Left and Right Dislocation With Resumptive Clitics
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)
- Aquest llibre, ja l'he llegit.
This book, I have already read it.
- Ja les hem enviades, les cartes.
We have already sent them, the letters.
- A la directora, li ho explicaré demà.
To the director, I will explain it tomorrow.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Resume a dislocated topic with the pronoun matching its function. Identify the preceding direct-object clitic that licenses participle agreement.