Solve the unpublished exercises on pronominal placement and check the answers commented by our expert teachers.
question 1
Indicate the alternative in which there is a pronominal placement error.
a) No one saw him leave for work.
b) Someone saw him leave this morning.
c) I haven't seen him since yesterday.
d) They were the ones who saw him.
e) They certainly saw him leave this morning.
Alternative a) No one saw you leave for work.
Fix: No one saw him leave for work.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) is used when the clause contains words that express negation, such as “nobody”.
question 2
Correct the sentences in which there is an error in the pronominal placement.
a) I sang beautiful songs in her ear.
b) Does that tell you something?
c) I dare say that the letter was written by him.
d) Just as he told us, he kept his word.
e) I wish you could bring us good news.
The alternatives in which there is a pronominal placement error are: a) and b).
Correction of prayer a): I sang beautiful songs in their ear.
The pronoun is placed after the verb (enclisis) when sentences start with verbs.
Correction of prayer b): Does that tell you something?
The pronoun must come before the verb (proclisis) when the clause contains a demonstrative pronoun, such as "that".
Alternatives c), d) and e) are correct because:
c) I dare say that the letter was written by him.
The mesoclisis (pronoun in the middle of the verb) is used with verbs in the past tense, such as “dareveria”.
d) Just as he told us, he kept his word.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) is used in clauses that contain subordinate conjunctions, such as “as well as”.
e) I wish you could bring us good news.
The pronoun must be placed before the verb (proclisis) when the clause contains words that express desire, such as the word “want”.
question 3
Classify into proclisis, mesoclisis and enclisis.
a) Where did you get the used books?
b) He had been called before lunch.
c) Everyone advises you to stay.
d) I will sell them all the pictures I painted.
e) The author, whose book he gave us.
f) Who invited us?
g) You have been telling me the details of the party.
h) They took her home.
a) proclisis
b) proclisis
c) proclisis
d) mesoclisis
e) proclisis
f) proclisis
g) enclisis
h) enclisis
question 4
Justify the pronominal placement used in the sentence below:
I wouldn't give you the books back if you hadn't remembered.
The mesoclisis (pronoun in the middle of the verb) is used only in two situations: with verbs conjugated in the present tense or with verbs conjugated in the past tense.
But, although the verb “to give back” is conjugated in the future of the present, the sentence contains a word that expresses negation, which is a word that attracts proclisis. As we always give priority to proclisis, the pronoun must be placed before the verb.
However, if the sentence did not begin with the word “no”, or another with the meaning of negation, the pronoun should be placed in the middle of the verb: I would give you back the books if you hadn't remembered.
question 5
Complete the sentence: Gentlemen, __________ when __________.
a) let me know, call you
b) let me know, call you
c) let me know, call you
d) let me know, call you
Alternative c) let me know, call you.
Gentlemen, let me know when they call you.
The enclisis (pronoun after the verb) should be used when the clause contains verbs in the affirmative imperative, such as “let me know”.
In turn, the proclisis (pronoun before the verb) must be used when the clause contains an adverb, because the adverb attracts the pronoun, as is the case of “when”.
question 6
Rewrite the text below correcting the pronominal placement errors.
Darling, today I saw you from afar and I felt happy like never before. I don't want you away from me. God give us strength to stay together for many years. When do we see each other again?
Darling, today I saw you from afar and I felt happy as never before. I don't want you away from me. God give us strength to stay together for many years. When do we see each other again?
- “Today” is an adverb of time, a word that attracts the pronoun, which is why the proclisis should be used (pronoun before the verb);
- “I felt” is a verb at the beginning of the prayer. Pronouns are placed after verbs (enclisis) at the beginning of sentences;
- “No” is a word that has a negative meaning. Words that express a negative sense attract the pronoun, using the proclisis (pronoun before the verb);
- “God give us strength” is a phrase that expresses desire, a situation in which the proclisis (pronoun before the verb) should be used;
- “When” is an interrogative word. In sentences that begin with interrogative words, the proclisis (pronoun before the verb) must be used.
question 7
Indicate which clause is correct in terms of pronominal placement. Justify.
1. She had turned her back on him when she decided to speak.
2. He had turned his back on him when he decided to speak.
Both are correct, because in verbal locutions, the enclisis (pronoun after the verb) is used when the main verb is in the participle, as in the case of “back”. As the verbal phrase is the combination of two or more verbs, the pronoun can be placed after the main verb (turned to it) or after the auxiliary verb (had it).
question 8
Rewrite the following sentences replacing the straight personal pronouns with oblique personal pronouns and using properly proclisis, mesoclisis and enclisis. Follow the example.
I own the books. Give it back.
Give me back my books.
a) They are in debt. Help.
b) We didn't buy the watch for him.
c) I will never abandon you.
d) Invite her to our house.
e) I need to talk to you. Call.
a) Help them pay their debts.
The enclisis (pronoun after the verb) should be used when the sentence begins with a verb and also with verbs in the affirmative imperative, such as “help”.
b) We don't buy you the watch.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) should be used when the clause contains words that express negation.
c) I will never abandon you.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) must be used when the sentence contains adverbs, as in the case of “never”.
d) Invite her to come to our house.
The enclisis (pronoun after the verb) should be used when the sentence starts with a verb and also with verbs in the affirmative imperative, such as “invite”.
e) Call me as I need to talk to you.
The pronoun should be placed after the verb (enclisis) when the sentence begins with a verb and also with verbs in the affirmative imperative, such as "bind".
question 9
Indicate the option where there is an error in the placement of the unstressed oblique pronoun.
a) He doesn't visit us on vacation either.
b) Who attended you?
c) This brings me good memories.
d) Even if they invite us, it will be too late.
e) Cook his favorite dish.
Alternative b) Who attended you?
Correction: Who attended you?
The interrogative words that start the sentences attract the pronoun, which for this reason must be placed before the verbs (proclisis).
question 10
Indicate which alternatives are true.
a) In verbal expressions, proclisis is always used.
b) In pronominal placement, the following priority must be followed: enclisis, mesoclisis and proclisis.
c) Mesoclisis is used with verbs conjugated in the present future and in the past tense future.
d) Adverbs and adjectives are words that attract proclisis.
e) The enclisis should be used when sentences begin with a verb.
Alternatives c) and e) are true, because:
c) The mesoclisis (pronoun in the middle of the verb) is used only in two situations: with verbs in the future of present or with verbs in the past tense, as long as the sentence does not contain words that attract the proclisis.
e) In addition to being used when clauses begin with a verb, the enclisis (pronoun after the verb) is also used with verbs in the affirmative imperative and with verbs in the impersonal infinitive.
Alternatives a), b) and d) are false because:
a) In verbal locutions, as with simple verbs, the proclisis (pronoun before the verb) is used when the clause contains words that attract the pronoun. Otherwise.
b) In pronominal placement, the following priority must be followed: proclisis, mesoclisis and enclisis.
d) Adverbs attract the proclisis (pronoun before the verb), but the same does not occur with adjectives.
question 11
Complete the sentence: Nothing __________ contains.
a) could it
b) could you
c) could
d) could the
Nothing could contain her.
Although the verb is conjugated in the future past tense, which is one of the cases in which the mesoclisis (pronoun in the middle of the verb) is used, the sentence contains a word that expresses negation, and therefore attracts the proclisis (pronoun before the verb). As the use of proclisis must be prioritized, the prayer must be: nothing could it to contain.
question 12
Rewrite the sentences by inserting the pronoun in parentheses in the correct position.
a) Hopefully we can see. (US)
b) Ask for a new password. (you)
c) Something says he is not coming. (me)
d) How much did they pay for the house? (you)
e) I would like to answer tomorrow. (you)
a) I hope we can see each other.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) should be used when the sentence contains words that express desire, such as “I hope”.
b) Ask him for a new password.
In clauses that contain verbs in the affirmative imperative, as in the case of “piece”, the enclisis (pronoun after the verb) must be used.
c) Something tells me he's not coming.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) should be used when the clause contains undefined pronouns, such as “something”.
d) How much did you get paid for the house?
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) should be used when the sentence begins with interrogative words, such as “how much”.
e) I would like to see you tomorrow.
The proclisis (pronoun before the verb) should be used when the clause contains words that attract the pronoun, such as "I would like", which expresses desire.
For you to remember:
- Pronominal placement: proclisis, mesoclisis and enclisis (with exercises)
- When to use proclisis
- When to use mesoclisis
- When to use the enclisis
