The Pronoun Magnet Rule
In Portuguese, object pronouns normally attach to the end of an infinitive verb with a hyphen (for example, proteger-me). However, certain prepositions act as "magnets," pulling the pronoun so that it sits before the verb.
When an infinitive is directly preceded by prepositions like para (to/in order to), por (for/because of), or até (until), the pronoun is drawn to the space between the preposition and the infinitive.
| He used the software to steal the sensitive data from me. | Ele usou o software para me roubar os dados sensíveis. |
| The first step is to encrypt the message for fearing a cyberattack. | O primeiro passo é encriptar a mensagem por se recear um ciberataque. |
| During the cyberattack, the network was disconnected until encrypting everything. | Durante o ciberataque, a rede foi desligada até se encriptar tudo. |
Direct Object Pronouns
This magnetic pull happens regardless of the pronoun type. When a direct object pronoun (o, a, os, as) is pulled forward, it stands alone as a separate word before the verb.
| It is a matter of a malicious file, and he took advantage of the breach to send it. | Trata-se de um ficheiro malicioso, e ele aproveitou a brecha para o enviar. |
The Preposition Sem
The preposition sem (without) is another strong pronoun magnet. Just like the others, it pulls reflexives, direct objects, and indirect objects alike.
| They shared the secret without compromising themselves. | Eles partilharam o segredo sem se comprometer. |
| He tried to access the sensitive file without asking me. | Ele tentou aceder ao ficheiro sensível sem me perguntar. |
Bringing It Together
Whether dealing with para, por, sem, or até, the grammar rule remains exactly the same: Preposition + Pronoun + Infinitive. Here are a few final examples to lock in the pattern.
| The third step was to demand the authentication to protect them. | O terceiro passo foi exigir a autenticação para os proteger. |
| If the cybercriminal sees the system, he will not stop until he destroys it. | Se o cibercriminoso vir o sistema, não vai parar até o destruir. |