Proclisis in Portuguese

At its heart, proclisis is all about attraction. Certain words in a sentence have a "magnetic pull" on object pronouns like me, te, se, nos, o, a, os, as, lhe, and lhes. When one of these magnetic words appears before the verb, it forces the pronoun to sit between that word and the verb. If there is no magnet, the pronoun stays in its default position after the verb (which we call ênclise). In Brazil, people use proclisis almost all the time. It's the "cool, relaxed" way to speak. In Portugal, however, they are much stricter about the magnets. If you're at a job interview in Lisbon, the magnets matter. If you're ordering a beer in Rio, you can be much more flexible. Just remember: the pronoun wants to be near the magnet. It's like a grammar love story.

1. 1Identify the attractor word (the magnet) in your sentence.
2. 2Pick the correct object pronoun for the person you're talking about.
3. 3Place the pronoun immediately before the verb.
4. 4Ensure no comma separates the magnet from the pronoun.
5. 5Conjugate the verb normally according to the subject.
6. 6The basic structure looks like this: [Magnet] + [Pronoun] + [Verb].
7. 7Example: Não (Magnet) + me (Pronoun) + diga (Verb) = Não me diga! (Don't tell me!).

This is where the "magnets" come in. You need to memorize a few categories of attractor words.

• Negative words: Words like não, nunca, jamais, or ninguém are super magnets. They always pull the pronoun forward. Example: Nunca se esqueça disso (Never forget that).
• Adverbs: Short adverbs like hoje, sempre, talvez, and bem do the trick. Example: Sempre me ligo a ele (I always connect with him).
• Relative pronouns: The word que is the king of magnets. Quem and onde also count. Example: O livro que me deste (The book you gave me).
• Indefinite pronouns: Words like alguém, tudo, pouco, and algo. Example: Alguém te chamou (Someone called you).
• Interrogative/Exclamative sentences: If you're asking a question or shouting something. Example: Quem te disse isso? (Who told you that?).
• Subordinating conjunctions: Words like quando, porque, embora, and se. Example: Quando nos vimos... (When we saw each other...).
• Preposition 'em' + Gerund: A very specific case. Example: Em se tratando de futebol... (When it comes to football...).

There is one absolute "No-Go" zone for proclisis in formal Portuguese. Never start a sentence with an object pronoun. It sounds very "Brazilian street style," which is fine for friends, but a nightmare for grammar purists.

• Wrong: Me dá um café. (Give me a coffee).
• Correct (Formal): Dê-me um café.

Also, if there is a comma right before the verb, the magnetic pull is broken. It's like a lead wall. Example: Ontem, vi-o na rua. (Yesterday, I saw him on the street). The comma after Ontem stops Ontem from acting as a magnet. If the comma wasn't there, you would say Ontem o vi. Think of punctuation as a shield against magnetic forces. It's that simple!

• The Brazilian Slip: Starting a sentence with Me, Te, or Se. While common in Brazil, it's technically wrong in standard grammar. Try to catch yourself doing it.
• Ignoring the Comma: Thinking a word is a magnet even when there is a comma after it. Remember, commas break the spell.
• Overusing it with Infinitives: With verbs in the infinitive (like falar, comer), you usually have a choice. People often get paralyzed trying to decide. Pro-tip: para me ajudar and para ajudar-me are both fine. Don't let it ruin your dinner party!
• The 'Que' Trap: Forgetting that que is the strongest magnet. If you see que, 99% of the time the pronoun goes before the verb.
• Mismatched Pronouns: Using o/a when you should use lhe. Proclisis doesn't change the *type* of pronoun you need, just where it sits.

There are three main positions for pronouns. Proclisis is the first.

• Proclise (Before): Não me fales. (Triggered by a magnet).
• Ênclise (After): Fala-me. (The default position, especially at the start of sentences).
• Mesóclise (Middle): Dir-te-ei. (The "fancy professor" version). This only happens with the Future or Conditional tenses. It looks like the verb is eating the pronoun. It's rare in spoken Portuguese but pops up in old books or very formal speeches. Think of it as the tuxedo of grammar. You won't wear it to the beach, but you should know what it looks like.

In Brazil, proclise is the undisputed champion. In Portugal, ênclise is the daily bread, and proclise is the special guest invited by magnets.