Hmong (L1): Word Order

Word Order

 

The word order in Hmong is Subject—Verb—Object.

 

         Nws txiav ib daim ntawv.

He/she cut one (CLASSIFER) paper. 

He/she cut a piece of paper. 

 

However,  the word order changes for emphasizing certain part of an utterances. The changes do not involve the use of case markers.

 

         Daim ntawv ko yog kuv txiav hov. 

(CLASSIFER)  paper there is I cut, really. 

I cut that piece of paper.

 

The subject can be omitted in an utterance:

         Mus tom niam tais tsev thiaj li lom zem hov. 

Go to grandma (maternal) consequently enjoyable really.

When you go to Grandma’s house, you will have the most fun.

 

 

Word Order of “Time” in an Utterance

 

The adverb (time), in general, is placed at the beginning of an utterance.

         Kuaj moos tsaus ntuj lawv mam sawv kev.

             Nine o’clock evening they will leave.

They will leave at 9 o’clock.

 

         Thaum kuaj moos nws mam mus kawm ntawv. 

When 9 o’clock he will go learn paper.

He will go to school at 9 o’clock.

 

When emphasizing the action, the time adverb goes after the verb.

         Lawv mus nag hmo lawm hov. 

They go yesterday already really.

They already left yesterday.

 

Word Order of “Place” in an Utterance

 

The place is placed at the end of an utterance.

 

         Lawv mus ua si tom niam tais tsev. 

They go play at grandmother (maternal) house. 

They went to visit at grandma’s house. 

 

 

Word Order of an attribute in an Utterance

 

The attribute in an utterance is at the end of an utterance:

 

         Nws zoo zoo nkauj. 

She/he beautiful beautiful. 

She/he is beautiful. 

 

Or after the noun

 

         Tus txiv neej zoo nraug tuaj lawm. 

The father man handsome come already. 

The handsome man is coming.