Object pronouns with infinitives

Question

Is there ever a time when it would not be grammatically correct to place a pronoun before the conjugated verb? For example, if I wanted to say "Let's stay here", my understanding is that it could be written as: Vamos a quedarnos aqui or Nos vamos a quedar aqui

or how about something like:

Te acabo de escribir una carta

Just wondering if there were exceptions where the subject pronoun had to be attached to the infinitive instead of coming before the conjugated verb. Hope this make sense, thanks!

hi phil, I edited the title, I hadn't even noticed. - 006595c6, Aug 17, 2017

Answer 1

Both of your examples will mean exactly the same if you attach the pronoun after the verb.

Nos vamos a quedar aquí ==> Vamos a quedarnos aquí.

Te acabo de escribir una carta ==> Acabo de escribirte una carta.

I would use either without any special preference in general. I may pic one or the other depending on context or what sounds better.

Answer 2

Makes perfect sense, thanks phil

well, I guess it is a question of preference. I am not aware of a "rule" here.

I sometimes correct somebody on the daily threads using one or the other option because "it sounds better".

Oh well, I did find this on the topic

When an infinitive is used as a noun — such as when it follows a preposition or is used as the subject of a sentence — attachment of the pronoun is required:

Conocerte es amarte. (To know you is to love you.)

Una manera muy simple de comprenderlo es observarlo. (A very simple way of understanding it is to observe it.)

Pulsa sobre la fotografía para verme con mi nueva familia. (Click on the photograph to see me with my new family.)

Answer 3

You already have great answers, but to avoid confusions, remember that those are object pronouns and not subject pronouns! Subject, objects and prepositional pronouns (those used after prepositions, such as "mí") are personal pronouns (maybe this is what you meant)

Thanks! That's what I meant. - philsjwfu, Aug 17, 2017

of course!!! ni me había fijado que dijo subject pronouns, jejeje, en fin, un abrazo shameless - 006595c6, Aug 17, 2017

Answer 4

Thanks all, very helpful!