o/a (objeto direto de você)

Direct Object with Você

Level 2

In Portuguese, when you want to say 'you' as the object of a verb (e.g., 'I saw you'), you use o (for a man) or a (for a woman) in formal contexts. While 'você' is used as a subject, 'o/a' are its direct object counterparts.

How It Works

When using the pronoun você or vocês, you must use specific object pronouns to avoid repetition or to follow formal grammar rules.

1. Gender and Number Agreement:

  • Use o / os if you are talking to one or more males: Eu o vi (I saw you).
  • Use a / as if you are talking to one or more females: Eu as vi (I saw you all).

2. Phonological Changes:
These pronouns change form based on the verb ending:

  • -lo / -la / -los / -las: Used after verbs ending in -r, -s, or -z. The consonant drops and an accent is added to -ar verbs (á), -er verbs (ê), and -or verbs (ô). -ir verbs do not take an accent (e.g., abri-lo), unless there is a hiatus (e.g., substituí-lo). Example: conhecer + o becomes conhecê-lo and pôr + o becomes pô-lo.
  • -no / -na / -nos / -nas: Used after nasal sounds (-am, -ão, -em). Example: chamam + o becomes chamam-no.

3. Regional Differences and Placement:
In European Portuguese, the pronoun typically follows the verb (enclisis) in affirmative sentences (e.g., Vi-o). In Brazil, they are mostly found in formal writing; in casual speech, Brazilians often use te or simply use você as an object (e.g., 'Vi você').

Examples (5)

  1. É um prazer conhecê-lo, Sr. Silva.

    It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Silva.

    Word by Word: Is a pleasure to-meet-you, Mr. Silva.

    Here, 'conhecê-lo' is used because the verb 'conhecer' ends in -r, and the speaker is addressing a man (Sr. Silva) formally.

  2. Eu o convido para a festa.

    I invite you to the party.

    Word by Word: I you invite for the party.

    In formal Brazilian Portuguese, 'o' is placed before the verb (proclisis) to mean 'you' (masculine).

  3. Nós a vimos no cinema ontem.

    We saw you at the cinema yesterday.

    Word by Word: We you saw in-the cinema yesterday.

    Using 'a' indicates the person being addressed is female.

  4. Eles chamam-no para a reunião.

    They are calling you for the meeting.

    Word by Word: They call-you for the meeting.

    In European Portuguese, the pronoun follows the verb. Because 'chamam' ends in a nasal sound, 'o' becomes '-no'.

  5. Não a quero incomodar.

    I don't want to bother you.

    Word by Word: Not you I-want to-bother.

    The negative word 'não' pulls the pronoun 'a' (you, feminine) to the front.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'lhe' as a direct object pronoun.

    Eu lhe vi no shopping.
    Eu o vi no shopping.

    In formal grammar, lhe is strictly an indirect object. Even though it is used as a direct object in some Brazilian regions, you should use 'o' or 'a' for direct objects.

  • Forgetting the phonological change after an infinitive verb.

    Quero ver-o.
    Quero vê-lo.

    When a verb ends in -r, you must drop the -r and change the pronoun to -lo/-la.

  • Mixing 'tu' and 'você' pronouns in formal writing.

    Você sabe que eu te amo.
    Você sabe que eu o amo.

    While common in Brazilian speech, mixing 'você' (subject) with te (object for 'tu') is considered incorrect in formal grammar. Use 'o' or 'a' to match 'você'.

How It Connects

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

o/a (objeto direto de você)Level 2Direct Object with Você

Learn This First

To learn using 'o' or 'a' as a direct object for 'você', you first need to understand the basic set of direct object pronouns and how 'você' functions as a subject. Crucially, you must understand the distinction between 'tu' and 'você' to know when to use 'te' versus 'o/a'.

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