Right Dislocation

Level 6

You can say the sentence first and add the topic at the end: Xa o lin, ese libro (I have already read it, that book).

How It Works

How it works

In a right dislocation, the speaker first says a complete clause with a pronoun, then adds the noun phrase that the pronoun refers to. It is like adding "...that book, I mean" in English.

  • Xa o lin, ese libro. (I have already read it, that book.) O refers to ese libro.
  • Non a coñezo, a esa muller. (I do not know her, that woman.)
  • Xa lle dixen a verdade, á túa nai. (I already told her the truth, your mother.) Lle refers to á túa nai.

Why speakers use it

The topic is usually something both people already have in mind. Adding it at the end makes sure the listener knows what the pronoun means, or brings the topic back into focus. It is very common in conversation.

The rules

  • The pronoun inside the clause is required. Without it, the topic is left without a place in the sentence.
  • The pronoun agrees with the topic: o for a masculine singular noun, a for feminine, os/as for plural.
  • Use a comma before the added topic in writing.
  • The usual pronoun position rules still apply inside the clause: Xa o lin (xa pulls the pronoun forward), but Lino onte, ese libro.

Left and right. The same topic can also come first: Ese libro xa o lin. See topic fronting with a pronoun.

Examples (5)

  1. Xa o lin, ese libro.

    I have already read it, that book.

    Word by Word: Already it I-read, that book.

    O inside the clause refers to ese libro at the end.

  2. Non a coñezo, a esa muller.

    I do not know her, that woman.

    A agrees with the feminine noun muller.

  3. Xa lle dixen a verdade, á túa nai.

    I already told her the truth, your mother.

    Lle is the indirect object and refers to á túa nai.

  4. Xa as vin, as fotos da voda.

    I have already seen them, the wedding photos.

    As agrees with the feminine plural fotos.

  5. Díxenllo eu, ao teu irmán.

    I told him myself, your brother.

    Llo is lle + o: lle refers to ao teu irmán.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the pronoun inside the clause.

    Xa lin, ese libro.
    Xa o lin, ese libro.

    In a right dislocation, the clause needs a pronoun that stands for the added topic.

  • Using a pronoun that does not match the topic.

    Non o coñezo, a esa muller.
    Non a coñezo, a esa muller.

    The pronoun must agree with the topic in gender and number. Muller is feminine singular, so the pronoun is a.

How It Connects

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

Right DislocationLevel 6

Learn This First

Right dislocation names a topic after a clause already containing its pronoun.