Khmer grammar

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This article discusses the grammar of the Khmer language, focusing on the standard (Phnom Penh) dialect.

1 Word order
2 The noun
3 Pronouns
4 The verb

[edit] Word order

Khmer is generally a Subject Verb Object (SVO) language with prepositions. Although primarily an isolating language, lexical derivation by means of prefixes and infixes is common. Adjectives, demonstratives and numerals follow the noun which they modify:

ស្រីស្អាតនោះ /srəːj s'aːt nuç/ (girl pretty that) = that pretty girl

[edit] The noun

The noun has no grammatical gender or singular/plural distinction. Plurality can be marked by postnominal particles, numerals, or by reduplication, doubling the adjective, which can also serve to intensify the adjective:

ឆែ្កធំ /cʰkae tʰom/ (dog large) = large dog

ឆែ្កធំធំ /cʰkae tʰom tʰom/ (dog large large) = large dogs or a very large dog

ឆែ្កពីរ /cʰkae ɓəːj/ (dog three) = three dogs

Classifying particles for use between numerals and nouns exist although are not obligatory as in, for example, Thai.

[edit] Pronouns

The pronominal system is complex, full of honorific variations.

[edit] The verb

Verbs in Khmer do not inflect at all; tense and aspect can be shown by particles and adverbs or understood by context. Verbs are negated by putting "/min/", "/pum/" or "/ʔɐt/" before them and "/teː/" at the end of the sentence or clause.

ខ្ញុំជឿ /kʰɲom cɨə/ - I believe

ខ្ញុំមិនជឿទេ /kʰɲom min cɨə teː/ - I don't believe