Pı̀ syntax

Main article: Pı̀

This page gives an extensive description of Pı̀ syntactical features.

Main clause and word order

Pı̀ is an almost strictly SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) language.

ɔ̄̀nhɛ̱ sū̀ ña̱ hó 
the man sees the dog

The total lack of any case system, and of any distinction between the subject and the direct object, makes the word order firmly fixed.

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. The indirect object tends to be placed before the direct object of the sentence.

Any of the elements can be emphasized by placing it at the beginning or in the end of the sentence. This can be done through the evidential particle ɛ̀, which is to be placed after the emphasized element.

a̱ hó ɛ̀ ɔ̄̀nhɛ̱ sū̀ ña̱ 
it's the dog the man sees

By using the evidential particle, every preposition of any kind must be clearly expressed.