Placement of Short Pronouns

Level 2Sounds Like mâsto na kratkite mestoimeniâ

Short pronouns lean on the word before them. Put them before the verb: Аз го виждам. If the verb opens the sentence, put them after it: Виждам го. Never start a sentence with го.

How It Works

1. Before the verb. When any word comes first, the pronoun stands right before the verb:

  • Аз го виждам. (I see him.)
  • Вчера я срещнах. (I met her yesterday.)
  • Не го познавам. (I don't know him.) The pronoun goes between не and the verb.
  • Ще ти кажа. (I'll tell you.)
  • Искам да те видя. (I want to see you.)

2. After the verb. When the verb is the first word, the pronoun follows it: Виждам го. (I see him.) Обичам те. (I love you.) Positive commands also put it after the verb: Кажи ми! (Tell me!) Вземи го! (Take it!) After не, it goes before the verb again: Не ми казвай! (Don't tell me!)

3. Questions with ли. When the verb opens the question, the pronoun comes after ли: Виждаш ли го? (Do you see him?)

4. Two short pronouns. The indirect one comes first: Дай ми го. (Give it to me.) See the order of short forms.

Tip: The order Аз го виждам looks like "I him see" in English, but it is the normal Bulgarian order. Only a sentence that would start with the pronoun needs it after the verb.

Examples (6)

  1. Аз го виждам всеки ден.

    I see him every day.

    Аз comes first, so го goes before the verb.

  2. Обичам те.

    I love you.

    The verb is first, so те follows it.

  3. Не го познавам.

    I don't know him.

    The pronoun sits between не and the verb.

  4. Вчера я срещнах в парка.

    I met her in the park yesterday.

  5. Донеси ми вода, моля.

    Bring me some water, please.

    In a positive command, the pronoun follows the verb.

  6. Виждаш ли го?

    Do you see him?

    The question opens with the verb, so го comes after ли.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting a sentence with a short pronoun.

    Го виждам.
    Виждам го.

    A short pronoun cannot be the first word. If nothing comes before the verb, put it after the verb.

  • Putting the pronoun after the verb when не comes first.

    Не познавам го.
    Не го познавам.

    After не, the pronoun must come before the verb.

  • Putting the pronoun after the verb when a subject comes first.

    Аз виждам го.
    Аз го виждам.

    When another word opens the sentence, the short pronoun stands right before the verb.

How It Connects

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Placement of Short PronounsLevel 2

Learn This First

Placing short pronouns needs the pronouns themselves.

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Patterns that build on this one.