Pronominal placement in verbal phrases

The pronominal placement in verbal phrases reveals to us one more of the many presuppositions attributed to normative grammar. And, as such, in order to become familiar with these, it is necessary to be aware, above all, of their conceptual bases, in order to better understand the points that outline them.

Without further ado, in order to know one more assumption, let us look back, in the sense of define the concept related to pronominal placement, as well as verbal utterances, respectively. defines itself as pronominal placement the different positions assumed by the oblique pronoun, which is inserted in a given linguistic context. Such positions are demarcated by the fact that it (the pronoun) can be before, in the middle or after the verb.

Verbal phrases, in turn, are defined as the joining of two verbs – one of them, called auxiliary; and another, called the principal, expressed in one of the nominal forms: infinitive, gerund or participle.

Therefore, considering that the pronominal placement is also present in verbal utterances, it is important that we have some information, which is explained below:

Cases related to phrases in which the main verb occurs in the infinitive or not gerund:

* In cases where the proclisis factor is evident (to recognize it we need to know the rules well that govern pronominal placement), the oblique pronoun must remain before the auxiliary verb or after the main verb. So, note the examples below:

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not you I must consider as the best student.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

* The proclisis factor was recognized by the presence of the denial adverb: no.

No I must consider you as a best student.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

* In cases where the verb phrase is not preceded by a proclisis factor, the oblique pronoun may remain after the auxiliary or after the main verb. Check out some representative cases:

I must consider you as a best student.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

I must consider you as a best student.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

In verbal phrases where the main verb occurs in the participle:

* If there is no proclisis factor, the pronoun must remain after the auxiliary verb. Note some examples:

had reported to him the essential.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

your intentions had materialized.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

* If there is a proclisis factor, the pronoun remains before the auxiliary verb.

No had reported to him the essential.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

* Proclisis was detected due, again, to the adverb of negation.

as if we had greeted mutually.
(auxiliary verb) (main verb)

* The proclisis factor was demarcated by the presence of a subordinate adverbial conjunction - “how”.


By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
Brazil School Team

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "The pronominal placement in verbal utterances"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/a-colocacao-pronominal-nas-locucoes-verbais.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.

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