Language/Lithuanian/Grammar/Word-Order
As a Lithuanian language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I would like to welcome you to the "Complete 0 to A1 Lithuanian Course". In this lesson, we will learn about the basic rules for word order in Lithuanian and how to form simple sentences.
In Lithuanian, the usual word order is subject-verb-object, just like in English. However, Lithuanian has more flexibility in word order, which allows speakers to emphasize certain parts of the sentence or bring something to the forefront of the conversation.
Let's take a closer look at the rules for word order in Lithuanian:
Basic Word Order
The basic Lithuanian word order is Subject-Verb-Object, which means that the subject usually comes first, followed by the verb and then the object. For example:
- Aš (subject) valgau (verb) obuolį (object). (I eat an apple.)
However, in Lithuanian, the verb can also come first, especially in questions or when the speaker wants to emphasize the action. For example:
- Ar (verb) tu (subject) valgai (verb) obuolį (object)? (Do you eat an apple?)
In some cases, the object can also come first, which can suggest that the speaker wants to focus on it. For example:
- Obuolį (object) aš (subject) valgau (verb). (An apple, I eat.)
Word Order with Adjectives
In Lithuanian, adjectives usually come before the noun they describe, just like in English. For example:
- Graži (adjective) mergina (noun). (Beautiful girl.)
However, the adjective can also come after the noun, especially when the speaker wants to emphasize it. For example:
- Mergina (noun) graži (adjective). (The girl is beautiful.)
Word Order with Time Expressions
In Lithuanian, time expressions usually come at the beginning or end of a sentence. For example:
- Rytoj (time expression) aš (subject) einu (verb) į mokyklą (object). (Tomorrow, I go to school.)
or
- Aš (subject) einu (verb) į mokyklą (object) rytoj (time expression). (I go to school tomorrow.)
Negative Sentences
In Lithuanian negative sentences, the word "ne" (not) usually comes before the verb, just like in English. For example:
- Aš (subject) neužtenka (verb) pinigų (object). (I don't have enough money.)
Interrogative Sentences
In Lithuanian, the word order is usually the same for both declarative and interrogative sentences. However, when asking a question, the intonation rises at the end of the sentence, and a question particle "ar" can be added to the beginning of the sentence. For example:
- Tu (subject) valgai (verb) obuolį (object). (You eat an apple.)
becomes
- Ar (question particle) tu (subject) valgai (verb) obuolį (object)? (Do you eat an apple?)
Examples
Here are some examples to illustrate the word order rules we discussed:
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Aš valgau obuolį. | ash val-gow o-bwo-lee | I eat an apple. |
| Obuolį aš valgau. | o-bwo-lee ash val-gow | As for the apple, I eat it. |
| Tu valgai obuolį? | too val-guy o-bwo-lee | Do you eat an apple? |
| Ar tu valgai obuolį? | ar too val-guy o-bwo-lee | Do you eat an apple? |
| Aš neužtenka pinigų. | ash ne-way-ten-ka pi-nee-goo | I don't have enough money. |
| Graži mergina. | gru-zhee mer-gi-na | Beautiful girl. |
In conclusion, understanding the basic rules for word order in Lithuanian is essential to forming simple sentences and communicating effectively. Remember, Lithuanian has more flexibility in word order compared to English, allowing you to emphasize certain parts of the sentence, although the usual order is Subject-Verb-Object. Keep practicing and soon you will be able to form more complex sentences.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson and found it helpful. Next, we will learn about Present Tense Verbs in Lithuanian.
Related Lessons
- Conditional Mood
- Gendered Nouns
- How to Use Have
- Give your Opinion
- Nominative and Accusative Cases
- Plural Forms of Nouns and Adjectives
- Multipurpose Words and Suffixes
- Plurals
- Negation