Past-Participle Agreement with Direct Clitics

Level 5

A participle with haver can agree with a preceding direct-object clitic, especially a feminine one.

How It Works

With haver, the participle does not normally agree with a following object noun: he llegit les cartes. When a direct-object clitic precedes, agreement is maintained in several varieties and in careful registers: les he llegides. The invariant les he llegit is also widespread.

In a formal narrative, agreement can help retain the feminine object's reference across an intervening phrase: les propostes, les havíem estudiades amb detall. It is especially established where local speech maintains it and in careful registers. Do not extend the agreement to a following full object noun or to the subject of an intransitive perfect. Check the object clitic itself before choosing revisada, revisades or an invariant participle.

Examples (3)

  1. Les propostes, les havíem estudiades amb detall.

    The proposals, we had studied them in detail.

  2. La novel·la, ja l'he llegida.

    The novel, I have already read it.

  3. Aquestes qüestions, les hem resoltes.

    These questions, we have resolved them.

How It Connects

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Past-Participle Agreement with Direct CliticsLevel 5

Learn This First

Identify the preceding direct-object clitic that licenses participle agreement.