falar-lhe-ia
Mesoclisis with Conditional Tense
Mesoclisis is the 'sandwiching' of a pronoun inside a verb. In formal Portuguese, it is the standard placement for the conditional tense when no 'magnet' words (like 'não' or 'que') are present.
How It Works
Mesoclisis (mesóclise) is a hallmark of formal, literary, and legal Portuguese. While it is rarely heard in casual Brazilian speech, it remains the grammatically correct choice in formal European Portuguese when a sentence starts with a conditional verb.
How to form it:
1. Take the infinitive of the verb (e.g., falar).
2. Add a hyphen and the object pronoun (e.g., -lhe-).
3. Add the conditional ending (e.g., -ia).
Result: falar-lhe-ia.
Special Rules:
- Irregular Stems: The verbs dizer, fazer, and trazer use shortened stems: dir-, far-, and trar-. Example: dir-lhe-ia (I would tell him).
- Pronouns starting with L: If the verb stem ends in -r, the -r is dropped and the pronouns o/a/os/as become lo/la/los/las. Example: comê-lo-ia (I would eat it).
- Proclisis Triggers: If a 'magnet' word like não, que, or sempre is present, you must use proclisis instead. Mesoclisis is only for when the verb is at the start of the phrase or lacks a trigger.
Examples (4)
- Dar-lhe-ia o recado se o visse hoje.
I would give him the message if I saw him today.
Word by Word: Give-to him-would the message if him saw today.
The pronoun 'lhe' is placed inside the verb 'dar' because it is the start of the sentence in a formal context.
- Ajudar-nos-iam com o projeto, caso tivessem tempo.
They would help us with the project, if they had time.
Word by Word: Help-us-would with the project, case had time.
The pronoun 'nos' is sandwiched between the infinitive 'ajudar' and the conditional ending '-iam'.
- Dir-se-ia que a situação está sob controlo.
One would say that the situation is under control.
Word by Word: Say-itself-would that the situation is under control.
Uses the irregular stem 'dir-' from 'dizer' with the reflexive pronoun 'se'.
- Fá-lo-ia com todo o gosto.
I would do it with all my pleasure.
Word by Word: Do-it-would with all the pleasure.
The irregular stem 'far-' (from fazer) combines with 'o', which changes to 'lo' after the stem's final consonant is dropped.
Common Mistakes
Using enclisis (pronoun at the end) with the conditional tense.
Falaria-lhe amanhã.Falar-lhe-ia amanhã.In formal Portuguese, placing the pronoun at the end (enclisis) of a future or conditional verb is considered a grammatical error.
Using mesoclisis when a negation word is present.
Não falar-lhe-ia.Não lhe falaria.Negative words like 'não' are 'magnets' that force the pronoun to the front (proclisis), canceling the need for mesoclisis.
Using the full infinitive for irregular verbs.
Fazer-lhe-ia um favor.Far-lhe-ia um favor.The verbs 'fazer', 'dizer', and 'trazer' must use their shortened future/conditional stems (far-, dir-, trar-) when forming mesoclisis.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn mesoclisis in the conditional tense, you must first be comfortable with object pronouns and the specific endings of the conditional tense. It is also helpful to understand how mesoclisis works in the future tense, as the logic of splitting the verb between the infinitive stem and the ending is the same.
- -ia/-ias/-ia/-íamos/-íeis/-iam (imperfeito)Pretérito Imperfeito -ER/-IR Verbs
The conditional tense endings are the second half of the mesoclisis construction; the pronoun is placed immediately before these endings.
Level 2 - falar-lhe-eiMesoclisis with Future Tense
Mesoclisis with the future tense introduces the structural concept of splitting a verb to insert a pronoun, which is identical to the mechanic used in the conditional tense.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- dar-lhe-ei/far-se-áMesóclise No Futuro Do Presente
This is the future tense equivalent of mesoclisis, following the exact same placement rules.
Level 6 - não lhe falarei / falar-lhe-eiProclisis Cancels Mesoclisis
Explains how 'magnet' words like 'não' override the default formal placement of pronouns.
Level 4 - faria/diria/trariaCondicional Irregular (Fazer/Dizer/Trazer)
Covers the irregular conditional stems that are essential for forming mesoclisis correctly.
Level 3 - -ia/-ias/-ia/-íamos/-íeis/-iam (condicional)Futuro Do Pretérito Regular
The base conditional endings used to complete the mesoclisis structure.
Level 3 - Brazilian vs European Clitic Placement
Provides context on why mesoclisis is common in formal European Portuguese but rare in Brazil.
Level 3 - me/te/lhe/nos/vos/lhesIndirect Object Pronouns
The indirect object pronouns that are frequently used within mesoclisis constructions.
Level 1
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