Long-Distance Proclisis

Level 6

In formal Portuguese, certain words (like não, que, or se) act as magnets for pronouns. Long-distance proclisis occurs when this magnetic pull jumps over a short phrase or a comma to keep the pronoun before the verb.

How It Works

This pattern, also known as atração remota, involves a trigger word pulling the pronoun to a position before the verb, even when other words stand in between. It consists of three parts:

  • The Trigger: Words that force proclisis. 'Strong' triggers like negative words (não, nunca) and relative pronouns (que, quem) have a longer reach than 'weak' triggers like indefinite pronouns.
  • The Intervening Element: This can be a subject, a short adverbial phrase, or a parenthetical remark. For example, in Espero que o diretor nos chame, the trigger que attracts nos despite the subject o diretor.
  • The Pronoun: Stays in the proclitic position despite the gap.

In Brazilian Portuguese, this is the default and very natural. In European Portuguese, while enclisis is generally preferred, this attraction remains mandatory with strong triggers, though the tolerance for very long gaps is lower than in Brazil.

The Comma Trap: Be aware that heavy punctuation (commas) can sometimes 'insulate' the verb from the trigger. In highly formal writing, if an intervening phrase is long and set off by commas, the attraction may be considered broken, making enclisis an acceptable alternative.

Examples (4)

  1. Espero que, em breve, se resolva o problema.

    I hope that, soon, the problem will be resolved.

    Word by Word: I hope that, in brief, [itself] resolves the problem.

    The trigger 'que' attracts the pronoun 'se' across the adverbial phrase 'em breve'.

  2. Não, naquele momento, o reconheci.

    I did not, at that moment, recognize him.

    Word by Word: Not, in that moment, him [I] recognized.

    The negative 'Não' maintains its attraction on 'o' despite the intervening time expression.

  3. Embora, para muitos, nos pareça estranho, é a verdade.

    Although, to many, it seems strange to us, it is the truth.

    Word by Word: Although, for many, to us [it] seems strange, is the truth.

    The conjunction 'Embora' pulls 'nos' to the front, jumping over the phrase 'para muitos'.

  4. Quem, afinal de contas, o ajudou?

    Who, after all, helped him?

    Word by Word: Who, after all of accounts, him helped?

    The question word 'Quem' acts as a trigger for the pronoun 'o' across the parenthetical phrase.

Common Mistakes

  • Using enclisis after a comma when a strong trigger is present in formal writing.

    Espero que, amanhã, veja-o.
    Espero que, amanhã, o veja.

    In formal writing, a strong trigger like the relative pronoun que maintains its pull even across commas. While some writers use enclisis to mark the pause, standard grammar prefers keeping the pronoun before the verb.

  • Thinking the 'comma rule' always forces the pronoun to the end of the verb.

    Nunca, por nada, esqueça-se disso.
    Nunca, por nada, se esqueça disso.

    Negative words like nunca are very strong triggers. They almost always override the pause created by commas, maintaining the proclitic position.

  • Assuming distance always breaks the attraction in European Portuguese.

    O livro que o professor deu-me é bom.
    O livro que o professor me deu é bom.

    Even in European Portuguese, where enclisis is common, a relative pronoun like que makes proclisis mandatory, even if a subject like 'o professor' stands between the trigger and the verb.

How It Connects

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

Long-Distance ProclisisLevel 6

Learn This First

Long-distance proclisis is an advanced placement rule where a 'trigger' word (like a negative, an adverb, or a relative pronoun) pulls the clitic pronoun to a position before the verb even if there are intervening words. To learn this, learners must first understand basic proclisis triggers and the standard forms of object pronouns.