Proclisis: Relative Pron

In Portuguese, the position of object pronouns is not random. Usually, pronouns like to hang out after the verb. We call this enclisis. But certain 'attractor words' force the pronoun to move to the front. Relative pronouns are the strongest attractors in the language. When a relative pronoun introduces a clause, it demands the pronoun come first. This happens because the relative pronoun creates a tight link between two ideas. The pronoun me, te, se, nos, vos, o, a, os, as, lhe, or lhes must sit between the relative pronoun and the verb. It is a non-negotiable grammar law. If you ignore it, your sentence will feel clunky and 'off' to a native ear. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. The relative pronoun is the green light for the pronoun to move ahead.

1. 1To master this, follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Identify the relative pronoun in your sentence (usually que, quem, onde, or cujo).
3. 3Locate the object pronoun you need to use (like me or o).
4. 4Place that object pronoun directly before the verb, right after the relative pronoun.
5. 5Example: O presente (The gift) + que (that) + me (me) + deram (they gave). Result: O presente que me deram.

You must use proclisis whenever a relative pronoun starts a subordinate clause. This happens in almost every conversation you will have. Use it when you are describing a person you met. Use it when you are talking about a place you visited. It is essential when you are explaining a project at work.

• Use it with que: A proposta que me enviaram é ótima.
• Use it with quem: A pessoa de quem se fala é famosa.
• Use it with onde: A cidade onde nos conhecemos é linda.
• Use it with cujo: O autor cujas obras se tornaram clássicos.
• Use it with o qual: O problema o qual nos preocupa foi resolvido.

Imagine you are at a restaurant. You want to tell the waiter that the dish he recommended was great. You would say: O prato que me recomendou estava excelente. If you say que recomendou-me, the waiter will still understand you, but he will know you are still learning the ropes.

There are very few times when a relative pronoun won't trigger proclisis. The main exception is when there is a long pause or a comma. If a comma separates the relative pronoun from the verb, the 'magnetic pull' is broken. For example: O aluno que, ontem, me ligou. Here, the pronoun still stays before the verb because of the que. However, if the sentence structure changes entirely, the rule might shift. But honestly? 99% of the time, if you see que, you should put the pronoun before the verb. It is the safest bet in Portuguese grammar. Don't overthink it or you will freeze up like a computer with too many tabs open.

The biggest mistake is following the English word order. In English, we say 'The book that gave me joy.' In Portuguese, you cannot say O livro que deu-me alegria. You must say O livro que me deu alegria. Another mistake is forgetting that onde and quem are also magnets. People often remember que but forget the others. Also, watch out for the 'double attractor' scenario. If you have a negation like não and a relative pronoun like que, they both want the pronoun. Luckily, they both want it in the same place: before the verb! So, que não me disse is the way to go. Just remember: the pronoun is like a shy guest who wants to hide behind the relative pronoun.

You might confuse this with sentences that don't have relative pronouns. In a simple sentence like Eles deram-me o livro, the pronoun goes after the verb. But as soon as you add que, it jumps: O livro que me deram. This is different from Spanish, where proclisis is often tied to whether the verb is conjugated or an infinitive. In Portuguese, the 'attractor word' is the boss, regardless of the verb form. It is also different from formal European Portuguese vs. Brazilian Portuguese. In Brazil, people use proclisis almost everywhere, even without a relative pronoun. In Portugal, they are much stricter. But both agree that after a relative pronoun, the pronoun belongs in front of the verb.