Direct-object pronouns • Polite

expressions

Direct-object pronouns
In a normal sentence, the subject of the verb carries out the action and the
object of the verb receives that action. Pronouns, both subject and object,
replace the need to repeat words (nouns) and proper names. The direct-
object pronouns (DOPs) in English are: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. They
directly receive the action of the verb and they answer the questions: What?
or Whom? in relation to a statement: I see what? I see it. I help whom? I
help her.
Uses
DOPs are normally placed after a verb and attached to it with a
hyphen.
With infinitives, they are usually attached after, but can go before
(more advanced learning).
In certain circumstances, the pronouns are placed before the verb (e.g.,
with negatives, or after questions words; see Chapter 45).
To avoid ambiguity in the third person (o/a, os/as), o senhor/a
senhora can be used as object pronouns when the polite forms are
required.
Brazilians tend to place the pronouns before the verb in most
situations; compare EP chamo-me Ana with BP eu me chamo Ana.
Here, the DOP is preceded by eu as it is not advised to place the DOP
as the first word of a sentence or clause.
In the spoken language, many Brazilians tend to use subject pronouns
where an object is required: eu vejo ele (lit., I see he). Be aware of
this but realize it is not correct usage. Você is also frequently used as
an object in colloquial Brazilian Portuguese.
Do not confuse the DOPs o/a, os/as with the definite article (the),
which are written the same way!
You will learn more advanced rules for DOPs as you progress to a
higher level.
Examples

Translate the following sentences into Portuguese, using the

verbs suggested in parentheses.

1. I see you (sing., fam.). (ver)

Vejo-te
______________________________________________________

2. You (tu) see us. (ver)

Ves- nos
______________________________________________________

3. He eats it (the cake). (comer)

Ele come 0 (obolo)
______________________________________________________
-

4. She drinks it (the beer). (beber)

Ela bebe la cervejal
______________________________________________________
-
a

5. I buy them (the shoes). (comprar)

compro-os (os sapatos)
______________________________________________________

6. They help you (pl.). (ajudar)

Ajudam-VOS
 ______________________________________________________

7. You (pl.) invite me. (convidar)

Convidam me
______________________________________________________
-

8. They take us. (levar)

Eles
______________________________________________________
levahtam-nos

9. He keeps it (the money) safe. (guardar)

Ele forte Codinheiro
guarda -o nacaixa
______________________________________________________

10. We help you (sing., fam.). (ajudar)

Nos ajudamos te
______________________________________________________
-

Spelling changes: verbs + o/a, os/as

Certain spelling alterations are needed with the following combinations
(only with the third-person DOPs).
 Although this seems complex, you will undoubtedly use some rules more
than others, particularly the -r and -m ones.

Examples

poi

Replace the nouns in parentheses with DOPs and make any

necessary spelling changes. Follow the example.

vai rouba-lo

No posso repeti-las
vo faze -
10(comfacas)
D- as

Querem sequestra-la
render -
na

No sabe resolve-los

pre - no
VOCABULÁRIO

Expressões de cortesia (Polite expressions)

Complete the sentences with the correct forms of verbs in

parentheses and a DOP.
incommodat
1. Tens muito trabalho? Estou a (incomodar) ________?
acho
2. Gosto do latim, mas (achar) ________ difícil.
 Vew Convidar Dan

Present Present Present

En veo couvido dou
Tu wes
I
convidas das
Vol ve Convida da
Ns veMos convidamos damos
-

Voces reem convidar do

annol
Pr Incomodar (bother, distub)

present Present
Eu ponho incommodo

Tu pes incomodas

Voc pote incommoda

Nos pomos incomodamos

Voces pem incomodam

 ajuda-lo
3. Desculpe! O meu saco é muito grande. Pode (ajudar) ________?
comemo-las
4. Vocês comem muitas laranjas? Sim, nós (comer) ________ cada dia.
5. Só um momento senhores! As vossas malas por favor . . . Querem
(abrir) abri-as
________?
ajudam-nos
6. Eles sempre ajudam os pais. Hoje, por exemplo, (ajudar) ________ a
limpar a sala.
levamo-lo
7. Não se preocupem! Nós (levar) ________ ao aeroporto.
-tem- te los what
te-los
8. O Manuel tem os jornais? Sim, sim, ele (ter) ________ num saco. does tem
become
fa-lo cada domingo. Ótimo!
9. Ela vai fazer um bolo hoje. Ela (fazer) ________
leva o

10. Ó pai, queremos ir ao jogo. O pai poderia (levar) ________ de carro?

-