The typical phrase order in Globasa is Subject-Verb-Object.
| SVO Sentence Structure | ||
| Subject | Verb | Object |
|---|---|---|
| patre father |
mwa kiss |
matre mother |
| Patre mwa matre. The father kisses the mother. |
||
Other than S-V-O, Globasa allows two other options with the subject always preceding the verb: S-O-V and O-S-V. This flexible phrase order is made possible using the direct object marker el, which essentially functions as a preposition. As illustrated below, el is used with S-O-V and O-S-V, which are typically only used in poetry and song lyrics.
Etymology of el: Korean (을 “eul”)
Globasa uses the verb is (be), known as the copula, to link together noun phrases and/or infinitive verb phrases.
| Sentence Structure with is | ||
| Noun Phrase | Copula | Noun Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| nini kid (boy or girl) |
is is |
misu bete my child |
| Nini is misu bete. The kid is my child. |
||
| Noun Phrase | Copula | Infinitive Verb Phrase |
| cele goal |
is is |
na triunfa to win |
| Cele is na triunfa. The goal is to win. |
||
| Infinitive Verb Phrase | Copula | Noun Phrase |
| na sabarkal to be impatient |
is is |
problem problem |
| Na sabarkal is problem. To be impatient is a problem. |
||
| Infinitive Verb Phrase | Copula | Infinitive Verb Phrase |
| na lubi to love |
is is |
na jiwa to live |
| Na lubi is na jiwa. To love is to live. |
||
In Globasa, adjectives link to the subject without a copula. These predicative adjectives can be regarded as stative verbs, although technically they are adjectives, modified by -mo adverbs.
| Predicative Adjective Sentence Structure | ||
| Subject | Adj-Modifying Adverb | Predicative Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| uma horse |
perfetomo perfectly |
syahe black |
| Uma perfetomo syahe. The horse is perfectly black. |
||
Infinitive verb phrases are marked by the particle na followed by the verb. They are used in the following sentence structures.
The infinitive verb form must be used in noun and verb (transitive, intransitive or stative) complements.
Mi suki na lala.
I like to sing.
Mi musi na ergo.
I must work. or I have to work.
Mi no abil na danse.
I cannot dance.
Gitara asan na soti.
The guitar is easy to play.
Mi jumbi na idi.
I am ready to go.
misu xiwon na oko yu
my desire to see you
Verb phrases functioning in the place of noun phrases are known as nominal verb phrases and require the infinitive verb form.
In these sentences, the infinitive verb phrase may be moved to the end of the sentence if it is not already in that position.
Cele is na triunfa.
The goal is to win.
Na sabarkal is problem.
To be impatient is a problem.
or
Is problem na sabarkal.
It is a problem to be impatient.
In these sentences, the infinitive verb phrase may also be moved to the end of the sentence.
Na soti gitara asan.
To play the guitar is easy. or Playing the guitar is easy.
or
Asan na soti gitara.
It is easy to play the guitar.
Na suyon in bahari amusane.
To swim in the sea is fun. or Swimming in the sea is fun.
or
Amusane na suyon in bahari.
It is fun to swim in the sea.
fe tayday fe na danse - Instead of dancing
Te le sokutu dur na danse.
He fell while dancing.
Fe na doxo, nini le xorsomno.
Reading, the boy fell asleep.
Globasa, like most SVO languages, uses prepositions rather postpositions. Prepositional phrases always immediately follow the noun phrases they modify.
Myaw in sanduku somno.
The cat in the box is sleeping.
Prepositional phrases that modify nouns may optionally be introduced with a relative pronoun.
Myaw (kute) in sanduku somno.
The cat (that is) in the box is sleeping.
Myaw yam maux (kute) in sanduku.
The cat eats the mouse (that is) in the box.
Prepositional phrases that modify verbs enjoy relative free word order and may be moved anywhere in the sentence. When moved before the verb, commas are used as seen below.
Myaw yam in sanduku maux.
Myaw yam maux in sanduku.
Myaw, in sanduku, yam maux.
In sanduku, myaw yam maux.
The cat eats the mouse in the box.
In order to indicate position without reference to location, prepositions are turned into nouns by adding -ya to form prepositional phrases with fe.
Myaw fe inya somno.
The cat inside is sleeping.
Fe inya, myaw somno.
Inside, the cat is sleeping.
The indirect object is always marked with the preposition tas (to, for). Indirect object phrases, like direct object phrases marked with el, may be moved without the need to indicate movement using commas.
Mi gibe kitabu tas nini.
I give the book to the child.
Mi gibe tas nini kitabu.
I give the child the book.
Mi gibe kitabu tas te.
I give the book to her/him.
Mi gibe tas te kitabu.
I give her/him the book.
Mi gibe to tas nini.
I give it to the child.
Mi gibe to tas te.
I give it to her/him.
Tas nini mi gibe kitabu.
To the child I give a book.
Tas te mi gibe to.
To her/him I give it.
Globasa uses a number of phrasal prepositions using fe followed by a noun followed by de.
Baytu fe kape de liljabal kimapul.
The houses on top of the hill are expensive.
In order to indicate position without reference to location, phrasal prepositions simply drop de.
Baytu fe kape kimapul.
The houses on top are expensive.
Fe kape, baytu kimapul.
On top, the houses are expensive.
In Globasa, prepositional phrases link to subjects without a copula.
| Sentence Structure with Predicative Prepositional Phrases | |
| Subject | Prepositional Phrase |
|---|---|
| myaw cat |
in sanduku (is) in the box |
| Myaw in sanduku. The cat is in the box. |
|
Likewise phrasal prepositions link to the subject without a copula.
| Sentence Structure with Predicative Phrasal Prepositions | ||
| Subject | Phrasal Preposition | Noun Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| myaw cat |
fe ruke de (is) in back of |
sanduku box |
| Myaw fe ruke de sanduku. The cat is behind the box. |
||
The question words keloka and kewatu as well as all their correlatives also link to subjects without a copula.
Myaw keloka?
Where is the cat?
Filme kewatu?
When is the movie?
In Globasa, prepositions are turned into verbs using the suffix -ya in order to combine subjects with prepositional phrases.
| Sentence Structure with Prepositional Verb | ||
| Subject | Prepositional Verb | Noun Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| myaw cat |
inya is inside |
sanduku box |
| Myaw inya sanduku. The cat is inside the box |
||
Prepositional verbs may or may not be followed by a noun phrase.
Myaw inya.
The cat is inside.
Nouns used in phrasal prepositions may also be used as verbs in the same way as prepositional verbs.
Myaw ruke sanduku.
The cat is behind the box.
Myaw ruke.
The cat is in the back.
The nouns leya and xaya also function as the verb counterparts to the prepositions lefe and xafe. In other words, lefeya and xafeya are not used, just as leli and xali are used instead of lefeli and xafeli.
The prepositional verb feya (be at) may be optionally used as a copula with -loka and -watu correlatives.
Kastilo feya keloka?
Where is the castle located?
The verb hay is used to express there is/are. Phrases in sentences with hay enjoy free word order, as the following examples illustrate.
Hay multi kitabu in kitabudom.
There are many books in the library.
Multi kitabu hay in kitabudom.
There are many books in the library.
In kitabudom hay multi kitabu.
In the library there are many books.
The verb hay is also used in sentences related to atmospheric conditions, such as the following:
Hay barix.
"There is rain."
It's raining.
Hay termo.
"There is heat."
It's warm.
The conjunction ki is used when a clause (a complete sentence) functions as the subject or direct object of a sentence.
| Sentence Structure with Clause in place of Direct Object | ||
| Subject and Verb | Full clause in place of Direct Object | |
|---|---|---|
| mi jixi I know |
ki yu le xuli mobil (that) you repaired car |
|
| Mi jixi ki yu le xuli mobil. I know (that) you repaired the car. |
||
| Sentence Structure with Clause in place of Subject | ||
| Full Clause in Place of the Subject | Predicate | |
|---|---|---|
| ki yu le xuli mobil That you repaired the car |
no surprisa mi doesn't surprise me |
|
| Ki yu le xuli mobil no surprisa mi. That you repaired the car doesn't surprise me. |
||
Clauses in place of the subject may be moved to the end of the sentence.
No surprisa mi ki yu le xuli mobil.
It doesn't surprise me that you repaired the car.
In Globasa, the word order in interrogative sentences is the same as that of their counterpart statements.
Yusu name is keto?
"Your name is what?"
What is your name?
Misu name is Roberto.
My name is Robert.
Yu kepul?
"You are how?"
How are you?
Mi bono.
I'm fine.
Parti xa okur keloka?
"The party will happen where?"
Where will the party take place?
Parti xa okur in misu preferido yamkan.
The party will take place in my favorite restaurant.