Question 1

Why do we use the accusative pronoun o here instead of the dative lhe?

Accepted Answer

In causative constructions with verbs like fazer, the case of the causee (the person being made to do something) depends on the second verb. Because ajoelhar-se (to kneel) does not take a direct object, it is intransitive. This means the causee takes the accusative form o. If he had been made to read a book (a transitive action), the causee would shift to the dative lhe.

Question 2

Since ajoelhar-se has the pronoun se, shouldn't that count as a direct object and force us to use the dative lhe?

Accepted Answer

It is a great observation, but no. Reflexive or inherent pronouns like the se in ajoelhar-se are considered part of the verb itself in this grammatical context. They do not count as independent direct objects, so the verb is still treated as intransitive, keeping the causee as the accusative o.

Question 3

Why does the pronoun o come before fez instead of attaching to the end of it?

Accepted Answer

The interrogative pronoun Quem (Who) is a strong trigger for proclisis. This acts like a magnet, forcing the object pronoun o to jump immediately before the conjugated verb fez, giving us Quem o fez.

Question 4

Could I say em frente ao príncipe instead of em frente do príncipe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. Both em frente de (which contracts to do here) and em frente a (which contracts to ao) are grammatically correct and very commonly used interchangeably in everyday Portuguese to mean in front of or facing.

Quem o fez ajoelhar-se em frente do príncipe?

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