Object pronoun placement in speech and formal writing

In brief

In Brazilian Portuguese, the position of an unstressed object pronoun depends partly on register. In everyday speech, it usually comes before the verb, even at the start of a sentence. Formal writing may place it after an affirmative verb, joined by a hyphen; this can sound stiff in conversation.

Form

Everyday speech: pronoun + verb (Me avisaram). Formal written affirmative opening: verb-pronoun (Avisaram-me). After não: não + pronoun + verb (Não me avisaram).

Usage

• Use a pronoun before the verb for natural everyday Brazilian speech, including at the beginning of a sentence.
• In formal writing, an affirmative verb at the beginning of a sentence can take a following pronoun with a hyphen; this does not mean every formal sentence requires that order.
• After não, put the pronoun before the verb in standard writing as well as in ordinary speech.

Examples

• Me avisaram da mudança ontem. — They told me about the change yesterday.
• Avisaram-me da mudança ontem. — They told me about the change yesterday.
• Não me avisaram da mudança. — They didn’t tell me about the change.

Common mistake

❌ Não avisaram-me da mudança.

✅ Não me avisaram da mudança.

In standard Brazilian Portuguese, não attracts the pronoun before the verb; the formal verb-pronoun order does not apply here.

Remember

Sentence-initial Me avisaram is normal in Brazilian conversation; Avisaram-me is a formal written alternative.