Basic word order (S, V, O)

Basic transitive word order[1] refers to the order in which S (the subject), V (the verb) and O (the object) appear in a sentence. This order can be determined by examining an independent[2] declarative sentence that includes a transitive verb and meets the following criteria:

  1. V expresses a conscious, willful action (as opposed to passive experiencing, sensing, being, or states) that requires two arguments to form a grammatical clause: an agent and a patient.
  2. S is the agent of the action described by V.
  3. O is the patient of the action described by V.
  4. Both S and O are complete nouns, rather than pronouns or verbal affixes.
  5. The sentence is simple (not compound, not subordinate).
  6. The sentence does not contain any auxiliary verbs.
  7. S is the topic of the sentence, whereas V and O are comments.
  8. S and O are indefinite, not topicalized, and otherwise grammatically unmarked.

Types:

NoBWO: There is no basic word order.[3]

SV~O: In the basic word order, S always precedes V, but the position of O may vary relative to these two items.[4]

VS~O: In the basic word order, V always precedes S, but the position of O may vary relative to these two items.

SO~V: In the basic word order, S always precedes O, but the position of V may vary relative to these two items.

OS~V: In the basic word order, O always precedes S, but the position of V may vary relative to these two items.

VO~S: In the basic word order, V always precedes O, but the position of S may vary relative to these two items.

OV~S: In the basic word order, O always precedes V, but the position of S may vary relative to these two items.

VSO: The basic word order is VSO.

SVO: The basic word order is SVO.

SOV: The basic word order is SOV.

VOS: The basic word order is VOS.

OVS: The basic word order is OVS.

OSV: The basic word order is OSV.

 

[1] Basic word order is not the same as (statistically) dominant word order. See the parameter Dominant transitive word order.

[2] The sentence must be complete and cannot be a subordinate clause.

[3]This value also applies to languages in which S and O can only be determined by contextual cues, such as Boumaa Fijian.

[4] If O is restricted from appearing in one of the three possible positions (before, between, or after S and V), this should be included in the commentary. This applies to all other values in which the position of one item (not necessarily O) varies, while the other two are fixed.