Enclisis with Infinitives and Gerunds

Level 4

Weak pronouns normally follow infinitives and gerunds as attached written forms.

How It Works

An infinitive has no person ending, but it can still take objects represented by pronouns: llegir-lo, explicar-li, anar-se'n. A gerund likewise takes attached pronouns: llegint-lo, explicant-li. Use the correct hyphens and apostrophes rather than separating these forms with spaces.

This position differs from ordinary finite clauses, where the pronoun comes first. A verbal periphrasis can sometimes allow the whole cluster to climb to the finite auxiliary, giving ho vull fer beside vull fer-ho.

Not every pair of verbs forms a periphrasis, so do not move a pronoun across an arbitrary clause boundary. Start with attachment to the infinitive or gerund whose complement the pronoun actually represents.

Examples (3)

  1. Llegir-lo és fàcil.

    Reading it is easy.

  2. Va sortir saludant-nos.

    She left while greeting us.

  3. Abans d'anar-te'n, avisa'm.

    Before leaving, let me know.

How It Connects

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Enclisis with Infinitives and GerundsLevel 4

Learn This First

Recognize the gerund before analyzing its pronoun position or adverbial use. Recognize an infinitive and its own complements before changing prepositions or moving clitics.

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Patterns that build on this one.