transportarlo

Transportarlo is a Spanish verbal phrase formed by the infinitive transportar together with the masculine direct object pronoun lo. It literally means “to transport him/it” and is used when the object is masculine singular and identifiable in the discourse. The pronoun is a clitic, which in Spanish typically attaches to nonfinite forms (infinitives, gerunds, participles) or appears before the conjugated verb in simpler constructions.

Usage examples illustrate its versatility. With a finite verb, you can place the pronoun before the conjugated verb (lo transporto) or attach it to an infinitive form (voy a transportarlo). For instance: “Voy a transportarlo mañana” and “Necesito transportarlo a otro lugar.” In nonfinite forms, the pronoun remains attached: “Transportarlo a otra ciudad fue la decisión.” In gerund form, you get transportándolo, as in “Estoy transportándolo.” The past participle form is transportado, used in compound tenses (lo hemos transportado).

The pronoun lo refers to a masculine singular noun; if the object were feminine, the form would be la, and for multiple objects, los or las would be used accordingly (e.g., transportarlos, transportarlas). The word is a standard example of clitic attachment in Spanish grammar and does not constitute a separate lexical item beyond the verb transportar and the pronoun lo.

Etymology traces to the verb transportar plus the direct object pronoun lo. See also: clitic pronouns in Spanish, infinitives with clitics, gerund and participle forms.