separates the magnet from the pronoun/verb cluster.
  • Q: What if there are multiple magnetic words before a verb? Which one takes precedence?
  • A: If multiple magnetic words appear in sequence before the verb, the pronoun will typically be attracted by the first magnet, resulting in the structure: Magnet1 + Pronoun + Verb. The effect is cumulative; all magnets reinforce the pull, ensuring the pronoun precedes the verb. For example, Eu sempre não te digo isso. (I always don't tell you that.) – both sempre and não are magnets, but sempre is first, and te still precedes the verb.
  • Q: Is the coordinating conjunction e (and) a magnet? What about mas (but) or ou (or)?
  • A: No, coordinating conjunctions like e, mas, ou, nem, portanto are generally not palavras atrativas. They connect independent clauses or elements of equal grammatical rank but do not exert the strong syntactic pull required for proclisis. For instance, you would say Comprei o livro e li-o imediatamente. (I bought the book and read it immediately.) in EP/formal BP, using enclisis after li, as e is not a magnet.
  • Q: Why is que considered such a strong magnet, almost universally?
  • A: The relative pronoun que is a powerful magnet because it functions as a subordinator. It introduces a dependent clause that syntactically modifies a preceding noun or pronoun. The pronoun within this dependent clause tends to attach to que because que is the crucial link connecting the subordinate clause to the main clause. Placing the object pronoun before the verb but after que helps to maintain the cohesion and syntactic flow of the complex sentence structure.
  • Q: What about proclisis with infinitives (e.g., te fazer vs. fazer-te)?
  • A: This is a complex area often covered in more detail under "Pronouns with Infinitives." In general, if an infinitive is preceded by a palavra atrativa or an auxiliary verb (especially in BP), proclisis before the infinitive is common (quero te ajudar in BP, quero ajudar-te in EP). If the infinitive is part of a verbal complex following another verb, the pronoun can often precede the main verb of the complex or attach to the infinitive itself. The presence of an explicit magnet, however, will always pull the pronoun forward, usually before the entire verbal complex or the finite auxiliary verb if applicable. For specific guidance on infinitives, refer to the related rule "Pronouns with Infinitives: Before or After? (fazê-lo vs te fazer)."

Proclisis Structure

Magnet Pronoun Verb Example
Não
me
ajuda
Não me ajuda
Sempre
te
vejo
Sempre te vejo
Que
se
faz
O que se faz
Já
o
vi
Já o vi

Meanings

Proclisis is the placement of an unstressed object pronoun before the verb, triggered by specific 'attractor' words.

1

Negative attraction

Negation forces the pronoun to the front.

“Não me chame.”

“Nunca te vi.”

2

Adverbial attraction

Adverbs of time, place, or manner pull the pronoun.

“Sempre me diz a verdade.”

“Aqui se vive bem.”

3

Relative pronoun attraction

Pronouns like 'que', 'quem', 'onde' pull the clitic.

“A pessoa que me ligou.”

“O lugar onde se come bem.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Pronoun Magnets (Próclise)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Magnet + Pronoun + Verb
Sempre me liga.
Negative
Não + Pronoun + Verb
Não me liga.
Question
Wh-word + Pronoun + Verb
Quem te liga?
Relative
Que + Pronoun + Verb
O amigo que me liga.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Não o vejo.

Não o vejo. (Daily conversation)

Neutral
Não te vejo.

Não te vejo. (Daily conversation)

Informal
Não te vejo.

Não te vejo. (Daily conversation)

Slang
Não te vejo, cara.

Não te vejo, cara. (Daily conversation)

The Magnet Effect

Verb

Magnets

  • Não No
  • Sempre Always
  • Que That
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Examples by Level

1

Não me chame.

Don't call me.

1

Sempre me ajuda.

He always helps me.

1

O que me dizes?

What do you tell me?

1

Nunca se sabe o futuro.

One never knows the future.

1

Quem te deu permissão?

Who gave you permission?

1

Jamais o esquecerei.

I will never forget him.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Pronoun Magnets (Próclise) vs Enclisis vs Proclisis

Learners don't know when to put the pronoun before or after the verb.

Portuguese Pronoun Magnets (Próclise) vs Mesoclisis

Learners think it's just another form of proclisis.

Portuguese Pronoun Magnets (Próclise) vs Subject Pronoun Placement

Learners confuse object pronouns with subject pronouns.

Common Mistakes

✗

Me chamo João.

✓

Chamo-me João.

Don't start sentences with pronouns in formal PT.
✗

Não chamo-me.

✓

Não me chamo.

Negatives pull the pronoun.
✗

Eu te amo.

✓

Eu te amo (OK in Brazil).

This is actually correct in Brazil, but wrong in Portugal.
✗

Sempre amo-te.

✓

Sempre te amo.

Adverbs pull the pronoun.
✗

Já vi-o.

✓

Já o vi.

Adverb 'Já' pulls the pronoun.
✗

O que dizes-me?

✓

O que me dizes?

Relative pronoun 'que' pulls the pronoun.
✗

Nunca vi-te.

✓

Nunca te vi.

Negative 'Nunca' pulls the pronoun.
✗

Onde compras-te isso?

✓

Onde te compraste isso?

Relative 'Onde' pulls the pronoun.
✗

Quando vejo-te, fico feliz.

✓

Quando te vejo, fico feliz.

Conjunction 'Quando' pulls the pronoun.
✗

Quem ajudou-me?

✓

Quem me ajudou?

Interrogative 'Quem' pulls the pronoun.
✗

Embora ajudo-te...

✓

Embora te ajude...

Subjunctive triggers proclisis.
✗

Talvez vejo-te.

✓

Talvez te veja.

Adverb 'Talvez' pulls the pronoun.
✗

Se vejo-te...

✓

Se te vejo...

Conditional 'Se' pulls the pronoun.

Sentence Patterns

Não ___ ___.

Sempre ___ ___.

O que ___ ___?

Quem ___ ___?

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Não me esquece!

Social Media very common

Quem me segue?

Job Interview common

O que me recomenda?

Ordering Food common

O que me sugere?

Travel occasional

Onde se compra o bilhete?

Email common

Não o recebi.

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💡

The Magnet Rule

Always look for the 'magnet' word before the verb.
⚠️

Don't start with a pronoun

In formal writing, never start a sentence with an object pronoun.
🎯

Brazilian vs European

If you are in Brazil, use proclisis everywhere. In Portugal, be careful with enclisis.
💬

Natural Flow

Listen to native speakers to hear how they use proclisis in rhythm.

Smart Tips

Always put the pronoun before the verb.

Não vejo-te. → Não te vejo.

The adverb acts as a magnet.

Sempre ajudo-te. → Sempre te ajudo.

The pronoun must come before the verb.

O livro que li-o. → O livro que o li.

Be careful with proclisis vs enclisis.

Me diga, senhor. → Diga-me, senhor.

Pronunciation

nãu-me-a-ZHU-da

Stress

The pronoun is unstressed and attaches to the following verb.

Proclitic flow

Não me ↗ diga

The pronoun is part of the verb's rhythmic group.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'Magnet' words as having a 'P' for 'Pull'. If you see a P-word (Negative, Adverb, Pronoun), the clitic is PULLED to the front.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant horseshoe magnet labeled 'NÃO' pulling a small metal ball labeled 'ME' towards it, away from the verb.

Rhyme

If the magnet is there, the pronoun must share, the front of the verb, with a formal flair.

Story

Maria was a magnet. Whenever she walked into a room (the sentence), everyone (the pronouns) would rush to the front to greet her. If she wasn't there, they stayed at the back of the room.

Word Web

NãoNuncaSempreJáQueQuemOnde

Challenge

Write 5 sentences using 'Não' and a pronoun today.

Cultural Notes

Proclisis is the standard in almost all contexts, even at the start of sentences in informal speech.

Enclisis is preferred in formal and neutral contexts; proclisis is reserved for when a magnet word is strictly required.

Follows a pattern similar to European Portuguese but with more flexibility in informal speech.

Derived from Latin clitics which were unstressed and attached to the first stressed element in a phrase.

Conversation Starters

“

O que me recomendas comer?

“

Quem te ensinou português?

“

Onde se pode encontrar comida boa?

“

Por que nunca me ligaste?

Journal Prompts

Write about your day using 'não' and 'sempre'.
Describe a person who always helps you.
Reflect on a time you were misunderstood.
Discuss the importance of language learning.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu não ___ vejo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Negative 'não' pulls 'te'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sempre me ajuda.
Adverb 'sempre' pulls 'me'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O que dizes-me?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O que me dizes?
'que' pulls 'me'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Já o vi.
'Já' pulls 'o'.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I don't know him.

Answer starts with: Não...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não o conheço.
'não' pulls 'o'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Quem te ligou? B: ___ ligou.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me
Pronoun follows subject.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

nunca / ver / te

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nunca te vi.
'nunca' pulls 'te'.
Sort the magnets. Grammar Sorting

Which is a magnet?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não
'Não' is a negative magnet.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu não ___ vejo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Negative 'não' pulls 'te'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sempre me ajuda.
Adverb 'sempre' pulls 'me'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O que dizes-me?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O que me dizes?
'que' pulls 'me'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

vi / já / o

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Já o vi.
'Já' pulls 'o'.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I don't know him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não o conheço.
'não' pulls 'o'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Quem te ligou? B: ___ ligou.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me
Pronoun follows subject.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

nunca / ver / te

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nunca te vi.
'nunca' pulls 'te'.
Sort the magnets. Grammar Sorting

Which is a magnet?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não
'Não' is a negative magnet.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Select the correct form to complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Quando eles ___, avisa-me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se chegarem
Identify the correct formal correction for this spoken phrase. Error Correction

Me dá o controle remoto, por favor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dê-me o controle remoto, por favor.
Reorder the words to form a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Reorder the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele nunca me viu
Translate the sentence into Portuguese, matching the exact meaning. Translation

Translate: 'Nobody told me.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ninguém me disse.
Select the sentence with the correct comma usage. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aqui se fala português.
Match the sentence to its correct grammar rule. Match Pairs

Match the sentence to why it uses proclisis:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A-Indefinite Pronoun, B-Question Word
Complete the phrase. Fill in the Blank

A mulher ___ roubou o carro fugiu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que lhe
Which sentence follows European Portuguese formal rules? Multiple Choice

Identify the formally correct EP sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Amo-te muito.
Fix the pronoun placement. Error Correction

Nós sempre lembramos-nos desta viagem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós sempre nos lembramos desta viagem.
Reorder the words to make a correct negative sentence. Sentence Reorder

Reorder the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não se esqueça

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It is attracted to specific words like negatives and adverbs.

Yes, Brazil uses proclisis much more often.

No, that is grammatically incorrect.

A word that forces the pronoun to the front.

Yes, it is a relative pronoun magnet.

It takes practice, but the rules are consistent.

The future tense often uses mesoclisis in formal writing.

Write sentences with 'não' and 'sempre'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Proclisis

Spanish is more consistent with proclisis than European Portuguese.

French high

Proclisis

French has no enclisis except in the imperative.

German low

Word order

German doesn't have clitic attraction.

Japanese none

Particles

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic low

Suffixes

Arabic does not have proclitic attraction.

Chinese none

SVO

Chinese word order is fixed.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Pronouns with Infinitives: Before or After? (fazê-lo vs te fazer)

Learn These First

B1 Requires

Portuguese Pronoun Placement: Before the Verb (Proclisis)

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