Portuguese Phrase
Põe‑os na prateleira.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct command telling someone to place ‘them’ (usually objects that have already been mentioned) onto a shelf. The clitic ‘‑os’ makes the object pronoun part of the verb, which is typical for affirmative imperatives in European Portuguese.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving a clear, short instruction to put a group of items—books, dishes, toys, etc.—onto a shelf. It is informal but polite, suitable for family members, colleagues, or friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Põe-osnaprateleira
Imperative of pôr
‘Põe’ is the affirmative imperative (tu form) of the verb ‘pôr’, meaning ‘to put’.
Clitic pronoun –os
‘-os’ is a masculine plural direct‑object clitic attached to the verb in the affirmative imperative, meaning ‘them’.
Contraction na
‘na’ = ‘em’ + ‘a’, the preposition ‘in/on’ + the feminine article ‘a’, used before the feminine noun ‘prateleira’.
Noun prateleira
‘prateleira’ means ‘shelf’; it is a feminine singular noun.
🗨In Conversation
Põe‑os na prateleira.
Put them on the shelf.
Já fiz, está tudo organizado.
I already did, everything is organized.
✕Common Mistakes
Põe eles na prateleira.
In European Portuguese the clitic must be attached to the verb; ‘eles’ after the verb is a Brazilian colloquialism and sounds ungrammatical in Portugal.
Ponha‑os na prateleira.
‘Ponha‑os’ is the polite ‘você’ form; using it with ‘tu’ creates a mismatch in register.
Põe‑os na prateleira‑s.
The noun ‘prateleira’ is singular; adding an unnecessary plural suffix makes the sentence incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Coloque‑os na prateleira.
Place them on the shelf.
Deixa‑os na prateleira.
Leave them on the shelf.
Arrume‑os na prateleira.
Arrange them on the shelf.
Cultural Tip
In European Portuguese, clitic pronouns are attached to the verb in affirmative imperatives (e.g., ‘põe‑os’). In Brazilian Portuguese the same idea is often expressed with a separate pronoun after the verb: ‘Põe eles na prateleira.’ However, the clitic form is still correct and sounds more natural in Portugal. Also, the imperative ‘põe’ is used with ‘tu’; if you are speaking to someone you address with ‘você’, you would say ‘ponha‑os’ (subjunctive form used as a polite command).