Language/Catalan/Grammar/Introduction-to-pronouns

Catalan → Grammar → Introduction to pronouns

As a Catalan language teacher with 20 years of experience, I believe that knowing how to use pronouns is key to communicating effectively in this beautiful language. In this lesson, we will cover everything you need to know about subject, direct object, indirect object, and possessive pronouns.

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used to talk about the person or thing that is performing the action in the sentence. In Catalan, subject pronouns have different forms depending on the number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine).

Here is a table with the different subject pronouns in Catalan:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
jo	/ʒu/	I
tu	/tu/	you (singular)
ell	/ɛl/	he
ella	/ɛʎa/	she
nosaltres	/nusˈaɫ.tɾəs/	we (masculine, feminine or mixed group)
vosaltres	/busˈaɫ.tɾəs/	you (plural)
ells	/ɛʎs/	they (masculine or mixed group)
elles	/ˈɛʎ.ɛs/	they (feminine)

Here are some examples of how to use subject pronouns in Catalan sentences:

• Jo sóc català. (I am Catalan.)
• Tu ets anglès? (Are you English?)
• Ell és alt. (He is tall.)
• Ella és baixa. (She is short.)
• Nosaltres som amics. (We are friends.)
• Vosaltres sou estudiants. (You are students.)
• Els gats són animals. (Cats are animals.)
• Elles són germanes. (They are sisters.)

Direct Object Pronouns

Direct object pronouns are used to replace the noun that is receiving the action in a sentence. In Catalan, direct object pronouns have different forms depending on the number and gender of the noun being replaced.

Here is a table with the different direct object pronouns in Catalan:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
em	/ɛm/	me
et	/ɛt/	you (singular, informal)
el	/ɛɫ/	him
la	/ɫa/	her
ens	/ɛns/	us (masculine, feminine or mixed group)
us	/us/	you (plural)
els	/ɛɫs/	them (masculine or mixed group)
les	/ɫɛs/	them (feminine)

Here are some examples of how to use direct object pronouns in Catalan sentences:

• Necessito una gerra de vi. La necessito ara. (I need a glass of wine. I need it now.)
• Li vaig enviar una carta. Li vaig enviar ahir. (I sent him a letter. I sent it yesterday.)
• La va sentir plorar. La va sentir durant la nit. (He heard her cry. He heard her during the night.)
• Ens vaig comprar un llibre. En vaig comprar dos. (I bought a book for us. I bought two of them.)

Indirect Object Pronouns

Indirect object pronouns are used to replace the noun that is the recipient of the action in a sentence. In Catalan, indirect object pronouns have different forms depending on the number and gender of the noun being replaced.

Here is a table with the different indirect object pronouns in Catalan:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
em	/ɛm/	me
et	/ɛt/	you (singular, informal)
li	/li/	him/her/you (formal)
ens	/ɛns/	us (masculine, feminine or mixed group)
us	/us/	you (plural)
els	/ɛɫs/	them (masculine or mixed group)
les	/ɫɛs/	them (feminine)

Here are some examples of how to use indirect object pronouns in Catalan sentences:

• El teu pare et va donar un regal. Va donar-te un rellotge.

(Your father gave you a gift. He gave you a watch.)

• Li donaré la meva adreça. Li donaré la setmana que ve.

(I will give him/her my address. I will give it to him/her next week.)

• Ensenya-li els àpats. Ensenya-li-los. (Show him/her the dishes. Show them to him/her.)

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession of something in a sentence. In Catalan, possessive pronouns have different forms depending on the number and gender of the possessor and the thing being possessed.

Here is a table with the different possessive pronouns in Catalan:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
el meu / la meva	/ɛɫ mu/ /la ˈmɛvə/	my
el teu / la teva	/ɛɫ ˈtɛw/ /la ˈtɛvə/	your (singular, informal)
el seu / la seva	/ɛɫ ˈsɛw/ /la ˈsɛvə/	his/hers/its/your (singular, formal)
el nostre / la nostra	/ɛɫ nusˈtɾɛ/ /la ˈnɔstɾə/	our
el vostre / la vostra	/ɛɫ bosˈtɾə/ / la ˈbɔstɾə/	your (plural)
el seu / la seva	/ɛɫ ˈsɛw/ /la ˈsɛvə/	their

Here are some examples of how to use possessive pronouns in Catalan sentences:

• Aquest cotxe és el meu. Aquest cotxe és meu. (This car is mine.)
• La casa vostra és molt gran. La vostra casa és molt gran. (Your house is very big.)
• El seu gos és molt bonic. El gos seu és molt bonic. (His/her/its/your dog is very pretty.)
• Aquesta casa és la nostra. Aquesta casa és nostra. (This house is ours.)

In conclusion, understanding how to use these different types of pronouns is essential for improving your Catalan language skills. Practice using them in sentences as much as you can, and soon enough you'll be able to express yourself effectively in this beautiful language.

Related Lessons

• How to use the Modal Verb Must in Catalan
• Inclusive Case in Catalan
• Negation
• 0 to A1 Course
• Conditional and future tenses
• Plural
• Gender
• Locative Case in Catalan
• Future Tense
• Verb to be with names and places

Sources

• Catalan grammar - Wikipedia
• Catalan Tutorial: Basic Catalan Phrases, Vocabulary, and Grammar
• Catalan Grammar TOC

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