Understanding pronouns with prepositions in Portuguese grammar is crucial for achieving fluency and accuracy in the language. Portuguese, like many languages, has specific rules and structures that govern the use of pronouns, especially when they are combined with prepositions. This article will delve into these rules, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of how to use pronouns with prepositions in Portuguese.
Personal Pronouns with Prepositions
In Portuguese, personal pronouns change their form when they follow prepositions. This is different from English, where pronouns generally stay the same whether they follow a preposition or not. Below is a list of Portuguese personal pronouns and their corresponding forms when used after a preposition:
1. Eu (I) – mim
2. Tu (you, informal) – ti
3. Ele (he) – ele
4. Ela (she) – ela
5. Nós (we) – nós
6. Vós (you all, archaic) – vós
7. Eles (they, masculine) – eles
8. Elas (they, feminine) – elas
For example:
– Sem mim (without me)
– Para ti (for you)
– Com ele (with him)
– Contra nós (against us)
Special Cases with “Com”
When personal pronouns follow the preposition “com” (with), they often merge to form a single word. This process is known as contraction. Here are the contractions:
1. Com + mim = comigo (with me)
2. Com + ti = contigo (with you)
3. Com + ele/ela = com ele/ela (with him/her) – no contraction here
4. Com + nós = conosco (with us)
5. Com + vós = convosco (with you all) – although “vós” is archaic
6. Com + eles/elas = com eles/elas (with them) – no contraction here
Examples:
– Vem comigo (Come with me)
– Eu vou contigo (I’m going with you)
– Ele está conosco (He is with us)
Pronouns with Other Common Prepositions
Beyond “com,” there are other common prepositions in Portuguese that you should be aware of. Here are some examples:
1. Para (for/to):
– Para mim (for me)
– Para ti (for you)
– Para ele/ela (for him/her)
– Para nós (for us)
– Para vós (for you all)
– Para eles/elas (for them)
2. De (of/from):
– De mim (of/from me)
– De ti (of/from you)
– De ele/ela (of/from him/her)
– De nós (of/from us)
– De vós (of/from you all)
– De eles/elas (of/from them)
3. Em (in/on/at):
– Em mim (in/on/at me)
– Em ti (in/on/at you)
– Em ele/ela (in/on/at him/her)
– Em nós (in/on/at us)
– Em vós (in/on/at you all)
– Em eles/elas (in/on/at them)
Examples:
– Este presente é para mim (This gift is for me)
– Eu venho de ti (I come from you)
– Ela está em nós (She is in us)
Possessive Pronouns with Prepositions
Possessive pronouns also change form when used with prepositions. The possessive pronouns in Portuguese are:
1. Meu (my)
2. Teu (your, informal)
3. Seu (his/her/your formal)
4. Nosso (our)
5. Vosso (your, plural)
6. Seus (their)
When these pronouns follow prepositions, they remain unchanged but are often accompanied by the definite article (o, a, os, as):
1. De + o meu = do meu (of my)
2. De + a minha = da minha (of my)
3. Em + os meus = nos meus (in my)
4. Em + as minhas = nas minhas (in my)
Examples:
– Este é o livro do meu amigo (This is my friend’s book)
– Eu confio na minha equipe (I trust my team)
Reflexive Pronouns with Prepositions
Reflexive pronouns in Portuguese are used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same, and they also change form when used with prepositions. The reflexive pronouns are:
1. Me (myself)
2. Te (yourself, informal)
3. Se (himself/herself/yourself formal)
4. Nos (ourselves)
5. Vos (yourselves)
6. Se (themselves)
When used with prepositions, they often follow the same rules as personal pronouns:
1. Para mim (for myself)
2. Para ti (for yourself)
3. Para si (for himself/herself/yourself formal)
4. Para nós (for ourselves)
5. Para vós (for yourselves)
6. Para si (for themselves)
Examples:
– Eu fiz isso para mim (I did this for myself)
– Ele falou consigo mesmo (He spoke to himself)
Using “Consigo” in Reflexive Contexts
The word “consigo” is a special case that means “with himself/herself/yourself formal.” It is used reflexively and only in formal contexts:
– Ele trouxe o documento consigo (He brought the document with him)
– Ela está satisfeita consigo mesma (She is satisfied with herself)
Demonstrative Pronouns with Prepositions
Demonstrative pronouns in Portuguese are used to point out specific things and also change form when used with prepositions. The demonstrative pronouns are:
1. Este (this, masculine)
2. Esta (this, feminine)
3. Esse (that, masculine)
4. Essa (that, feminine)
5. Aquele (that over there, masculine)
6. Aquela (that over there, feminine)
When used with prepositions, they combine with the prepositions:
1. De + este = deste (of this, masculine)
2. De + esta = desta (of this, feminine)
3. Em + esse = nesse (in that, masculine)
4. Em + essa = nessa (in that, feminine)
5. De + aquele = daquele (of that over there, masculine)
6. De + aquela = daquela (of that over there, feminine)
Examples:
– Eu gosto deste livro (I like this book)
– Ela falou daquela situação (She spoke of that situation over there)
Interrogative Pronouns with Prepositions
Interrogative pronouns in Portuguese are used to ask questions and can also be combined with prepositions. The interrogative pronouns are:
1. Quem (who)
2. O que (what)
3. Qual (which)
When used with prepositions, they follow the prepositions directly:
1. Com quem (with whom)
2. De quem (of whom)
3. Para quem (for whom)
Examples:
– Com quem você está falando? (With whom are you talking?)
– Para quem é este presente? (For whom is this gift?)
Indefinite Pronouns with Prepositions
Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific entities and also follow prepositions directly. The indefinite pronouns are:
1. Alguém (someone)
2. Ninguém (no one)
3. Algo (something)
4. Nada (nothing)
5. Tudo (everything)
When used with prepositions, they follow the same structure as personal pronouns:
1. Com alguém (with someone)
2. Sem ninguém (without anyone)
3. Para algo (for something)
4. De nada (of nothing)
5. Em tudo (in everything)
Examples:
– Ele está falando com alguém (He is talking to someone)
– Eu não vejo nada (I see nothing)
Relative Pronouns with Prepositions
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses and can also be used with prepositions. The relative pronouns are:
1. Que (that/which/who)
2. Quem (who)
When used with prepositions, they follow the prepositions directly:
1. A pessoa com quem eu falei (The person with whom I spoke)
2. O livro de que eu gosto (The book of which I am fond)
Examples:
– A cidade em que eu nasci (The city in which I was born)
– O amigo para quem escrevi (The friend to whom I wrote)
Practical Tips for Mastering Pronouns with Prepositions
1. **Practice Regularly**: Use exercises and practice sentences to get comfortable with the various forms of pronouns with prepositions.
2. **Listen and Imitate**: Pay attention to native speakers and try to imitate their use of pronouns with prepositions in context.
3. **Use Flashcards**: Create flashcards with different preposition-pronoun combinations to reinforce your memory.
4. **Engage in Conversations**: Practice speaking with native speakers or language partners to apply what you’ve learned in real conversations.
5. **Seek Feedback**: Get feedback from teachers or language partners to correct any mistakes and improve your understanding.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of pronouns with prepositions in Portuguese is a vital step towards fluency and grammatical accuracy. By understanding the forms and rules associated with personal, possessive, reflexive, demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, and relative pronouns, you can enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese. Remember to practice regularly, listen to native speakers, and seek feedback to continually improve your skills. With dedication and consistent effort, you’ll find yourself using pronouns with prepositions naturally and confidently.
