publicarlo

Publicarlo is the non-finite form of the Spanish verb publicar with a direct-object pronoun attached. Specifically, it combines the infinitive publicar (“to publish”) with the masculine singular pronoun lo (“it”). The resulting form, publicarlo, means “to publish it,” and its gender and number can change with different pronouns (publicarla, publicarlas, publicarlos, etc.). This construction is common when the action of publishing is linked to a previously mentioned or understood object.

Usage and distribution

Publicarlo is used after conjugated auxiliary verbs or periphrastic structures, where the action of publishing is described in relation to another clause. Examples include: quiero publicarlo (I want to publish it), voy a publicarlo (I am going to publish it), tengo que publicarlo (I have to publish it). The pronoun can also appear before the conjugated verb in other contexts, as in lo voy a publicar. In phrases with prepositions, the form can occur as después de publicarlo (after publishing it). The infinitive form with attached pronoun can function as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence, depending on the construction.

Pronoun forms and rules

The pronoun attached to the infinitive agrees with the object it replaces: lo (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), los (masculine plural), las (feminine plural). When both a direct and indirect object pronoun are present, Spanish often changes le/les to se, as in dárselo or dármelo. Placement rules vary with tense and emphasis, but attachment to the infinitive is common in non-finite clauses.

Etymology

Publicarlo derives from publicar, from Latin publicare, meaning to make something public or known. The attached pronoun is a clitic that marks the object of the action.