Question:
portuguese grammar---o, lo, a, la?
Riverc
2008-12-25 18:07:17 UTC
I am confused with the usage of the object pronouns o/a and lo/la.
What are the differences between them?

Example:
I saw him at the movies.
Eu o vi no cinema.

Não consigo ver o João.
Não consigo vê-lo.

why use o in the first example and lo in the second one?

Thank you very much
Three answers:
Destination Portuguese
2008-12-27 04:55:32 UTC
Olá, Riverc!



The (3rd person) object pronouns are o(s)/a(s).



When they are attached (w/a hyphen) to a verb form ending in -r, -s, or -z, then that final consonant converts into an -l...and forms the variant pronouns -lo(s)/-la(s).



Não o consigo ver.

Não consigo fazê-lo.

Já estudaste as matérias?--Não, ainda tenho de estudá-las.

Queres servir o vinho?--Sim, quero servi-lo.



Onde é que vocês encontraram os corpos?--Encontrámo-los na rua.

Como queres que o diga?--Di-lo com franqueza.



By the same token you have:



Fizeram-nas em enorme quantidade. (as bolachas)

Põe-nas na mala. (as coisas)



If you need more help, just click on my icon.



(Btw, what I've written holds true for both Brazilian and European Portuguese. The business which another posted referred to--of using subject pronouns instead of object pronouns--although common, is only true of uneducated, "popular" Brazilian Portuguese speech. It is not accepted at all levels of BP and certainly not in writing. And it is *never* accepted in EP, where it is considered a gross error.)
octavius
2008-12-25 18:41:17 UTC
River = Rio



Example:

I saw him at the movies.

Eu o vi no cinema. = "0" = pronome oblíquo, in place of "him" (ele)

In Brazil, it's usual = Eu vi ele... and...Ele me viu. He saw me.

Ele viu "eu" = NO WAY! = Here must appear = Ele ME viu!





Não consigo ver o João.

Não consigo vê-lo. = LO means "o" the same. It's only for phonetics purpose.

We can't express... Não consigo VER + "o" = vê-lo.

When the verb is at INFINITIV = (R-ending) and faces O or A (pronouns for HIM or HER)...it changes to -LO and -LA.

Vou chamar = (to call) = Vou chamá-lo. Vou chamá-la.



No problem with= Vou chamar ele. Vou chamar ela.



It's wide used = Não consigo ver ele! ... It's a mistake!



ELE is for HE, personal pronoun... but...100% accepted among popular way of speech.



Espero tê-la ajudado = I hope I've helped you.
2008-12-25 18:34:30 UTC
hmm i speak portuguese and i dont know why either.

sorry.


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