Word Order

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Major Sentences

Examining major sentences (which do not include inverted sentences, minor sentences, or fragments) reveals to following facts about word order in Japanese:

Sentences end in a predicate that may or may not be followed by a sentence particle

Predicate = a verbal expression, an adjectival expression, or a nominal + desu expression

A modifier of a nominal always precedes the nominal

Phrases ending in wa usually occur at the beginning of the sentence

There is a relatively free order for nominal phrases

Both of the following phrases refer to the same occurrence, many books were bought

Hon o takusan kaimasita

Takusan, hon o kaimasita

Both of the following phrases refer to the same activity, a friend bought a newspaper

Tomodati ga sinbun o kaimasita

Sinbun o tomodati ga kaimasita

Unmarked sequencing differs in emphasis and focus (described on the next note)

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Unmarked Sequencing

For a given combination, there is a normal, common, unmarked order which differs only in emphasis and focus from the same items sequenced differently. In unmarked sequencing, the sequencing rules are:

a ga phrase precedes an o phrase, both occurring close to the predicate

the wa phrases occur initially

time-related phrases occur before place-related phrases

extent expressions follow the measured nominal

Focus is indicated by accent patterns and/or particles. The focus in the following examples is underlined:

Tomodati ga kinoo ikimasita

Takusan zassi o kaimasita

Sore o kinoo kaimasita

The following location patterns show a contrast in particles as well as a contrast in order and phrases:

Eki wa motto saki ni arimasu The station is further ahead

Eki ga motto saki ni arimasu The station is further ahead

Motto saki ni eki ga arimasu Further ahead there's a station

Motto saki ni eki wa arimasu ga... Farther ahead there is a station (at least), but... (I'm not commenting on other things)

Motto saki ni wa eki wa arimasu ga... Further ahead (at least) there is a station (at least), but... (I'm not commenting on what things are in other places)

Motto saki ni eki wa arimasen ka Is(n't) there a station (at least) further ahead? --> Asking directions: the speaker hopes there is a station but [politely] implies the possibility of a negative