Putting New Information Last

Level 4

Start with what the listener already knows, and end with the news: Mans brālis dzīvo Rīgā. (My brother lives in Riga.) Rīgā dzīvo mans brālis. (My brother lives in Riga.)

How It Works

1. Answer the question at the end. The same words answer different questions:

  • Kur dzīvo tavs brālis? (Where does your brother live?) → Mans brālis dzīvo Rīgā.
  • Kas dzīvo Rīgā? (Who lives in Riga?) → Rīgā dzīvo mans brālis.

2. A and the. A new thing tends to go at the end, and a known thing tends to go first (see ir as there is):

  • Dārzā ir kaķis. (There is a cat in the garden.)
  • Kaķis ir dārzā. (The cat is in the garden.)

3. Known objects can come first. When the object is the topic, it can start the sentence: Šo filmu es jau esmu redzējis. (I have already seen this film.) The object is still accusative, so nothing gets confused.

4. A tendency, not a law. The basic word order is still subject – verb – object, and in speech stress can mark new information anywhere. A new person can also start a sentence with kāds: Kāda meitene iznāca no istabas. (A girl came out of the room.)

Examples (6)

  1. Mans brālis dzīvo Rīgā.

    My brother lives in Riga.

    Word by Word: My brother lives in-Riga.

    An answer to Where does your brother live? The new part, Rīgā, comes last.

  2. Rīgā dzīvo mans brālis.

    It is my brother who lives in Riga.

    Word by Word: In-Riga lives my brother.

    An answer to Who lives in Riga? The new part, mans brālis, comes last.

  3. Uz galda ir grāmata.

    There is a book on the table.

    Word by Word: On table is book.

  4. Grāmata ir uz galda.

    The book is on the table.

    Word by Word: Book is on table.

  5. Istabā ienāca kāda sieviete.

    A woman came into the room.

    Word by Word: Into-room came some woman.

  6. Šo filmu es jau esmu redzējis.

    I have already seen this film.

    Word by Word: This film I already have seen.

    The film is already known, so it comes first. The news is that I have seen it.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a new thing first when you mean a or there is.

    Kaķis ir dārzā. (meaning there is a cat in the garden)
    Dārzā ir kaķis.

    Kaķis ir dārzā means the cat is in the garden, a cat we already know about. To introduce a cat, put it at the end.

  • Putting the news first when you tell someone about a letter.

    Vēstule tev atnāca. (meaning a letter came for you)
    Tev atnāca vēstule.

    With vēstule first, it sounds like a letter you were already expecting. For a new letter, put vēstule at the end.

How It Connects

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

Putting New Information LastLevel 4

Learn This First

New information usually goes last.