Topic Fronting With a Pronoun
To make a direct object the topic, put it first and repeat it with o, a, os or as: O libro, xa o lin (the book, I have already read it).
How It Works
Topic first, pronoun after
Galician often starts a sentence with what it is about, the topic. When that topic is a definite direct object, an unstressed object pronoun repeats it inside the sentence:
- O libro, xa o lin (the book, I have already read it).
- A Marta non a vin en todo o día (I have not seen Marta all day).
Agreement
The pronoun matches the topic in gender and number: o libro → o, a casa → a, os papeis → os, as cartas → as.
Where the pronoun goes
A fronted topic does not pull the pronoun before the verb. The usual rules apply:
- after the verb by default, as in énclise: Esa película vina onte.
- before the verb after non, xa, nunca and similar words: O libro, xa o lin; see pronouns before the verb after negatives.
- after a verb ending in -r or -s, the pronoun becomes lo or la and the consonant drops, as in lo, la after -r and -s: O coche, vendémolo o mes pasado.
Indirect objects
A fronted indirect object is repeated with lle or lles: Á túa nai xa lle dixen a verdade.
Bare nouns
A noun without an article is usually fronted with no pronoun, to contrast it with something else: Viño non bebo, pero auga si.
The mirror image
The topic can also come at the end, after the sentence: Xa o lin, ese libro. See right dislocation.
Examples (6)
- O libro, xa o lin.
I have already read the book.
Word by Word: The book, already it I-read.
Xa pulls the pronoun o before the verb.
- A Marta non a vin en todo o día.
I have not seen Marta all day.
Here a before Marta is the article; the pronoun a repeats it.
- Esa película vina onte.
I saw that film yesterday.
With no trigger word, the pronoun follows the verb: vin + a = vina.
- Os papeis, déixaos enriba da mesa.
Leave the papers on the table.
The pronoun os follows the imperative.
- O coche, vendémolo o mes pasado.
We sold the car last month.
After -s, o becomes lo and the -s drops: vendemos + o = vendémolo.
- Á túa nai xa lle dixen a verdade.
I have already told your mother the truth.
A fronted indirect object is repeated with lle.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the echo pronoun.
O libro, xa lin.O libro, xa o lin.A fronted definite direct object is repeated with an unstressed pronoun.
Using a pronoun that does not agree with the topic.
A casa, xa o vendemos.A casa, xa a vendemos.Casa is feminine singular, so the pronoun is a.
Keeping the -s before the pronoun.
O coche, vendémoslo o mes pasado.O coche, vendémolo o mes pasado.After a verb ending in -s, the -s drops and o becomes lo.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A fronted object topic is represented again by a matching clitic in the clause.
Related Patterns
- me / te / o / a / nos / vos / os / asDirect Object Pronouns
The direct object pronouns that repeat the topic.
Level 2 - Changing Word Order for Emphasis
Other ways to change word order for emphasis.
Level 5 - Right Dislocation
The mirror image: the topic comes after the sentence.
Level 6 - lo, la After -r and -sPronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s
Explains vendémolo.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb After Negatives
Explains why non and xa put the pronoun before the verb.
Level 2 - Pronouns After the Verb
The default position of the pronoun after the verb.
Level 2
Practice Topic Fronting With a Pronoun in Bubblegum
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