Language/Central-khmer/Grammar/Basic-Word-Order

Central Khmer → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Sentence Structure → Basic Word Order

Central Khmer, also known as Khmer, is the official language of Cambodia, with over 16 million speakers worldwide. In this lesson, you will learn about the basic word order in Central Khmer sentences and how to form simple sentences. Understanding sentence structure is crucial to mastering any language, and this lesson will provide a strong foundation for your language learning journey.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Using Prepositions & Describing Actions and States.

Subject-Verb-Object Structure

Central Khmer follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence structure, which means that the subject comes first, followed by the verb and then the object. This structure is used in simple sentences, and it is essential to understand how it works to create grammatically correct sentences.

To illustrate the SVO structure, let's look at the example sentence, "I eat rice." In this sentence, "I" is the subject, "eat" is the verb, and "rice" is the object. The sentence order follows the SVO structure, with the subject (I) coming first, followed by the verb (eat) and then the object (rice).

Here is a table with more examples of sentences using the SVO structure:

Central Khmer	Pronunciation	English
ខ្ញុំបរិភោគស្ទើរ	knhom ba-ri-cho skor	I run.
បានខ្ញុំគិតពីវិញ	baan knhom ki pit vin	I saw it.
ខ្ញុំចូលហាង	knhom chol haeng	I entered the store.

As you can see, the subject always comes first, followed by the verb and then the object in each sentence. Practicing constructing simple sentences using this structure will help you quickly build your language skills.

Forming Simple Sentences

To form a simple sentence in Central Khmer, you need to include a subject, a verb, and an object. As previously mentioned, the sentence structure follows the SVO order. Let's take a look at each of these elements:

- The subject: The subject is typically a noun or a pronoun that performs the action in the sentence. Common subjects include people, animals, and things. Examples of subjects in Central Khmer include "ខ្ញុំ" (knhom) for "I," "បុរស" (bors) for "dog," and "អធិបតេយ្យ" (ot-ibateay) for "book." - The verb: The verb is a doing or being word that describes the action or state of the subject. Common verbs include "បរិល្បុប" (ba-ri-lboub) for "run," "មើល" (meul) for "see," and "ចូល" (chol) for "enter." - The object: The object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action in the sentence. Common objects include things, people, and animals. Examples of objects in Central Khmer include "ស្ទើរ" (skor) for "rice," "វិញ" (vin) for "it," and "ហាង" (haeng) for "store."

To form a simple sentence, simply place the subject first, then the verb, and then the object. For example, to say "I eat rice," say "ខ្ញុំ បរិភោគ ស្ទើរ" (knhom ba-ri-cho skor) in Central Khmer.

Here is a table with more examples of simple sentences in Central Khmer:

Central Khmer	Pronunciation	English
ខ្ញុំ អាចនៅនេះ	knhom aach na nheh	I can be here.
គាត់ ស្លាប់បាត់	gdat slab bat	He/She writes a letter.
ឃ្លានឈរបានដោយប្រើសិន	klaan chol baan doh bpruesin	The plane is flown regularly.

Inverted Word Order

In some instances, Central Khmer can use an inverted word order, changing the SVO structure to VSO. In this structure, the verb is placed before the subject. This structure is most commonly used when asking a question, using a conjunction, or when there is an emphasis on the verb.

Here is a table with examples of sentences using the VSO structure:

Central Khmer	Pronunciation	English
តើអ្នកមានឈ្មោះអត់?	tae naak mean chmuo aht?	Do you have a name?
យើងបានបរិល្បុបនៅលើផ្ទៃខាងស្តាំថ្ងៃនេះ	yaong baan ba-ri-lboub nheh loa ptay khangsdta teanay	We ran on the surface facing the sun today.

Inverted word order is an advanced concept in Central Khmer grammar and is not essential for beginners to understand. However, mastering this concept can help you acquire fluency in the language and better express ideas in more complex sentences.

Conclusion

Understanding basic sentence structure is a foundational aspect of language learning, and mastering the SVO structure in Central Khmer is essential for constructing simple, grammatically correct sentences. By learning how to place subjects, verbs, and objects in the correct order, you can quickly build your skills in the language and progress to more advanced concepts. Practicing constructing simple sentences will help you gain confidence and fluency in using the language. In future lessons, we will explore more advanced concepts in Central Khmer grammar and expand your knowledge of the language further.

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Describing People and Things & How to Use Be.

Table of Contents - Central Khmer Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Basic Greetings

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Sentence Structure

• Basic Word Order
• Yes/No Questions

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Numbers and Time

• Counting from 1 to 100
• Telling Time

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

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Central Khmer Customs and Traditions

• Greetings and Polite Behavior
• Festivals and Celebrations

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People and Things
• Describing Actions and States

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Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons and Months

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Central Khmer Literature and Arts

• Literature and Poetry
• Music and Dance

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Shopping and Money

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Money and Currency

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Using Prepositions
• Using Conjunctions

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

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Central Khmer History and Geography

• Historical Overview
• Geographical Features