Word Order for Emphasis
The usual order is subject, verb, object; another order moves the emphasis.
How It Works
| Order | What it emphasizes |
|---|---|
| Kenji manĝas rizon. | the plain statement |
| Rizon Kenji manĝas. | it is rice that he eats, and not something else |
| Manĝas Kenji rizon. | he does eat rice, he does not just look at it |
| Manĝas rizon Kenji. | it is Kenji who eats rice, and not somebody else |
PMEG says that a different order keeps the basic meaning and creates a different emphasis. The ending -n shows the object wherever it stands, so Rizon Kenji manĝas is clear.
The meaning can change when there is no -n to help. After estas with a description, the order matters: Leono estas besto is true, but Besto estas leono is not.
Use this freedom for a reason. In a story or speech a moved word draws the listener's attention. Moving words around without a reason only makes a sentence harder to follow.
Examples (5)
- La libron mi ne legis, sed la filmon mi vidis.
The book I did not read, but the film I saw.
Both objects come first, and each -n keeps its role.
- Kantas ŝi bele.
She does sing beautifully.
The verb comes first, so the action itself gets the emphasis.
- Rizon Kenji manĝas, ne panon.
Rice Kenji eats, not bread.
The object comes first and stands against another choice.
- Manĝas rizon Kenji, kaj neniu alia.
It is Kenji who eats rice, and nobody else.
The subject comes last, so it carries the weight.
- Leono estas besto, sed besto ne estas leono.
A lion is an animal, but an animal is not a lion.
After estas, the order changes the meaning.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Word order for emphasis builds on free word order and the usual order.
Related Patterns
Practice Word Order for Emphasis in Bubblegum
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