Girarlas

Girarlas is a Spanish verb phrase formed by the verb girar (to turn or rotate) and the feminine plural direct object pronoun las. It appears as the infinitive with a attached clitic, meaning “to turn them” where the “them” refers to feminine plural objects. The form is commonly used in sentences where the action is directed at multiple feminine objects that have already been identified.

Usage and notes

- The phrases girarlas or girándolas show how clitic pronouns attach to infinitives and gerunds. For example, Voy a girarlas means “I am going to turn them,” and Girarlas is the plain infinitive form. The imperative form is Gíralas, meaning “Turn them.”

- If the direct object were masculine plural, the corresponding form would be girarlos (“to turn them” for masculine objects).

- In pronunciation, the infinitive girarlas is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable of girar, and no accent is needed on the combined form. In the imperative, the accent in Gíralas marks the stressed syllable: Gíralas.

Related forms

- Gerund: girándolas (turning them)

- Past or compound forms: he/gui, etc., can combine with the attached pronoun in appropriate tenses, keeping the pronoun attached to the infinitive or gerund as in Girarlas, he girado las cajas (I have turned the boxes).

Etymology

- The verb girar comes from Latin roots related to turning or revolving; the attached pronoun lasを modifies the object reference to feminine plural nouns.

See also

- Girar, clitic pronouns (las, los, las), Spanish object pronouns, imperative forms with clitics.