Pronominal Verbs: Understanding Reflexive Pronouns in Portuguese
Learn about pronominal verbs in Portuguese, their classifications, uses, and the differences between essentially pronominal and accidentally pronominal verbs.
By FaleBrasil
Pronominal verbs constitute a special category of verbs in Portuguese that are conjugated with unstressed oblique pronouns (me, te, se, nos, vos, se). These verbs are fundamental for expressing reflexivity, reciprocity, and other semantic nuances of the language.
What are Pronominal Verbs?
Pronominal verbs are those that appear conjugated with an unstressed oblique pronoun that refers to the subject of the sentence. This pronoun agrees in person and number with the subject of the verb.
Conjugation Examples
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Eu | me levanto (I get up) |
| Tu | te levantas (you get up) |
| Ele/Ela | se levanta (he/she gets up) |
| Nós | nos levantamos (we get up) |
| Vós | vos levantais (you all get up) |
| Eles/Elas | se levantam (they get up) |
Classification of Pronominal Verbs
1. Essentially Pronominal Verbs
These are verbs that exist only in pronominal form and cannot be conjugated without the oblique pronoun. Without the pronoun, they completely lose their meaning or simply don’t exist in the language.
Main Examples:
- Arrepender-se (to repent): Eu me arrependo (“eu arrependo” doesn’t exist)
- Queixar-se (to complain): Ela se queixa (“ela queixa” doesn’t exist)
- Suicidar-se (to commit suicide): Eles se suicidam (“eles suicidam” doesn’t exist)
- Abster-se (to abstain): Nós nos abstemos
- Ater-se (to stick to): Ele se atém aos fatos
- Dignar-se (to deign): Ela se dignou a responder
2. Accidentally Pronominal Verbs
These are verbs that can be used both in pronominal and non-pronominal form, but with a change in meaning.
Examples with Meaning Change:
| Non-Pronominal Form | Pronominal Form |
|---|---|
| Lembrar algo (to remind) | Lembrar-se de algo (to remember) |
| Esquecer algo (to forget something) | Esquecer-se de algo (to forget about) |
| Enganar alguém (to deceive someone) | Enganar-se (to be mistaken) |
| Debater um tema (to debate a topic) | Debater-se (to struggle) |
Types of Pronominal Verbs by Function
1. Reflexive
The subject performs and receives the action:
- Eu me cortei com a faca (I cut myself with the knife)
- Ela se olhou no espelho (She looked at herself in the mirror)
- Nós nos machucamos jogando futebol (We hurt ourselves playing soccer)
2. Reciprocal
Expresses mutual action between subjects:
- Eles se abraçaram (They hugged each other)
- Nós nos cumprimentamos (We greeted each other)
- As amigas se encontraram no shopping (The friends met each other at the mall)
3. Integral Part of the Verb
The pronoun is essential to the meaning:
- Ele se arrependeu da decisão (He repented the decision)
- Elas se queixaram do atendimento (They complained about the service)
- Nós nos orgulhamos do resultado (We take pride in the result)
4. Emphatic Particle
The pronoun emphasizes the action (can be omitted):
- Ele se foi embora (He went away)
- Elas se riram muito (They laughed a lot)
Pronoun Placement
The position of the oblique pronoun in relation to the verb follows specific rules:
Proclisis (pronoun before the verb)
- Negative words: Não me arrependo (I don’t repent)
- Adverbs: Sempre se queixa (Always complains)
- Relative pronouns: O homem que se feriu (The man who hurt himself)
Mesoclisis (pronoun in the middle of the verb)
- Future present: Arrepender-me-ei (I will repent)
- Conditional: Queixar-se-ia (Would complain)
Enclisis (pronoun after the verb)
- Beginning of sentence: Levantou-se cedo (Got up early)
- Affirmative imperative: Levante-se! (Get up!)
Important Pronominal Verbs
List of Common Essentially Pronominal Verbs:
- Abster-se (to abstain)
- Apiedar-se (to take pity)
- Apropriar-se (to appropriate)
- Arrepender-se (to repent)
- Ater-se (to stick to)
- Atrever-se (to dare)
- Condoer-se (to feel sorry)
- Dignar-se (to deign)
- Esforçar-se (to strive)
- Indignar-se (to be indignant)
- Insurgir-se (to rebel)
- Orgulhar-se (to be proud)
- Penitenciar-se (to do penance)
- Queixar-se (to complain)
- Rebelar-se (to rebel)
- Refugiar-se (to take refuge)
- Suicidar-se (to commit suicide)
- Vangloriar-se (to boast)
Regional Differences
In Brazil, there are regional tendencies in the use of pronominal verbs:
- South Region: Greater preservation of proclisis in formal contexts
- Northeast Region: Frequent use of enclisis in informal contexts
- Southeast Region: Tendency to omit pronouns in colloquial language
Common Errors
1. Improper Pronoun Omission
❌ Ele arrependeu da decisão
✅ Ele se arrependeu da decisão
2. Unnecessary Pronoun Use
❌ Eu me simpatizo com ela
✅ Eu simpatizo com ela
3. Inadequate Pronoun Placement
❌ Me levantei cedo (in formal writing)
✅ Levantei-me cedo
Importance in Communication
Mastering pronominal verbs is essential for:
- 📝 Expressing nuances of meaning precisely
- 💬 Communicating grammatically correctly
- 📚 Understanding literary and formal texts
- 🔄 Distinguishing between reflexive, reciprocal, and emphatic actions
Conclusion
Pronominal verbs are a distinctive and rich feature of Portuguese, allowing precise expression of different types of actions and relationships. Mastering them is fundamental to achieving fluency and elegance in the language, whether in speech or writing.