Syntax

Syntax in Gcè Dlaryv is rather complicated, and depends on a number of circumstances.

Proto-Ennarian had a word order of subject-object-verb. However, when the subject was a pronoun, vague, or simply less important than the verb, the word order shifted to verb-subject-object. This process is preserved in a number of ways.

The word order is verb-subject-object under the following conditions:

• The subject is a pronoun

• The verb is an auxiliary construction

• The verb is the focus of the statement (used especially in questions and answers)

The old pronoun *takʲu, 'his/her/itself' when used as a reflexive particle was fronted before the verb, even if the verb preceded the subject. This is a result of the extra focus that was placed on the word. This process is preserved in the mediopassive prefix da-.

Gcè Dlaryv is strongly head initial. Adjectives, demonstratives, and relative clauses follow the nouns they modify, whereas auxiliaries and prepositions precede them. The only exception to this rule is articles, which precede their nouns. Adverbs tend to likewise follow the head verb, although in practice they are often free floating depending on the speakers preference.

Gcè Dlaryv is also strongly V2, meaning that only one clause tends to precede the verb (assuming any clause precedes the verb). Therefore, if a prepositional or adverbial phrase is placed ahead of the verb, the noun is debased and will follow immediately after the verb.

Under any other circumstances, the subject would precede the verb and the direct object follow immediately after.