Gilo Grammar 3

Word Order

3 Word Order

3.1 Subject-Verb-Direct Object-Preposition-Indirect Object

There are many different ways in which sentences can be ordered which still give the same meaning. Only two ways should normally be used, the remainder, although grammatically possible, should only be used for 'poetic' reasons or reasons of emphasis. (See 21 Alternative Word Orders for further examples).

3.2 Normal word order, Subject-Verb-Object, 'Active' Subject:

The old woman	quickly gave	a big fish	to	her two little cats
peel ajoma	ogoz spidoma	piskis ema	u	du filis eta ovel
S	Va	D-O	P	I-O
Subject	Verb/active	Direct Object	Preposition	Indirect Object

3.3 Alternative word order, 'Passive' Subject.

Modify verb with 'ad' prefix :

a big fish	was slowly given by	the old woman	to	her two little cats
piskis ema	adogoz spidota	peel ajoma	u	du filis eta ovel
S	Vp	D-O	P	I-O

3.4 Adjectives & Adverbs

Adjectives (using an 'a' suffix) always follow nouns.

Adverbs (using an 'a' suffix) always follow verbs.

3.5 Prepositions & Conjunctions

A preposition or conjunction is always required before an Indirect Object or before a subject which is both non-active & non-passive, to avoid misunderstanding. Examples below :

3.5.1 In English although it is possible to say 'Ann gave him the ball', the sentence is illogical because Ann did not give 'him', she gave 'the ball'.

In Gilo the normal word order is 'Ann gave the ball to him'. The formula being:

· Who/what is the Subject of the sentence?	Ann	An
· Did the subject do something (active) or have something done to it (passive)?	Active
· What did Subject do?	gave - 'gave' is therefore the verb	ogoz
· If the Subject did nothing (i.e. is neither active nor passive) then a preposition is required (see 2.3.3).
· Does verb require Object	yes
· What was acted upon by the verb? I.e. the direct object?	the ball was given, not 'him'.	bøl
· Is there an Indirect Object	Yes (preposition required)
· What preposition goes with verb 'gave'?	to	u
· Who/what is Indirect Object	him	il
·	Ann gave the ball to him	An ogoz bøl u il

3.5.2 We can make 'the ball' the Subject of the sentence e.g.:

The ball was given by Ann to him

· Who/what is the Subject of the sentence?	the ball	bøl
· Is Subject active, passive or neither?	Passive, therefore use 'ad' before verb
· What is the verb	was given	adogoz
· What is the Direct Object?	Ann	An
· Is there an Indirect Object	yes (preposition required)
· What preposition goes with verb	to	u
· Who/what is Indirect Object	him	il
· The ball was given by Ann to him	bøl adogoz An u il	bøl adogoz An u il

3.5.3 This formula will work with all sentences e.g.:

He was given the ball by Ann

· Who/what is the Subject of the sentence?		He/Him	il
· What did Subject do?		Nothing! Ann 'gave' & the ball 'was given'
· Is Subject active, passive or neither? If neither then it requires a preposition.		neither
· Preposition required for Subject		to	u
· What is the verb		given	ogoz
· Does verb require Object		yes
· What is the Direct Object?		the ball	bøl
· Is there an Indirect Object		yes, preposition is therefore required
· If the Indirect Object did the action of the verb then the preposition is 'ad' (by)		by	ad
· Who/what is Indirect Object		Ann	An
· He was given the ball by Ann	To him was given the ball by Ann		u il ogoz bøl ad An

Note: This form is 'grammatically correct' but its use is not recommended

The above examples may appear rather complicated but all that has been done is to simply follow a logical set of rules, which is the same process done instinctively every time you speak or write a sentence in your native language. For further word order examples see 21 Alternative Word Orders.

3.6 Other Word Order Examples

· There were many dogs in the park

(Many dogs were in the park)

kanisom boz e pãk

· There will be more men than women there

(More men than women will be there)

mu peil kom peel buz de

(peilmu kom peel buz de)

· It is true that you are early.

(You are early, it is true)

yu bez ezetea, fi bez trua

· The husband I don't know but I often see his wife.

(I don't know the husband but I often see his wife)

me neakwez nupil, opre me siz emfea nupel ovil

3.7 Sentence Structure

A sentence (statement/utterance) may consist of

A single noun (e.g. an exclamation)	Car! Mary!	kãr! Meri!
A single adjective (e.g. a comment)	Beautiful! Old	bela, ajoma
A single verb (e.g. imperative/order)	Sit!	sitez!
A single adverb (e.g. answer to question)	Fast	spidoma
A single preposition/conjunction	Over	bov
Any combination of one or more of the above e.g.
Noun and verb	Mary arrived	Meri finjoz
Noun and adjective	Beautiful Mary	Meri bela
Verb and adverb	Run fast	rãnez spidoma

Combinations of words should follow the standard Subject Verb Object layout

Top	Last revised: 14 October 2006

Gilo - International Auxiliary Language

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