Normal Word Order |
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The normal order of words varies from one language to the next. In English, the subject precedes the verb and the direct object (if any) follows it. | |||||
| SUBJECT | VERB | OBJECT | ||||
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ENGLISH
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María | saw |
Juan.
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| In the Mixtec languages, which are spoken mostly in the state of Oaxaca, the subject follows the verb, and the object is last. | ||||||
| VERB | SUBJECT | OBJECT | ||||
| MIXTEC | Ndehe | ra | chihiña. | = Jamiltepec mixtec | ||
| saw | man | woman |
= ‘The man saw the woman.’
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| In Huichol, of Nayarit and Jalisco, the verb is last, preceded by the subject and object. | ||||||
| SUBJECT | OBJECT | VERB | ||||
| HUICHOL | 'Uki | 'uka | puxei. | = Huichol | ||
| man | woman | saw |
= ‘The man saw the woman.’
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© 2005 Instituto
Lingüístico de Verano, A.C. |
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