Hooking Object Pronouns onto Commands?

Question

I know that when hooking pronouns onto commands in Spanish, an accent is required to maintain the correct pronunciation. Ex. Lávalo! But, sometimes I don't know where to put the accent: For example, I'm confused with limpiarlo, preparala, envuelvelos, etc. I've heard that you place the accent on the third-to-last-syllable, but that only works for commands with two syllables (before hooking the pronoun on. It doesn't work for commands like prepara, envuelve, limpiar, entiende, etc. So, is there a general rule for where I can put accents in such situations? Additional examples: Estúdialo and límpialo. Those accents are NOT over the third-to-last syllable, they are over the fourth to last syllable, so I was thinking the rule did not apply to commands with more than two syllables?

Answer 1

Límpialo

Prepárala

Envuélvelos

All the words above are esdrújulas and the accent should be placed on the third to last syllable like you say. All esdrújulas have a written accent.

Let's look at longer verbs:

Establecer ... establécelo (same principle, even though the verb is longer). This word is a sobreesdrújula (all sobreesdrújulas have an accent mark).

Contraindicar ... contraindícalo (same as above)

Contrarrestar ... Contrarréstalo (same as above)

Now, for shorter verbs like:

Dar- Dalo (no accent because is a grave word and it ends in a vowel). However, the stress is in the second to last syllable. Grave words only carry a written tilde when they end in a letter other than n, s or a vowel. Example: Lápiz, Cáncer, Árbol, Cárcel, Líder.

Ver - Velo (same as above)

I hope this helps.

But, in límpialo, the accent is not over the third-to-last-syllable, it is over the fourth-to-last syllable. Unless I am counting syllables wrong? - gwenafricanus, Dec 1, 2012

No. "ia" is a dipthong, so it is considered a single syllable. So the word is broken down as: Lím-pia-lo. - francobollo, Dec 1, 2012

Answer 2

In the examples you gave using infinitives with the pronoun attached to the word "limpiarlo, preparala" you don't need a written accent because the new spelling does not affect where the accent (stress) would fall - on the last syllable of the infinitive.

In the command form of the verb the stress will always be on the next to the last syllable without needing a written accent: ¡Prepare! ¡Prepara! ¡Envie! ¡Envia!

However when you attach the pronoun the next to the last syllable becomes the third from the last syllable, and for writing consistancy the accent is written over this syllable to demonstrate this in writing.

Some one will undoubtedly give you a link, but I like to explain these things "in person" when I can. I hope this has shed some light on your very good question.