Word Order Is Free

Foundations

A change of order changes the emphasis and leaves who does what the same.

How It Works

In English, word order shows who does what: Marcus sees the girl is not The girl sees Marcus. In Latin the endings do that job.

Latin	English
Marcus puellam videt.	Marcus sees the girl.
Puellam Marcus videt.	Marcus sees the girl (the girl is the focus).
Videt Marcus puellam.	Marcus sees the girl (seeing is the focus).
Marcum puella videt.	The girl sees Marcus.

The first word is often the one the writer wants you to notice. In Gratias tibi ago, the thanks come first.

In a plain sentence the verb comes last, but a writer can put it first for effect.

Marcus puellam videt.
Marcus sees the girl.
The plain order: subject, object, verb.
Puellam Marcus videt.
Marcus sees the girl.
Puellam is still the object, even in first place.
Marcum puella videt.
The girl sees Marcus.
Now Marcum is the object and puella is the subject.
Gratias tibi ago.
I thank you.
The thanks come first because they matter most. Ago stands last.

Reading the first noun as the subject because English does.
Marcum puella videt.
Marcus puellam videt.
Intended meaning: Marcus sees the girl. In Marcum puella videt, the endings make Marcum the object and puella the subject, so it means The girl sees Marcus.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Word Order Is FreeFoundations

Word order is free because endings carry the meaning, so the case system comes first.

Patterns that build on this one.

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