Veythar syntax

Sentence typological profile

• Main clauses show a clear second-verb tendency in the standard.
• Subordinate clauses usually push the finite form to the right end of the sentence.
• Adpositions play a larger role than in Veyrathi.
• Non-verbal predicates usually need a copula.

Main clause

Basic pattern

• Scheme without auxiliary: Feld 1 + finites Verb + Rest
• If the subject is in field 1, the sentence appears superficially SVO:
• Nai veir. = I speak.
• Sae seir ae thal. = The person sees the advice.

Flexible initial field

• Time, object or contrast topic can be drawn in front of the finite form:
• Senae veir nai velan. = Today I speak clearly.
• Ae peth nav nai ta nel. = I give the food to Enel.
• Darun ne soveir sae. = The person doesn't hear the argument.

Verbal bracket with auxiliaries

• Auxiliaries occupy the finite second position.
• Infinitives and participles are at the end of the sentence:
• Mora sha nai ke verun vuren. = Tomorrow I will travel to the port.
• Nai lai ae wereth liren. = I am reading the text.
• Nai hei ae wereth weror. = I wrote the document.
• Nai kai ta sae veiren. = I would speak to the person.

Noun phrase

Structure

• Pattern: (Artikel) + Adjektiv + Nomen + (na-Phrase) + (Relativsatz)
• ae draes nor
• en zei kevar
• ae drun na naim

Adpositions

Examples:

• Nai nav ae peth ta nel. = I give food to Enel.
• Sae tur ke talen. = The person is standing in the city.
• Nor tal va saer. = The Enor goes with them.

Non-verbal predication

• Unlike in Veyrathi, the copula in the standard sentence is regular:
• Ae nor is draes. = The Enor is strong.
• Ae thal is zei. = The advice is new.
• Ae tor ne is torim. = The door is not open.

Negation

• ne is directly in front of the finite form:
• Nai ne veir.
• Mora ne sha nai talen.
• Ae kevar ne is zorin.

Interrogative sentences

Polar question

• Question particle ha in the left field, then finite verb:
• Ha seir sae ae thal?
• Ha is ae tor torim?

Content question

• Interrogative in the first field, finite form in second place:

• Sher veir? = Who is speaking?
• Shel ker nai? = What do I take?
• Shem is ae nor? = Where is the Enor?
• Shemi peth ker nai? = How much food do I eat?

Coordination

• Nai veir va sae soveir. = I speak and the person hears.
• Nai veir dar sae ne soveir. = I speak but the person doesn't hear.

Subordinate clause system

Basic rule

• Connector on the left edge, finite form mostly on the right edge.
• Non-finite elements appear directly in front of the finite form or on the right edge block.

Examples

• Nai meir, dhei sae ae thal seir. = I know the person sees the advice.
• Ven sae ne veir, nai sha sherren. = If the person doesn't speak, I will ask.
• Nai veir, vash sae ne soveir. = I speak because the person is not listening.
• Nai veir parae sae meir. = I speak so that the person knows.
• Tor sae ne soveir, nai veir. = Although the person does not hear, I speak.

Relative clauses

• Relative clauses follow the referent noun.
• The relative marker yae is on the left, the finite form on the right:
• ae nor yae saen thal zei is
• ae kevar yae nai gester wered

Examples:

• Ae nor yae saen thal zei is talt. = The Enor, whose council is new, left.
• Ae kevar yae nai gester wered is zorin. = The contract I wrote yesterday is valid/correct.