Portuguese · Chapter 6 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
Object pronouns, the Brazilian way
The textbook puts the pronoun after the verb; spoken Brazilian Portuguese puts it before, and this course teaches what you will hear.
The short version
In Brazil the pronoun goes before the verb
The textbook says Amo-te, with the pronoun after the verb. Brazilians say Eu te amo, and they put the pronoun first even at the start of a sentence: Me dá isso. With two verbs it sits in the middle, before the main one: Vou te ligar. Follow the book in formal writing and Brazil everywhere else.
Vou te ligar amanhã.
Spoken Brazilian swaps o and a for ele and ela
Eu o vi is correct and you will read it constantly, but in conversation Brazilians say Eu vi ele, or drop the object when it is obvious: asked Você viu o filme?, they answer Vi. Learn o and a for reading, and expect ele and ela when you listen.
Eu vi ele ontem.
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