Convertêlas

Convertê-las is a Portuguese verbal construction formed by attaching a feminine plural direct object pronoun to the infinitive of a verb, typically meaning “to convert them.” The resulting form is written with a hyphen and an accented infinitive, as in convertê-las. This construction is used when the speaker refers to a group of feminine objects or feminine plural nouns that are the direct object of the action.

Usage and rules

- The pronoun attaches to the infinitive after a verb in infinitive, a periphrastic form with auxiliary or modal verbs, or in subordinate clauses. Examples include Tenho que convertê-las, Quero convertê-las, and Vou convertê-las.

- The pronoun's gender and number determine the equivalent ending: feminine plural uses the form -las, masculine plural would require -los, and singular forms would use -la or -lo, respectively.

- A diacritic on the inflected infinitive (such as ê in convertê-las) helps preserve the original stress of the verb when the pronoun is added.

Orthography and regional use

- The convention is standard across Brazilian and European Portuguese, though actual pronoun choice will align with the gender and number of the referenced objects.

- When the infinitive is accompanied by other particles or when the pronoun is stressed, hyphenation remains the typical punctuation: convertê-las, vê-las, or convertê-los, depending on gender and number.

Related topics

- Clitic pronouns in Portuguese

- Infinitive constructions with clitics

- Verbal periphrasis and pronominal attachment

Notes

- While convertê-las illustrates the general pattern for feminine plural objects, similar forms exist for masculine or mixed groups (e.g., convertê-los).