Hoð‘i syntax

Main article: Hoð‘i

This page gives an extensive description of Hoð‘i syntactical features.

Main clause and word order

Hoð‘i is an almost strictly SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) language.

ek‘ ðiɣ imo mɛð‘i ek‘ laž 
the man sees the dog

Despite the limited case system, the word order is essentially fixed because of the lacking distinction between the subject and the direct object.

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. However, if both direct and indirect objects are used in pronominal form, they are placed right before the conjugated verbal form in reverse order.

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 introduces the noun cluster, being followed by every other specifying form. Thus, other elements conveying possession and belonging are always placed after the noun, as well as every attributive adjective.

ek‘ towm evo ðiɣevo
the man’s house

ek‘ g’e am‘
my hand

ek‘ s‘æ s‘em‘
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.

ek‘ żen s‘em‘ imo patoð‘i ha towm
the young man is going home

ek‘ żen s‘em‘ ňero ek‘ suɣ 
the young man brings the bread

evo towmevo am‘yvo
of our house

ha ek‘ towm evo ðiɣevo
to the man's house

ek‘i s‘e s‘em‘i 
the young women

ek‘i s’e imuv‘i s‘em‘i
the women are young

The grammar role of noun clusters can be further specified by prepositions, which are placed before the cluster. Thus, it can be stated that the noun cluster can be introduced by a preposition.

imun patoð‘i æðava ek‘ towm 
I am going inside the house