Direct Object Pronouns: -no, -na, -nos, -nas
When a direct object pronoun (o, a, os, as) attaches to a verb that ends in a nasal sound — such as -m, -ão, or -õe — the pronoun transforms:
- It adds an n, becoming -no, -na, -nos, or -nas.
Unlike the rule for verbs ending in -r, -s, or -z, the verb does not drop its final letter. You simply add a hyphen and the new pronoun. You will see this very frequently with third-person plural verbs, which end in -m (like lavam or varrem).
Plurals and Household Chores
When talking about household chores — like sweeping, washing, vacuuming, and folding — you will often refer to plural objects like glasses (os copos) or windows (as janelas). The exact same rule applies to the plural pronouns (os and as), which become -nos and -nas after a nasal verb ending.
The Negative Exception
Remember that in Portuguese, negative words like não automatically pull the pronoun to the front of the verb. When this happens, the pronoun does not attach to the end of the verb at all, so it keeps its normal form (o, a, os, as). This rule overrides the nasal attachment rule.