Left and Right Dislocation With Resumptive Clitics

Level 6

A dislocated object topic is normally resumed by a matching weak pronoun.

How It Works

Aquest llibre, ja l'he llegit places the book before the clause as its topic. The direct-object clitic l’ then supplies the object inside the clause. Right dislocation reverses the order: ja l'he llegit, aquest llibre.

Right dislocation can add an already recoverable topic after the clause: ja les hem enviades, les cartes. The clitic must still fill the object role inside the clause. A singular topic cannot be resumed by a plural object merely because another plural noun appears nearby. In formal writing, commas help mark the detached phrase; an ordinary restrictive relative has a different structure and normally does not need this doubling.

Examples (3)

  1. Aquest llibre, ja l'he llegit.

    This book, I have already read it.

  2. Ja les hem enviades, les cartes.

    We have already sent them, the letters.

  3. A la directora, li ho explicaré demà.

    To the director, I will explain it tomorrow.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Left and Right Dislocation With Resumptive CliticsLevel 6

Learn This First

Resume a dislocated topic with the pronoun matching its function. Identify the preceding direct-object clitic that licenses participle agreement.