Proclisis with Indefinite

The logic is actually quite simple to follow. Certain words have a high "grammatical mass." They pull smaller pronouns toward the beginning of the phrase. In English, we say "Someone called me." The "me" stays at the very end. Portuguese is a bit more dramatic. You can't just leave me dangling there. If alguém is in the room, me moves. It becomes Alguém me chamou. The indefinite pronoun acts as a trigger. It signals that the pronoun must come first. This rule applies to a specific family of words. Tudo, nada, ninguém, and todos are common triggers. They all share a sense of being "indefinite." They don't point to a specific person. Instead, they talk about "everyone" or "nothing." This vagueness creates a specific grammatical energy. That energy forces the pronoun forward. It is like a grammar traffic light. The indefinite pronoun turns the light green. The object pronoun then zips through to the front. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! But for a B2 learner, this is your secret weapon.

1. 1Let's break down the assembly line for you. Building these sentences is a simple three-step process.
2. 2Start with your Indefinite Pronoun magnet.
3. 3Add your Object Pronoun (me, te, se, nos, etc.).
4. 4Finish with the conjugated Verb.
5. 5Example: Nada + nos + assusta.
6. 6Result: Nada nos assusta (Nothing scares us).
7. 7Notice how the pronoun is sandwiched in the middle. It is protected by the magnet and the verb. This order is extremely strict in formal writing. In speech, it defines your natural "accent." Using the wrong order sounds like a glitch. It feels like a record skipping a beat. Keep the magnet word first. Place the pronoun right after it. The verb always comes last in this trio. It feels like a small, tight-knit family. Think of it like a grammar hug.

Use this whenever an indefinite pronoun is present. Are you talking about "everything" (tudo)? Use proclisis: Tudo se resolve. Are you talking about "nothing" (nada)? Use proclisis: Nada me importa. What about "everyone" (todos)? Use proclisis: Todos te respeitam. Even "several" (vários) or "each" (cada) work here. If the word is vague, it's likely a magnet. Think of a job interview scenario. You want to say "Everyone helped me." You should say: Todos me ajudaram. It sounds professional and correct. Think of asking for directions. "Did someone see her?" Try: Alguém a viu? The pronoun a jumps before the verb viu. It makes your Portuguese sound sharp. It shows you know the internal rules. It's like wearing a tailored suit versus baggy jeans.

There is one major "stop sign" to watch. It is the humble comma. Commas break the magnetic field instantly. If you pause, the attraction dies. Example: Alguém, de repente, chamou-me. Because of the pause, we use enclisis. The pronoun stays after the verb. Think of it like a brick wall. The magnet cannot pull through the wall. Also, don't use it if there's no magnet. If the sentence starts with the verb, stop. Never start a sentence with an object pronoun. That is a classic "no-no" in Portuguese. Only use proclisis if the magnet is there. Without the magnet, the pronoun stays back. It is like a shy dog staying in its crate. This is the grammar traffic light turning red.

The most common error is the "English Habit." In English, pronouns always come after verbs. Learners often say: Alguém chamou-me. In Brazil, this sounds incredibly formal. In Portugal, it might even sound wrong here. Another mistake is hypercorrection. Some people try to put every pronoun first. Remember: you need a reason for proclisis. If there is no "magnet," don't do it. Don't be the person who tries too hard. Native speakers might mess this up too. Sometimes they use proclisis even without magnets. In casual Brazilian Portuguese, proclisis is the default. But for your B2 level, follow the rules. Follow the "magnet" rule to be safe. It is like knowing when to use a blinker. Even if others don't, you should.

Compare this to negative adverbs. Words like não or nunca also attract pronouns. Não me diga! (Don't tell me!). Indefinite pronouns work exactly the same way. They both belong to the "Attractor" category. Now compare it to standard sentences. João chamou-me is standard enclisis. Notice João is a specific name. Specific names are not magnetic. They don't have that "indefinite energy." Only the vague, general words pull pronouns. Understanding this difference is key to mastery. One is a specific person; the other is "anyone." Specific means the pronoun stays after the verb. Vague means the pronoun jumps before the verb. It is the difference between a spotlight and a floodlight.