Pronouns After the Verb
In an ordinary statement, the small pronoun comes after the verb and is written as part of it: Chámome Iria (my name is Iria), Véxote mañá (see you tomorrow).
How It Works
The default. Unstressed pronouns (me, te, che, se, o, a, lle, nos, vos, os, as, lles) cannot stand on their own. In a plain affirmative sentence they lean on the end of the verb:
- Chámome Iria. (My name is Iria.)
- Déronme un libro. (They gave me a book.)
- Ana chamoume onte. (Ana called me yesterday.) A named subject in front does not change anything.
Never at the start. A sentence cannot begin with an unstressed pronoun. Me chamo Iria is Spanish word order; Galician says Chámome Iria.
Also after infinitives, gerunds and commands. Quero verte (I want to see you), Estou esperándote (I am waiting for you), Dime (tell me).
Writing it. Verb and pronoun are written as one word, without a hyphen, and accented as one word. That is why an accent often appears: chamo + me → chámome, deron + me → déronme. The third-person forms change after some endings: facelo, comprouno; see lo and la after -r and -s and no and na after diphthongs.
When the pronoun goes first (proclisis). Certain words pull the pronoun in front of the verb:
- negatives such as non and nunca: after negatives
- question and exclamation words: in questions
- adverbs such as xa, tamén, só, sempre: after certain adverbs
- subordinate clauses with que, se, cando: in subordinate clauses
If none of these is present, put the pronoun after the verb.
Examples (6)
- Chámome Iria.
My name is Iria.
Word by Word: Call-myself Iria.
- Déronme un libro polo meu aniversario.
They gave me a book for my birthday.
Word by Word: Gave-me a book for-the my birthday.
- Véxote mañá!
See you tomorrow!
Word by Word: See-you tomorrow!
- Ana chamoume onte pola noite.
Ana called me last night.
Word by Word: Ana called-me yesterday by-the night.
A named subject before the verb does not pull the pronoun forward.
- Quero verte pronto.
I want to see you soon.
Word by Word: Want to-see-you soon.
- Estou esperándote na parada.
I am waiting for you at the bus stop.
Word by Word: Am waiting-for-you in-the stop.
Common Mistakes
Starting the sentence with the pronoun.
Me chamo Iria.Chámome Iria.An unstressed pronoun cannot begin a sentence. With nothing to pull it forward, it follows the verb.
Putting the pronoun first after an ordinary subject.
Ana me chamou onte.Ana chamoume onte.A named subject such as Ana does not trigger proclisis. Only words like non, question words, some adverbs and subordinators do.
Writing a hyphen between verb and pronoun.
Chamo-me Iria.Chámome Iria.Standard Galician writes the verb and pronoun as one word, adding an accent when the stress lands on the third-last syllable.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Enclisis places an unstressed pronoun after its verb as one written word.
Related Patterns
- Pronouns Before the Verb After Negatives
The first exception: non and other negatives put the pronoun first.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Wh- Questions
Question words also put the pronoun first.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb After xa, tamén, sóPronouns Before the Verb After Certain Adverbs
Adverbs that pull the pronoun in front of the verb.
Level 3 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Clauses with que, se and cando put the pronoun first.
Level 3 - chamarseSaying Your Name with Chamarse
Chámome is the everyday model of enclisis.
Level 1 - lo, la After -r and -sPronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s
How o and a change shape when they follow the verb.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- xa / aíndaAlready and Still: Xa and AíndaLevel 2
- mo / cho / lloCombined Pronouns Mo, Cho and LloLevel 3
- Polite Requests With the ConditionalLevel 3
- Impersonal seLevel 3
- facer / deixar + InfinitiveMaking and Letting: Facer and Deixar + InfinitiveLevel 4
- Pronouns Before the Verb After Indefinite SubjectsLevel 4
- Spanish-Influenced Grammar to AvoidLevel 5
Practice Pronouns After the Verb in Bubblegum
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