The Position of Unstressed Words

Level 5

Clitics normally cluster near the beginning of a clause after its first constituent.

How It Works

Clitics normally cluster near the beginning of a clause after its first constituent. The first constituent can contain several words; do not mechanically place a clitic after the first written word.

An opening noun phrase can span several words: moja dobra prijateljica is one unit before je. An opening adverb such as včeraj is also a unit before sem. Counting spaces is therefore the wrong way to place clitics.

Examples (3)

  1. Moja dobra prijateljica je prišla.

    My good friend arrived.

  2. Včeraj sem ga videl.

    I saw him yesterday.

  3. To knjigo sem že prebral.

    I have already read this book.

How It Connects

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The Position of Unstressed WordsLevel 5

Learn This First

Recognize auxiliary and object clitics before learning their clause position.

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Patterns that build on this one.