Word Order and Parts of Speech
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Discussion of word order and parts of speech.
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 13 Mar 2024, 22:07.
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Subject Object (Verb)
The below example is in S(V)O word order, which, while not mandatory, would be the most common form for a simple actor-acts-upon-acted sentence.
"Múx (qítaet) knígu."
The man (reads) the book.
Note that the words "the" or "a" will be marked as part of the associated noun in the English translations. This is because the pidgin does not have definite or indefinite articles, and a phrase like "the man" would be translated into a single word.
Adjectives
Adjectives always directly precede the noun.
"Vjeh múx (qítaet) rojha knígu."
The old man (reads) the red book.
Adverbs
Adverbs always directly precede the verb.
"Vjeh múx (rapíd qítaet) rojha knígu."
The old man (quickly reads) the red book.
Adpositions/[Prepositions]
Adpositions always precede the entire noun phrase.
"Vjeh múx (rapíd qítaet) rojha knígu [v grandeme ohfisíne]."
The old man (quickly reads) the red book [in the big office].
The above word order is not incorrect, however, the prepositional phrase is often the first phrase in a sentence.
"[V grandeme ohfisíne], vjeh múx (rapíd qítaet) rojha knígu."
Numerals
Numerals precede adjectives and nouns in the noun phrase.
"Vjeh múx (rapíd qítaet) dos rojhie knígí."
The old man (quickly reads) the two red books.
Determiners
Determiners are always the first word in the noun phrase.
"Vjeh múx (rapíd qítaet) etí dos rojhie knígí."
The old man (quickly reads) these two red books.
Word Order Preferences in Specific Instances
Sometimes sentences take the OSV or OVS word order to emphasize the object of the sentence.
"Ja sóbaka (kúsaled)!"
The dog (bit) me! (It was me that the dog bit!)
Sentences where the object is a pronoun often take the SOV word order, especially when the subject noun/pronoun is omitted.
"Jo ev (komene)." or "Ev (komene)."
I (will start) it. (No English equivalent)
Sentences using consecutive verbs almost always take the Subject-Verb-Object/Verb-Object form. When the object is a pronoun, it is often suffixed to the Verb-Object in its infinitive form, especially in conversation.
"Medik (hoqet) (napravic) níño."
The doctor (wants) (to heal) the child.
"Medik (hoqet) (napravicta)."
The doctor (wants) (to heal) you.
Prepositions often precede the rest of the sentence, especially in expressions denoting a specific time, which take precedence over phrases denoting location. However, prepositions of duration are almost always after the verb phrase.
"[V kalorem periodee], (kamu) [v parke]."
[In the summerhot season],
"[V tiix] (ésta) tasa."
The cup (is) [on the table].On the table, there is a cup.
"On (qítaled) knígu [duran ore]."
He (read) the book [for an hour].
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Adposition
Auxillary
Numeral
Determiner
Pronoun ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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