Word Order Is Flexible

Foundations

The order of the words can change the emphasis, and the meaning stays the same.

How It Works

Esperanto does not need a fixed word order to show who does what, because -n marks the object.

SentenceMeaningWhat it emphasizes
Ana amas Kenjin.Ana loves Kenji.the usual order
Kenjin Ana amas.Ana loves Kenji.Kenji comes first, for emphasis
La hundo ĉasas katon.The dog chases a cat.the usual order
Ĉasas katon la hundo.The dog chases a cat.the dog, and not someone else

The usual order is subject, then verb, then object. The words can move, but little words keep their place: la stands before its noun, and ĉu stands at the start of its question. After estas no -n shows who is who, so the order matters: Leono estas besto (A lion is an animal) is true, but Besto estas leono (An animal is a lion) is not.

The main rule for word order is to be clear, so choose the order that your listener can follow.

Examples (4)

  1. Wei vidas Olgan.

    Wei sees Olga.

    The usual order: subject, verb, object.

  2. Olgan vidas Wei.

    Wei sees Olga.

    Olga comes first and has -n, so Wei is still the one who sees.

  3. Ĉasas katon la hundo.

    The dog chases a cat.

    The subject comes last, and it puts the emphasis on the dog.

  4. Ĉu Kofi vidas Fatiman?

    Does Kofi see Fatima?

    Ĉu stays at the start of the question.

How It Connects

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Word Order Is FlexibleFoundations

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Words can move only because the -n ending already shows which one is the object.

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Patterns that build on this one.