reconocerlos

Reconocerlos is the infinitive form of the Spanish verb reconocer with the direct object pronoun los attached, giving the literal meaning “to recognize them.” This construction is common in Spanish and appears in everyday speech as well as in writing.

In Spanish, clitic pronouns such as los can attach to nonfinite verb forms, including the infinitive. Therefore, reconocerlos expresses the basic idea of recognizing them. When a sentence uses a conjugated verb, the pronoun can appear after the conjugated verb and before the infinitive (Voy a reconocerlos) or remain attached to the infinitive (Quiero reconocerlos). The form los corresponds to masculine plural referents; feminine plural would be las, as in reconocerlas.

Usage notes: as a bare infinitive, reconocerlos can function as a noun phrase when the verb is nominalized, for example in phrases like Reconocerlos fue importante. More commonly, however, it occurs within clauses containing another verb, with the pronoun either attached to the infinitive or placed before the conjugated verb.

Examples:

- Quiero reconocerlos. (I want to recognize them.)

- Vamos a reconocerlos mañana. (We’re going to recognize them tomorrow.)

- Reconocerlos fue un paso importante para la investigación. (Recognizing them was an important step for the research.)

See also: reconocer, pronombres de objeto directo, infinitivo con pronombres.