Word Order

语序

Potential content

• Basic order: topic + subject + predicate
• Topic-comment structure
• Topic and subject can sometimes be omitted
• Time, manner place (TMP) adverb sequence
• More detailed word order:
  • Subject, verb, direct object
  • Subject, verb, indirect object, direct object
  • Subject, prepositional phrase, verb, direct object
  • Subject, location phrase, verb phrase
  • Subject, time, manner, place, predicate

Sources and further reading

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 17 - 22)