From my experience in Latin America the proclitic pronoun is very common: “ella me llamó” (she called me), “me da” (give me…indicative mood with the value of a command)…instead of the imperative “dáme”. The thing is, when we don’t just express an action with one verb, but with a number of verbs (in a periphrastic construction like “I’m going to go to bed) the pronoun can sometimes participate in the action of more than one verb.

For example, “me voy a acostar” is what I’d say to a family member when I’m actually about to go to bed, but I would say “voy a acostarme” as a way of excusing myself from a situation; maybe in English something like “I need to go bed”. But the placement of the pronoun before the first verb of the perisphrastic construction can also participate in the action of the verb “voy”, “me voy” (I’m out of here”.

What we were trying to get at in this lesson was that this preference of proclisis over enclisis is so strong that you can even see it commands, where we often say “me da” instead of “dáme”. Imagine you’re making plans with a friend and you want her to call you so that you can pick her up, you could say “me das una timbrada y te recojo” (give me a ring and I’ll pick you up).

Maybe Megan knows if this happens in Spain?

Of course the Portuguese. I think that will occur sometimes.

pero: I mixed it up not only with the Portuguese “mas” but also with “más”, which means “more” in Spanish (”mais” in Portuguese).

Concerning the placement of the pronouns, there are in some cases two alternatives, if I understand you right. You can put it or before or after the verb. (your examples 2 and 3).

Is there any difference in the usage between Iberian and Latin American Spanish?

As for the placement of pronouns, we can think about them this way: They are must always placed before the verb, except when they are added to 1) a verb in the infinitive, 2) a gerund or 3) a verb in the imperative.

For example:

Susana me dió su número de teléfono. (Susana gave me her phone number)
Susana, dáme tu número de teléfono. (Susana, give me your phone number.)

Susana va a darme su número de teléfono. (Susana is going to give me her phone number.)
or…
Susana me va a dar su número de teléfono. (Susana is going to give me her phone number.)

Susana está dándome su número de teléfono. (Susana is giving me her phone number.)
Susana me está dando su número de teléfono. (Susana is giving me her phone number.)

Whenever a pronoun is fused to a gerund, there is always a graphic accent.

Does this help? Can anyone think of more examples following these rules?

1. Me da un café, por pavor.
2. Yo te veo.
3. Tú me oyes, mas no me escuchas.

I would like to know a little bit more about the position of the pronouns, “me”, “te” etc. Are there any rules when you put them before and when after the verb?

So, in today’s lesson, we cover the verbs “dar”, “ver” and “oír”. Now, who can translate the following sentences?

1) Give me a coffee. (using the Present Indicative as a command*)

2) I see you.

3) You hear me, but you don’t listen to me.

¡Suerte!