Basic Sentence Order
A plain sentence puts the subject first and the verb last.
How It Works
Maithili is a verb-last language. The pieces come in this order:
| Who | Time or place | What | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| हम | काल्हि | पटना | जाएब |
| नेहा | घर मे | चाह | पिबैत छथि |
The word for "to be" (छी, छथि, अछि) sits at the very end, after the main verb: हम चाह पिबै छी.
English says "I drink tea" with the verb in the middle. Maithili says "I tea drink". You can move a word to the front to stress it, but the verb stays last.
A question uses the same order as a statement. Your voice rises, and you can add की: अहाँ चाह पिबै छी की?
Maithili does not mark the subject with ने in the past. Say हम रोटी खएलहुँ with the subject as it is.
Examples (5)
- हम चाह पिबै छी।
I drink tea.
The verb पिबै छी comes last.
- नेहा गाम सँ आएल छथि।
Neha has come from the village.
गाम सँ comes before the verb.
- बउआ भात खाइत अछि।
The little boy eats rice.
Subject, object, then verb.
- अहाँ कतय रहैत छी?
Where do you live?
The question word sits right before the verb.
- काल्हि हम पटना जाएब।
Tomorrow I will go to Patna.
Time first, subject next, verb last.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Verb Endings Show Respect and Person
The verb at the end carries the respect ending.
Foundations - Postpositions After Nouns
Words such as मे and सँ sit after the noun, before the verb.
Foundations - छी / छथि / अछिBeing in the Present
The word for to be comes after the main verb.
Level 1 - Yes or No Questions
Questions keep the same order and use a rising voice.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Basic Sentence Order in Bubblegum
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