Topic-Comment Structure
Portuguese often moves the 'topic' (what you are talking about) to the beginning of the sentence, followed by a 'comment' about it. This is more common in Portuguese than in English.
How It Works
Portuguese syntax is highly flexible, allowing speakers to highlight specific information through word order. While European Portuguese (EP) remains primarily subject-prominent, Brazilian Portuguese (BP) is often described as having strong 'topic-oriented' features.
1. Topicalização (Topicalization)
This involves moving a constituent to the front and leaving a 'gap' where it used to be. In BP, this is common even with definite objects, creating what linguists call a Null Object. In EP, this 'gap' version is usually restricted to indefinite or generic objects.
Example (BP): Esse livro, eu li. (That book, I read [gap]).
2. Deslocamento à Esquerda (Left-Dislocation)
This moves the topic to the front but leaves a 'resumptive pronoun' to fill the syntactic slot. This helps the listener track the subject or object.
- In EP: Usually uses a clitic pronoun (Direct Object Pronouns). Example: O carro, eu comprei-o ontem.
- In BP: Often uses a strong pronoun (Subject Pronouns (Singular)) as an object. Example: O João, eu vi ele na rua.
3. Hanging Topics (Tópico Pendente)
Sometimes the fronted element doesn't match the grammatical case required by the verb. A major dialectal difference exists here: in EP, it is mandatory to front the preposition with the object (e.g., Daquele rapaz, eu gosto). In BP speech, the preposition is frequently dropped, creating a Hanging Topic (e.g., Aquele rapaz, eu gosto dele).
4. Register and Nuance
While these structures are natural in speech, formal writing often prefers standard SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) order or specific Passive Voice with Ser constructions. However, becoming proficient in these structures is essential for sounding natural in conversation.
Examples (6)
- Esse filme, eu já vi.
That movie, I've already seen.
Word by Word: That movie, I already saw.
A classic example of topicalization with a gap, very common in Brazilian Portuguese. The object 'esse filme' is moved to the front for emphasis.
- Esse filme, eu já o vi.
That movie, I've already seen it.
Word by Word: That movie, I already it saw.
In European Portuguese, fronting a definite object usually requires a resumptive clitic like o to fill the gap.
- Aos meus pais, escrevo-lhes todas as semanas.
To my parents, I write to them every week.
Word by Word: To my parents, I write to them all the weeks.
European Portuguese Clitic Left-Dislocation. The prepositional phrase is fronted and reinforced by the clitic lhes.
- O João, eu falei com ele ontem.
João, I talked to him yesterday.
Word by Word: The João, I talked with him yesterday.
A 'Hanging Topic' common in Brazilian Portuguese. 'O João' sets the frame, and ele acts as the resumptive pronoun.
- Chocolate, eu não gosto muito.
Chocolate, I don't like much.
Word by Word: Chocolate, I not like much.
Topicalization used to set the frame of the conversation before expressing a preference.
- A Maria, o Pedro deu um presente para ela.
Maria, Pedro gave a gift to her.
Word by Word: The Maria, the Pedro gave a gift for her.
Left-dislocation where the indirect object is fronted and replaced by ela at the end.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the resumptive clitic in European Portuguese contexts.
O livro, eu li ontem.O livro, eu li-o ontem.In European Portuguese, when an object is left-dislocated, it usually requires a clitic pronoun to maintain syntactic cohesion.
Over-using strict SVO order in informal Brazilian speech.
Eu vi o Pedro no shopping.O Pedro, eu vi ele no shopping.While the 'incorrect' example is grammatically perfect, the 'correct' version is often more natural in casual Brazilian conversation to highlight the person being discussed.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn topicalization and left-dislocation, you first need to understand how objects (direct and indirect) are represented by pronouns. This is because when you move a noun to the front of a sentence to emphasize it as the topic, Portuguese often uses a 'resumptive' pronoun later in the sentence to refer back to that topic.
- me/te/lhe/nos/vos/lhesIndirect Object Pronouns
Indirect objects can also be topicalized, requiring knowledge of indirect object pronouns to maintain grammatical reference when the object is moved.
Level 1 - issoDiscourse Deixis with Isso
Understanding how pronouns function as discourse markers to resume or refer back to previously mentioned information is essential for the 'topic-comment' structure.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- me/te/o/a/nos/vos/os/asDirect Object Pronouns
These clitics are used as resumptive pronouns in Left-Dislocation structures.
Level 1 - foi...queCleft Sentences with Foi Que
Cleft sentences are another way to highlight information, often confused with topicalization.
Level 5 - eu vi ele/eu vi elaColloquial Subject Pronoun as Object
This colloquial Brazilian habit is frequently used in Left-Dislocation (e.g., 'O Pedro, eu vi ele').
Level 3 - ser + ParticiplePassive Voice with Ser
Passive voice also moves the object to the front, but changes the verb form, unlike topic structures.
Level 4 - Right Dislocation
The opposite of left-dislocation, where the topic is added as an afterthought at the end.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Topic-Comment Structure in Bubblegum
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