Pronouns with Infinitives: Lo, La, Los, Las
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When you have an infinitive verb, you can attach direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las) directly to the end of the verb.
- Drop the final 'r' of the infinitive and add the pronoun: 'Comer' + 'o' = 'Comê-lo'.
- If the verb ends in 's' or 'z', drop the letter and add 'lo/la' with an 'l': 'Fiz' + 'o' = 'Fi-lo'.
- If the verb ends in a nasal sound (m, ão, õe), add 'no/na/nos/nas': 'Comeram' + 'o' = 'Comeram-no'.
Overview
Mastering Portuguese requires understanding how direct object pronouns integrate with verb forms. One distinct and often challenging rule involves attaching the direct object pronouns o, a, os, as to infinitives. This specific phonetic adaptation results in forms like fazê-lo (to do it) or comê-la (to eat it).
This grammatical transformation is not merely a stylistic choice; it represents a fundamental aspect of Portuguese phonology and morphosyntax, ensuring euphony and clarity within the language. While its application differs significantly between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP), its proper use is essential for achieving fluency, particularly in formal contexts or when communicating with native speakers from Portugal.
This rule applies primarily to infinitives, but similar phonetic adjustments occur with other verb forms ending in -r, -s, or -z, such as the future subjunctive or the personal infinitive. Comprehending this pattern provides insight into the deeper structural logic of the language, moving beyond simple memorization to a more profound understanding of Portuguese grammar. It is a cornerstone for B1 learners aiming to produce natural and grammatically correct sentences, allowing for more fluid and precise expression when referring to direct objects without repetition.
How This Grammar Works
-r, -s, or -z is followed by a direct object pronoun beginning with a vowel (o, a, os, as), a phonetic adjustment occurs to smooth the transition.-r, -s, and -z in verbs are often weakened or elided in rapid speech. When followed by a vowel-initial pronoun, the language evolved to integrate the pronoun directly into the verb, creating a single phonological unit. The loss of the final consonant of the verb (e.g., -r in fazer) triggers a compensatory change in the pronoun, where o becomes lo.l sound, a lateral approximant, serves as a natural bridge, facilitating a smoother flow between the verb stem and the attached pronoun.fazer o quickly and repeatedly. The transition from the alveolar fricative /z/ (the sound of z or s before e/i) or the alveolar trill /ɾ/ (the sound of r) to the vowel /o/ or /a/ can be abrupt. By transforming fazer into fazê and o into lo, the resulting fazê-lo eliminates the consonant clash and creates a more integrated, mellifluous sound.ê in fazê-lo) serves a crucial role: it preserves the original stress pattern of the infinitive, which would otherwise shift due to the syllable truncation. This mechanism ensures that the verb's rhythmic identity remains intact despite the morphological modification.n in fazem transforms the following pronoun o into no (resulting in fazem-no), demonstrating similar efforts to achieve phonetic harmony. The l insertion here specifically addresses the interaction with verbs ending in specific final consonants, highlighting the systematic nature of these linguistic adjustments in Portuguese grammar.Formation Pattern
o, a, os, as are appended to verb forms, predominantly infinitives, that end in -r, -s, or -z. The process ensures phonetic continuity and stress preservation.
-r, -s, or -z from the verb. This step prepares the verb stem for attachment.
amar (to love) | ama |
comer (to eat) | come |
partir (to leave/depart) | parti |
fizer (future subjunctive of fazer) | fize |
fizéssemos (imperative of fazer) | fizéssemo |
-s and -z elision occurs in specific verbal contexts. For the purpose of this rule (infinitives with lo, la, los, las), the primary focus is on verbs ending in -r.
l. This creates the smoother phonetic bridge.
o (him, it - masc. sing.) | lo |
a (her, it - fem. sing.) | la |
os (them - masc. plural) | los |
as (them - fem. plural) | las |
me, te, nos, vos, do not undergo this l-initial change.
-ar: The final a receives an acute accent (´).
amar + o → ama + lo → amá-lo (to love him/it)
encontrar + a → encontra + la → encontrá-la (to find her/it)
-er: The final e receives a circumflex accent (^).
comer + o → come + lo → comê-lo (to eat him/it)
vender + as → vende + las → vendê-las (to sell them)
-ir: The final i typically receives no accent. The stress usually naturally falls on this syllable, making an accent mark unnecessary for stress preservation.
abrir + o → abri + lo → abri-lo (to open it)
partir + os → parti + los → parti-los (to break them)
pôr: This unique verb ending in -or follows a similar pattern, losing the -r and taking a circumflex to preserve its stress.
pôr + o → pô + lo → pô-lo (to put it)
fazer | faze | o | fazê-lo | to do/make it |
comprar | compra | a | comprá-la| to buy her/it |
ler | le | os | lê-los | to read them |
escrever | escreve | as | escrevê-las| to write them |
decidir | decidi | o | decidi-lo| to decide it |
servir | servi | a | servi-la | to serve her/it |
pôr | pô | o | pô-lo | to put it |
-s or -z that are not infinitives (e.g., past tenses or imperatives like fiz or diz), similar elision and l-pronoun attachment rules apply, but are less common with the specific lo/la/los/las set primarily associated with infinitives. For example, faz-me (do it for me) is a different structure. The core of this rule, for B1 learners, rests firmly with infinitives.
When To Use It
lo, la, los, las pronoun forms with infinitives is crucial, as usage varies significantly between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP).o, a, os, as) to infinitives (and certain other verb forms) ending in -r, -s, or -z. This applies across all registers – from highly formal academic writing to casual spoken conversation. Failing to use it marks a speaker as non-native or unfamiliar with standard EP grammar, often sounding jarring or incorrect to a native ear.- Everyday Speech: You will hear and use this construction constantly. If you want to say,
Pronoun Attachment Rules
| Verb Ending | Action | Pronoun | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
-r
|
Drop 'r', add accent
|
o/a/os/as
|
comprá-lo
|
|
-z
|
Drop 'z', add 'l'
|
o/a/os/as
|
fi-lo
|
|
-s
|
Drop 's', add 'l'
|
o/a/os/as
|
quis-lo (rare)
|
|
-m
|
Keep 'm'
|
no/na/nos/nas
|
comeram-no
|
|
-ão
|
Keep 'ão'
|
no/na/nos/nas
|
dão-no
|
Meanings
These pronouns replace direct objects to avoid repetition. When attached to an infinitive, they create a concise, formal structure.
Direct Object Replacement
Replacing a specific noun object with a pronoun.
“Vou ver o filme -> Vou vê-lo.”
“Preciso ler a carta -> Preciso lê-la.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb(r) -> Verb-lo
|
Vou vê-lo
|
|
Negative
|
Não + Pronoun + Verb
|
Não o quero ver
|
|
Question
|
Verb(r) + Pronoun?
|
Quer vê-lo?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Pronoun + Verb
|
Sim, o quero
|
|
Nasal Ending
|
Verb(m) + -no
|
Fizeram-no
|
|
Z/S Ending
|
Verb(z) + -lo
|
Fi-lo
|
Formality Spectrum
Desejo comprá-lo. (Shopping)
Eu quero comprá-lo. (Shopping)
Eu quero comprar ele. (Shopping)
Vou comprar isso aí. (Shopping)
Pronoun Attachment Logic
Standard
- Comprar To buy
Transformation
- Comprá-lo To buy it
Examples by Level
Eu quero ver o filme.
I want to see the movie.
Ele vai ler o livro.
He is going to read the book.
Nós vamos comprar a casa.
We are going to buy the house.
Ela quer fazer o bolo.
She wants to make the cake.
Eu quero vê-lo.
I want to see it.
Preciso lê-lo agora.
I need to read it now.
Vamos comprá-la.
We are going to buy it.
Podemos fazê-lo.
We can do it.
É importante respeitá-los.
It is important to respect them.
Devemos analisá-la com cuidado.
We must analyze it carefully.
Eles pretendem vendê-lo amanhã.
They intend to sell it tomorrow.
Você pode encontrá-los no escritório.
You can find them at the office.
Para resolvê-lo, precisamos de tempo.
To solve it, we need time.
A decisão de aceitá-la foi difícil.
The decision to accept it was difficult.
Gostaria de vê-los novamente.
I would like to see them again.
É necessário mantê-la em segredo.
It is necessary to keep it a secret.
Ao observá-los, percebi a mudança.
Upon observing them, I noticed the change.
Tentar compreendê-la é um desafio.
Trying to understand her/it is a challenge.
O objetivo é superá-los em breve.
The goal is to overcome them soon.
Não pude deixar de admirá-la.
I couldn't help but admire her/it.
A arte de interpretá-la reside na sutileza.
The art of interpreting it lies in the subtlety.
Ao descrevê-lo, o autor foi preciso.
Upon describing it, the author was precise.
É imperativo protegê-los a todo custo.
It is imperative to protect them at all costs.
Conseguiu transformá-la em algo único.
He managed to transform it into something unique.
Easily Confused
Learners don't know when to put the pronoun before or after.
Learners use 'lo' after nasal sounds.
Learners keep the noun after the pronoun.
Common Mistakes
Comprar-o
Comprá-lo
Vê-lo o livro
Vê-lo
Comprar-lo
Comprá-lo
Vou o ver
Vou vê-lo
Fazer-lo
Fazê-lo
Comeram-lo
Comeram-no
Dão-lo
Dão-no
Não comprá-lo
Não o comprar
Quero vê-la o filme
Quero vê-lo
Pode-lo fazer
Pode fazê-lo
Vou ter de o fazer
Vou ter de fazê-lo
Gostaria de o ver
Gostaria de vê-lo
Poderia ter feito-o
Poderia tê-lo feito
É preciso vê-lo ele
É preciso vê-lo
Sentence Patterns
Eu quero ___ (ver) ___ (it).
É necessário ___ (fazer) ___ (it).
Eles vão ___ (comprar) ___ (it).
Podemos ___ (resolver) ___ (it).
Real World Usage
Prezado, segue o arquivo para analisá-lo.
O governo pretende aprová-lo ainda hoje.
É preciso descrevê-lo detalhadamente.
Podemos resolvê-lo agora?
Ao vê-la, ele sorriu.
Você deve visitá-lo cedo.
The Hyphen Rule
Negative Triggers
Nasal Endings
Register Awareness
Smart Tips
Check if you can replace the object with a pronoun.
Use enclisis to sound professional.
Stop! Do not attach the pronoun.
Use 'no' instead of 'lo'.
Pronunciation
Accentuation
The accent on the vowel (á, ê, ó) indicates stress.
Formal Statement
Eu quero comprá-lo ↘
Finality and seriousness.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Drop the R, add the L, make it sound like a bell.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant letter 'R' falling off the end of a verb, and a shiny 'lo' jumping onto the back of the verb like a backpack.
Rhyme
If the verb ends in an R, drop it and look afar, add the lo or la, and you'll be a star.
Story
Maria wanted to read the book. She said 'Vou ler o livro'. Then she learned the formal way. She said 'Vou lê-lo'. Now she sounds like a professor.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using infinitive verbs and replace the object with a pronoun in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Enclisis is the standard, preferred form in almost all contexts.
Used in formal writing and news.
Rarely used; 'ele/ela' is preferred.
Derived from Latin clitics that attached to verbs.
Conversation Starters
Você prefere ler o livro ou vê-lo no cinema?
Como você pretende resolvê-lo?
Você já conhece o projeto? Como vai analisá-lo?
Se você tivesse um carro, gostaria de vendê-lo?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu quero ___ (comprar + o).
Find and fix the mistake:
Eles querem fazer-lo.
Which is correct?
Eu vou ler o livro. (Use pronoun)
Can I use 'lo' after a nasal ending?
A: Você vai ver o filme? B: Sim, vou ___.
preciso / resolver / o / problema
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu quero ___ (comprar + o).
Find and fix the mistake:
Eles querem fazer-lo.
Which is correct?
Eu vou ler o livro. (Use pronoun)
Can I use 'lo' after a nasal ending?
A: Você vai ver o filme? B: Sim, vou ___.
preciso / resolver / o / problema
Comprar -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesNão consigo ___ (beber + o) todo.
Vou chamalo mais tarde.
Preciso ___ (substituir + as) peças.
Ele vai ___ (fazer + o) hoje.
Trying to say 'I want to see him'.
Foi bom conhecê la.
Pode ___ (trazer + os) para mim?
A fábrica vai ___ (produzir + o).
Onde devo ___ (pôr + as)?
Prometo amalo para sempre.
Não consegui ___ (ouvir + a).
Precisamos ___ (vender + os) rápido.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
The accent preserves the original stress of the verb after the 'r' is removed.
Yes, in formal writing, but less in casual speech.
Drop the 'z' and add 'lo'. Example: 'fazê-lo'.
No, negative words force the pronoun before the verb.
Nasal sounds require 'no' to maintain the nasal quality.
Yes, in casual Brazilian Portuguese, but it's not formal.
Only to infinitives.
It must agree with the gender of the noun it replaces.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
comprarlo
No hyphen in Spanish.
l'acheter
Pronoun placement is before the verb.
es kaufen
No clitic attachment.
sore o kau
Completely different structure.
shira'uhu
Suffixes are standard, not just for infinitives.
mai ta
No conjugation or attachment.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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