B2 Pronouns 10 min read Medium

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

When attaching 'o' or 'a' to the end of an infinitive, drop the 'r' and add an 'L' (fazer → fazê-lo).

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Portuguese, you can attach object pronouns to the end of an infinitive (fazê-lo) or place them before (o fazer).

  • Infinitive alone: Pronoun usually follows (enclisis) or precedes (proclisis).
  • Negative sentences: The 'não' forces the pronoun before the verb (proclisis).
  • Preposition + Infinitive: Pronoun can follow, but 'para' often triggers proclisis.
Verb + -lo/-la (Enclisis) OR Pronoun + Verb (Proclisis)

Overview

Mastering pronoun placement with infinitives in Portuguese is a significant step towards achieving B2 fluency. Unlike English, where object pronouns consistently follow the verb, Portuguese clitic pronouns (me, te, o, a, nos, vos, os, as, lhe, lhes) exhibit dynamic behavior. They can attach before the infinitive (proclisis) or after it (enclisis), and sometimes even integrate within the verb form itself (mesoclisis, though less common with infinitives).

This flexibility is not arbitrary; it follows specific grammatical rules and often varies significantly between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) usage. Understanding the linguistic principles governing this placement—such as attraction, euphony, and rhythm—is crucial, as it affects both the naturalness and the grammatical correctness of your speech and writing.

This guide will dissect the nuances of object pronoun placement with infinitives, providing clear rules, detailed formation patterns, and insights into contemporary usage across different registers and dialects. You will learn not just where to place pronouns, but why they are placed there, enabling you to construct grammatically sound and idiomatically natural sentences. Pay close attention to the morphological changes that infinitives undergo when pronouns are attached enclitically, as these are frequent sources of error for learners.

How This Grammar Works

When you encounter an infinitive verb (those ending in -ar, -er, -ir), the placement of an unstressed object pronoun is primarily a choice between proclisis and enclisis. Proclisis occurs when the pronoun precedes the infinitive, creating a smooth flow, especially in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. For example, Eu quero te ajudar (I want to help you).
Enclisis, conversely, involves attaching the pronoun to the end of the infinitive with a hyphen, which is the default in European Portuguese when no strong proclitic trigger is present. Consider Eu quero ajudá-lo (I want to help him).
This grammatical dance stems from the clitic nature of these pronouns, which are phonologically dependent on an adjacent word, typically the verb. The historical evolution of Portuguese, influenced by Latin, established a preference for certain word orders, yet popular usage, particularly in Brazil, has shifted towards pre-verbal placement for ease of pronunciation and rhythm. The presence of specific words, known as attractors or proclitic triggers, fundamentally alters this choice, often compelling the pronoun to precede the verb.
These attractors include negative adverbs (não, nunca), certain adverbs (, sempre), indefinite pronouns (tudo, nada), and relative or interrogative pronouns (que, quem).
When dealing with verb chains—constructions involving an auxiliary verb followed by a main verb in the infinitive (e.g., poder + infinitive, ter que + infinitive)—you gain additional flexibility. In such cases, the pronoun can often attach to either the auxiliary verb or the infinitive, depending on dialectal preference and the presence of attractors. For instance, in BP, Eu te posso ajudar and Eu posso te ajudar are both common.
In EP, Eu posso ajudá-lo is typically preferred unless an attractor mandates proclisis with the auxiliary, as in Não o posso ajudar (I cannot help him). Understanding these underlying principles will help you predict and apply the correct placement, moving beyond rote memorization.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of enclitic pronouns with infinitives involves specific morphological changes to the verb, particularly when using the direct object pronouns o, a, os, as. For other object pronouns, the process is simpler. Master these patterns to avoid common errors.
2
1. Enclisis with Direct Object Pronouns (o, a, os, as)
3
When direct object pronouns are attached to infinitives, the infinitive undergoes a specific transformation. This rule is crucial for formal Portuguese, especially in EP and formal BP writing.
4
Rule: If the infinitive ends in -r, -s, or -z, these final consonants are dropped. The pronoun then changes to lo, la, los, or las, and is attached with a hyphen. Additionally, an accent mark (acute or circumflex, depending on the vowel sound) is added to the preceding vowel if it's a or e to maintain the original stress pattern. Verbs ending in -ir generally do not take an accent on the i unless for specific phonetic reasons.
5
| Infinitive Ending | Original Pronoun | Transformed Infinitive + Pronoun | Example Usage |
6
|:------------------|:-----------------|:---------------------------------|:--------------|
7
| -ar | o, a, os, as | -á-lo, -á-la, -á-los, -á-las | comprar + o -> comprá-lo (to buy it)
8
| -er | o, a, os, as | -ê-lo, -ê-la, -ê-los, -ê-las | fazer + a -> fazê-la (to do it)
9
| -ir | o, a, os, as | -i-lo, -i-la, -i-los, -i-las | sentir + o -> senti-lo (to feel it)
10
Examples:
11
Precisamos encontrar um carro. Precisamos encontrá-lo rapidamente. (We need to find a car. We need to find it quickly.)
12
É importante ler as instruções. É importante lê-las com atenção. (It's important to read the instructions. It's important to read them carefully.)
13
Você deveria pedir ajuda. Você deveria pedi-la sem hesitação. (You should ask for help. You should ask for it without hesitation.)
14
2. Enclisis with Other Object Pronouns (me, te, se, nos, vos, lhe, lhes)
15
For these pronouns, the process is much simpler. No stem changes occur; you merely attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive with a hyphen.
16
| Infinitive Ending | Pronoun | Transformed Infinitive + Pronoun | Example Usage |
17
|:------------------|:--------|:---------------------------------|:--------------|
18
| -ar, -er, -ir | me, te, se, nos, vos | -me, -te, -se, -nos, -vos | ajudar + me -> ajudar-me (to help me)
19
| -ar, -er, -ir | lhe, lhes | -lhe, -lhes | dar + lhe -> dar-lhe (to give to him/her)
20
Examples:
21
Vou dizer a verdade. Vou dizer-te a verdade. (I'm going to tell the truth. I'm going to tell you the truth.)
22
Ele quer falar comigo. Ele quer falar-me sobre o projeto. (He wants to talk to me. He wants to talk to me about the project.)
23
É bom sentir conectado. É bom sentir-se útil. (It's good to feel connected. It's good to feel useful.)
24
3. Proclisis with Infinitives
25
Proclisis occurs when the pronoun precedes the infinitive. This typically happens when there's an attractor word in the sentence. No morphological changes to the infinitive are involved, making it structurally simpler than enclisis. The pronoun simply sits before the infinitive.
26
Examples:
27
Não posso te ajudar. (I can't help you.) - Não is the attractor.
28
Sempre quero o fazer. (I always want to do it.) - Sempre is the attractor.
29
Para se divertir, é preciso estar aberto. (To have fun, one needs to be open.) - Para can act as an attractor, especially in BP.

When To Use It

The choice between placing the pronoun before (proclisis) or after (enclisis) the infinitive is one of the most significant points of divergence between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP), and it also depends heavily on the register (formal vs. informal) and the presence of clitic attractors.
1. Regional Preferences (BP vs. EP):
  • Brazilian Portuguese (BP):
  • There is a strong and pervasive preference for proclisis in nearly all contexts, especially in spoken language and informal writing. Attractors often reinforce proclisis but are not always strictly necessary for it to occur. Many BP speakers will use proclisis even without an explicit attractor, particularly when the infinitive is part of a verb chain.
  • Example (verb chain): Eu te quero ajudar. or Eu quero te ajudar. (I want to help you.) The second option, placing the pronoun immediately before the infinitive, is exceptionally common.
  • Example (after preposition): Para me dizer a verdade. (To tell me the truth.)
  • While enclisis (e.g., ajudá-lo) is grammatically correct and appears in formal BP, it often sounds stiff or overly formal in casual conversation.
  • European Portuguese (EP):
  • Enclisis is the default and most common placement when no strong proclitic trigger is present. This is considered the grammatically neutral position.
  • Example (no attractor): Eu quero ajudá-lo. (I want to help him/you formal). This is the standard in EP speech and writing.
  • Proclisis only occurs when explicitly required by a proclitic attractor.
  • Example (after preposition): Para dizer-me a verdade. (To tell me the truth.) This is the standard in EP.
2. The Role of Clitic Attractors:
Regardless of dialect, certain words almost always trigger proclisis, meaning the pronoun must come before the verb (or before the infinitive in a verb chain). This is a grammatical rule that applies to both BP and EP, though EP adheres to it more rigorously in all contexts.
  • Negative Adverbs: não, nunca, jamais, nem.
  • Não o quero ver. (I don't want to see him.) - Incorrect (EP): *Não quero vê-lo. (Incorrect because não forces proclisis)
  • Nunca te vou esquecer. (I will never forget you.)
  • Adverbs (generally): , ainda, sempre, muito, pouco, bem, mal, aqui, , apenas, também, somente, talvez, assim, agora, ontem, hoje, amanhã, etc.
  • Eu o sabia fazer. (I already knew how to do it.)
  • Ele sempre me tenta convencer. (He always tries to convince me.)
  • Indefinite Pronouns/Adjectives: tudo, nada, alguém, ninguém, algum, nenhum, muito, pouco, cada, outro, certo, vário, tanto.
  • Tudo o fez pensar. (Everything made him think.)
  • Nada me impede de tentar. (Nothing stops me from trying.)
  • Interrogative and Relative Pronouns/Adverbs: que, quem, onde, quando, como, cujo.
  • A pessoa que o viu, pode testemunhar. (The person who saw him can testify.)
  • Quem te ensinou a falar assim? (Who taught you to speak like that?)
  • Subordinating Conjunctions: que, se, quando, enquanto, conforme, embora, para que.
  • Espero que te possa ajudar. (I hope I can help you.)
  • Ainda que nos quisessem impedir, não conseguiriam. (Even if they wanted to stop us, they wouldn't succeed.)
  • After Prepositions (BP vs. EP):
  • In BP, proclisis after prepositions (para, a, de, por, em) is common and natural: Para te ajudar, preciso de mais informações. (To help you, I need more information.)
  • In EP, enclisis is generally preferred after prepositions unless a stronger attractor intervenes: Para ajudar-te, preciso de mais informações.
3. Placement in Verb Chains (Auxiliary + Infinitive):
When you have a construction like auxiliary verb + infinitive (e.g., poder + fazer, dever + dizer, ir + ver), the pronoun placement offers more permutations:
  • Before the Auxiliary: Eu te quero ajudar. (BP - common, but can sound emphatic or slightly less natural than before infinitive)
  • Between Auxiliary and Infinitive: Eu quero te ajudar. (BP - extremely common and natural in speech/informal writing)
  • After the Infinitive: Eu quero ajudá-lo. (EP - default; BP - formal/less common in speech)
  • Crucial Rule: If an attractor is present, it will typically force the pronoun to precede the entire verb chain (i.e., before the auxiliary verb). This is true for both BP and EP, especially for strong attractors.
  • Não te quero ajudar. (I don't want to help you.) - Here, não forces te before quero. You would not say Não quero te ajudar in EP, and it's less preferred in formal BP.
  • Table of Verb Chain Placement Examples:
| Context | Brazilian Portuguese (BP) | European Portuguese (EP) |
|:------------------|:-----------------------------------------------------------|:------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Attractor | Eu quero te ver. (most common) or Eu te quero ver. | Eu quero vê-lo. (standard) |
| With Attractor (não) | Não te quero ver. (standard) | Não o quero ver. (standard, o for 'you' formal/him) |
| After Preposition | Para te ajudar. (common) | Para ajudar-te. (standard) |

Common Mistakes

Learners at the B2 level often encounter specific pitfalls when navigating pronoun placement with infinitives. Awareness of these common errors and the linguistic reasoning behind them will significantly improve your accuracy.
1. Using Subject Pronouns as Object Pronouns:
Perhaps the most frequent and jarring error is using subject pronouns (ele, ela, eles, elas) in object positions. In English,

Enclisis Formation

Infinitive Pronoun Result
Fazer
o
fazê-lo
Ver
a
vê-la
Amar
os
amá-los
Comer
as
comê-las

Nasal Endings

Infinitive Pronoun Result
Fazem
o
fazem-no
Dão
a
dão-na

Meanings

This rule governs the placement of object pronouns (me, te, o, a, nos, vos, os, as) when they accompany an infinitive verb.

1

Enclisis (After)

Attaching the pronoun to the end of the infinitive.

“Vou fazê-lo agora.”

“Preciso encontrá-la.”

2

Proclisis (Before)

Placing the pronoun before the infinitive.

“Vou o fazer agora.”

“Preciso a encontrar.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Pronouns with Infinitives: Before or After? (fazê-lo vs te fazer)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb + Pronoun
Vê-lo
Negative
Não + Pronoun + Verb
Não o ver
Question
Verb + Pronoun?
Vê-lo?
Preposition
Prep + Verb + Pronoun
Para vê-lo

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Desejo vê-lo.

Desejo vê-lo. (Expressing desire)

Neutral
Quero vê-lo.

Quero vê-lo. (Expressing desire)

Informal
Quero o ver.

Quero o ver. (Expressing desire)

Slang
Quero ver ele.

Quero ver ele. (Expressing desire)

Pronoun Placement Map

Infinitive

Formal

  • fazê-lo do it

Informal

  • o fazer do it

Examples by Level

1

Eu quero vê-lo.

I want to see him.

1

Posso ajudá-lo?

Can I help you?

1

Não o quero fazer.

I don't want to do it.

1

É importante respeitá-los.

It is important to respect them.

1

Ao vê-la, ele sorriu.

Upon seeing her, he smiled.

1

Cumprimentá-lo-ei amanhã.

I will greet him tomorrow.

Easily Confused

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

Learners mix up when to use which.

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

Using 'lhe' vs 'o'.

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

Applying infinitive rules to conjugated verbs.

Common Mistakes

fazer-o

fazê-lo

Must drop the R and add L.

o fazer-lo

o fazer

Don't double the pronoun.

fazer-lo

fazê-lo

Missing accent.

não fazê-lo

não o fazer

Negative forces proclisis.

para o fazer-lo

para o fazer

Redundant pronoun.

não o fazê-lo

não o fazer

Negative forbids enclisis.

quero o fazer-lo

quero fazê-lo

Redundant.

nunca fazê-lo

nunca o fazer

Adverbs like 'nunca' trigger proclisis.

o ver-lo

o ver

Redundant.

já o fazê-lo

já o fazer

Adverb triggers proclisis.

fazer-no

fazê-lo

Only use 'no' after nasal sounds.

o fazer-lo

o fazer

Redundant.

não o fazê-lo

não o fazer

Negative constraint.

Sentence Patterns

Eu quero ___ ___.

Não ___ ___ fazer.

Para ___ ___, preciso de tempo.

Ele prometeu ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Vou te ver.

Job Interview common

Desejo realizá-lo.

Academic Paper common

Podemos observá-lo.

Travel occasional

Quero visitá-lo.

Food Delivery occasional

Vou pedir-lo.

Social Media constant

Vou postar-lo.

💡

The 'R' Rule

Always drop the final 'r' before adding 'l' pronouns.
⚠️

Negative Magnets

Never use enclisis after 'não', 'nunca', or 'jamais'.
🎯

Regional Choice

Use enclisis for Portugal, proclisis for Brazil.
💬

Formality Check

When in doubt, use enclisis for writing and proclisis for speech.

Smart Tips

Check if there is a negative word before it.

Não fazê-lo. Não o fazer.

Use enclisis to sound professional.

Quero o enviar. Quero enviá-lo.

Use proclisis for natural flow.

Vou vê-lo. Vou te ver.

Add 'n' instead of 'l'.

Fazem-lo. Fazem-no.

Pronunciation

fa-ZÊ-lo

Enclisis stress

The stress remains on the last syllable of the verb.

Falling

Vou fazê-lo ↘

Declarative statement

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Drop the R, add the L, make it stick and do it well.

Visual Association

Imagine a magnet (the negative 'não') pulling the pronoun to the front of the verb.

Rhyme

If the R is in the way, drop it off and let the L stay.

Story

Maria wanted to call her friend. She said 'Vou ligar-lhe' (formal). Her friend said 'Vou lhe ligar' (informal). Both were happy.

Word Web

fazerverajudarencontrarrespeitaramar

Challenge

Write 5 sentences using infinitives and pronouns, alternating between formal and informal styles.

Cultural Notes

Proclisis is standard. Enclisis is seen as formal or literary.

Enclisis is standard. Proclisis is rare in neutral speech.

Follows European patterns more closely in formal writing.

Derived from Latin enclitic pronouns that attached to the verb.

Conversation Starters

O que você quer fazer hoje?

Você pode me ajudar?

Você já viu o filme?

Como você prefere ser tratado?

Journal Prompts

Describe your plans for the weekend using infinitives.
Write a formal email to a professor.
Reflect on a book you read.
Write a dialogue between two friends.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu quero ___ (fazer + o).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazê-lo
Correct enclisis form.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Não fazê-lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não o fazer
Negative triggers proclisis.
Choose the best form. Multiple Choice

Vou ___ (ajudar + a).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ajudá-la
Correct enclisis.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Quero o ver.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quero vê-lo
Enclisis is formal.
True or False? True False Rule

Can you use enclisis after 'não'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Negative forbids enclisis.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Posso ver o livro? B: Sim, pode ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vê-lo
Enclisis is standard.
Order the words. Sentence Building

o / fazer / não / quero

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não o quero fazer
Correct order.
Match the form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazê-lo
Correct match.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu quero ___ (fazer + o).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazê-lo
Correct enclisis form.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Não fazê-lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não o fazer
Negative triggers proclisis.
Choose the best form. Multiple Choice

Vou ___ (ajudar + a).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ajudá-la
Correct enclisis.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Quero o ver.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quero vê-lo
Enclisis is formal.
True or False? True False Rule

Can you use enclisis after 'não'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Negative forbids enclisis.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Posso ver o livro? B: Sim, pode ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vê-lo
Enclisis is standard.
Order the words. Sentence Building

o / fazer / não / quero

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não o quero fazer
Correct order.
Match the form. Match Pairs

Match: Fazer + o

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazê-lo
Correct match.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Combine 'comer' + 'o'. Fill in the Blank

Eu não vou ___ agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: comê-lo
Which is the European Portuguese preference? Multiple Choice

Gostaria de ___ (convidar + te).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: convidar-te
Identify the error. Error Correction

Nós vamos pôr-as no carro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós vamos pô-las no carro.
Choose the correct accentuation. Multiple Choice

To buy it (comprar + a):

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: comprá-la
Combine 'abrir' + 'os'. Fill in the Blank

É preciso ___ com cuidado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abri-los
Fix the casual speech for a formal essay. Error Correction

É importante respeitar eles.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É importante respeitá-los.
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Vou ___ (beijar + te) agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te beijar
Which verb form needs a circumflex accent (^) when adding 'lo'? Multiple Choice

Which ending takes a circumflex?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -er verbs (fazer)
Find the typo. Error Correction

Vamos vendêlo amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vamos vendê-lo amanhã.
Combine 'escrever' + 'as'. Fill in the Blank

Vou ___ agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: escrevê-las

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's a phonetic rule to make the transition to the pronoun smoother.

No, it's very common in Brazil.

Use 'lhe' for indirect objects, not direct ones.

Yes, in formal writing.

Drop the 's' and add 'lo'.

It's a grammatical rule called proclisis trigger.

It takes practice, but the patterns are consistent.

Learn both, but prioritize proclisis for speaking.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

hacerlo

Spanish doesn't have the proclisis option for infinitives.

French moderate

le faire

French never uses enclisis with infinitives.

German low

es tun

German has no clitic system.

Japanese none

suru

Japanese is pro-drop.

Arabic partial

fi'luhu

Arabic suffixes are mandatory.

Chinese none

zuo ta

Chinese has no clitics.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!