Spanish: An Essential Grammar

The position and order of personal pronouns

The weak pronouns (i.e. direct and indirect object pronouns, together with

non-prepositional reflexives) directly precede the verb except in the

following cases: positive commands, infinitives and gerunds. For examples,

see 8.2 above and Chapter 14 (for reflexives).

The position of personal pronouns in commands

Personal pronouns always followand are joined to the verb in positive

commands, but they always precedethe verb in negativecommands:

Abrelo. Open it. No lo abras. Don’t open it.

Termínenlos.Finish them. No los terminen.Do not finish them.

Acércate a Come No te acerques Do not

mí. towards me. a mí. approach me.

The position of personal pronouns with infinitives and gerunds

Weak personal pronouns frequentlyfollowand are joined to infinitives and

gerunds to form one word:

Acaba de llamarme. She has just called me.

Ha estado consultándonos. He has been consulting us.

However, personal pronouns may precedesome verbs (especially auxiliary

verbs) that govern an infinitive or gerund, rather than being attached to the

latter:

Le quería dar una sorpresa. She wanted to give him a surprise.

Le sigue escribiendo a She continues to write to him

pesar de todo. despite everything.

Me lo hizo traer. He made me bring it.

This is common with the following verbs that govern an infinitive:

acabar de to have just preferir to prefer

conseguir/lograr to manage querer to want

deber to have to soler to usually (do)

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8

Personal
pronouns

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