objects and verbs
when does an object pronoun follow a verb, when precede it
1 Answer
I answered a similar question in an earlier post entitled Reflexive verb rules
The following is an excerpt from my previous answer.
A few general guidelines are as follows:
Simple forms in both the indicative and subjunctive moods are typically preceded by such pronouns, as are negative forms of such verbs.
Se pone el sombrero --- He puts on his hat.
Se puso el sombrero --- He put on his hat.
Se ponía el sombrero cuando sonó el teléfono --- He was putting on his hat when the phone rang.
No se puso el sombrero --- He didn't put on his hat.
Atonic pronouns are attached to the end of verbs in the imperative mood and to the ends of simple forms of the infinitive and Spanish gerundio.
¡Ponte el sombrero! --- Put on your hat!
Al ponérselo se volvió invisible --- Upon putting it on, he became invisible.
Le respondí, poniéndome colorado, que no podía hacer más que orar. --- Turning red, I told him that I could do no more than to pray.
With certain verb phrases (perífrasis verbal) the atonic pronoun can appear either in front of the auxiliary verb or attached to the end of the impersonal form (infinitive or gerundio) that follows.
Se lo siguió poniendo --- He kept putting it on
Siguió poniéndoselo --- He kept putting it on
Se lo tiene que poner -- He has to put it on.
Tiene que ponérselo --- He has to put it on.
An exception to this "rule" is that the atonic pronoun may not precede the auxiliary verb if it is an impersonal verb
- Hay que ponérselo (Never: Se lo hay que poner) --- One must put it on.
With compound verb forms that use the auxiliary verb "haber," the pronoun may be placed before "haber" or if haber appears in the infinitive or gerundio form then the pronoun may be attached to the end of it.
Se lo ha puesto --- He has put it on.
Habiéndoselo poner salió de la casa y nunca regresó --- Having put it on, he left home and never returned. (Not: se lo habiendo...)
