CARROTTA
carrotta.net
📍 Compendium
Grammar
ES
Español — Clitic pronoun position
Unstressed object pronouns (me, te, lo, la, le, nos, os, los, las, se) go before a finite verb but attach to the end of an infinitive, gerund or affirmative command. With a verb periphrasis both positions are allowed.
1
How it works
✓ Rule
Proclitic (before) with a finite verb: Lo veo, No me lo digas. Enclitic (attached) with infinitive, gerund and affirmative command: quiero verlo, está mirándolo, dímelo. With a periphrasis the pronoun may go either way: Lo voy a hacer = Voy a hacerlo.
2
Examples
| Verb form | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Finite verb | before (proclitic) | Lo veo |
| Infinitive | attached (enclitic) | Quiero verlo |
| Gerund (-ndo) | attached (enclitic) | Está mirándolo |
| Affirmative command | attached (enclitic) | Dímelo |
| Negative command | before (proclitic) | No me lo digas |
| Periphrasis (aux + infinitive/gerund) | either position | Lo voy a hacer / Voy a hacerlo |
3
Good to know
⚠ Note
When two pronouns attach to a verb, a written accent is usually added to keep the original stress: da → dámelo, mirando → mirándolo. Do not split an enclitic cluster: say dímelo, never *di me lo.