Modern Figo syntax
- Main article: Modern Figo
This page gives an extensive description of modern Figo syntactical features.
Main clause and word order
Modern Figo is an almost strictly SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) language.
řirur soba řirušjid wẽh the man sees the dog
The case system, which clearly distinguishes between the subject and the direct object, allows every other possible word order to some extent, but most of them prove to be very marked and infrequently used. However, the direct object can be emphasized by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.
soba řirur řirušjid wẽh it's the dog the man sees
The other elements in the sentence are usually placed in the order “time-cause-manner-place”, although they are basically freer than the main elements, as they are conveyed by the case system or by the prepositions. These elements can be emphasized by placing them at the beginning of the sentence. The indirect object tends to be placed after the direct object of the sentence.
Nouns
The noun cluster is formed by a noun, carrying the main meaning, and by other noun-type forms, namely adjectives, which specify this meaning or add other meanings to the main noun. Inside of a noun cluster, the noun can be replaced by a pronoun.
The noun usually closes the noun cluster, being preceded by every other specifying form. Thus, other elements conveying possession and belonging are always placed before the noun, as well as every attributive adjective.
řiruš řek swõnur the man’s house
ortušur rirar my hand
wobar wonar the young woman
The role of the noun cluster in the sentence and its number are marked by case and number endings. These endings mark also other adjectival elements inside the noun cluster, resulting this in the process called nominal agreement.
Both attributive and predicative adjectives agree in case and number with the noun they specify. Other elements, which convey possession or belonging do not agree with the main nominal form.
wobar řirur swoňe mješ the young man is going home
ortũšur swõnur our house
wobarĩ wonarĩ the young women
wonarĩ wobarĩ wẽžõ the women are young
The agreement among nouns and adjectives is not a universal phenomenon. Indefinite adjectives, indeed, usually do not agree with the nominal form, neither in case nor in number.
The grammar role of noun clusters can be further specified by postpositions, which are placed after the cluster. Thus, it can be stated that the noun cluster can be closed by a postposition.
swõnuš no čwiwňid wẽv I am going inside the house
