General Rules for the arrangement of words in a sentence.
1. As regards the predicate, its usual place is at the beginning of a simple sentence, before the subject. But it may follow the subject, (a) indicated only by the sense; (b) indicated more closely by dìa before it; or (c) indicated by nò before it, when it applies exclusively to the subject.
2. As regards the object of an active verb, it immediately follows its verb; as, nanànatra àzy màfy àho, 'I reproved him sharply'. Unless (as is the case sometimes) an adverb closely connected with the verb intervene; as, àza mamàly sàrotra àzy hìanào, 'do not answer him roughly'.
3. With a passive verb, the adverb and the object (if there be one), together with all connected words unless too long, come near the verb, the subject following last, at the end of the sentence; as, natòlotro àzy omàly nỳ vòla, 'I gave them the money yesterday', or, the money was given to them by me yesterday; nanàriko màfy tèo imàsondraìny ìzy miràhalàhy, I reproved the brothers (or, the brothers were reproved by me) sharply in the presence of their father'.
- N.B.—When desired, the subject can be put into a more prominent place, in accordance with exceptions (a), (b), and (c) to Rule 1. above.
4. A qualifying adjective follows its noun; as, lèhilàhy tsàra, 'a good man'.
