Default Pronoun Placement
In European Portuguese, the default position for an object pronoun is attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen.
| His neighbor greets us. | O vizinho dele cumprimenta-nos. |
This also applies when the pronoun attaches to the infinitive in a continuous phrase (estar a + infinitive).
| The neighbors are bothering me. | Os vizinhos estão a incomodar-me. |
The "Magnet" Effect
Certain words act as "magnets," pulling the object pronoun so it sits before the verb. When this happens, the hyphen is dropped. You have already seen this with negative words like não, but adverbs like também (also) do exactly the same thing.
| The neighbor (f) also greets us. | A vizinha também nos cumprimenta. |
| The neighbor (f) does not bother me. | A vizinha não me incomoda. |
Indefinite Words
Indefinite words—which refer to non-specific people or quantities, like alguém (someone) and ambos (both)—are also magnets. If they appear before the verb, the pronoun moves to the front.
| Is someone bothering you at work? | Alguém te incomoda no trabalho? |
| Both recognize me on the street. | Ambos me reconhecem na rua. |
Adverbs of Frequency and Degree
Many other adverbs trigger this forward movement. Adverbs of degree, limitation, or frequency, such as quase (almost), apenas (only), and jamais (never), all pull the pronoun before the verb.
| He almost recognizes me without the glasses. | Ele quase me reconhece sem os óculos. |
| They only visit us in the summer. | Eles apenas nos visitam no verão. |
| I never bother you. | Eu jamais te incomodo. |
