- Khmer grammar
This article discusses the
grammar of theKhmer language , focusing on the standard (Phnom Penh) dialect.Word order
Khmer is generally a
Subject Verb Object (SVO) language with prepositions. Although primarily anisolating language , lexical derivation by means of prefixes and infixes is common.Adjective s, demonstratives and numerals follow the noun which they modify:ស្រីស្អាតនោះ /IPA|srəːj IPA|s'aːt IPA|nuç/ (girl pretty that) = that pretty girl
The noun
The
noun has no grammatical gender or singular/plural distinction. Plurality can be marked by postnominal particles, numerals, or byreduplication , doubling the adjective, which can also serve to intensify the adjective:ឆែ្កធំ /IPA|cʰkae IPA|tʰom/ (dog large) = large dog
ឆែ្កធំធំ /IPA|cʰkae IPA|tʰom IPA|tʰom/ (dog large large) = large dogs or a very large dog
ឆែ្កពីរ /IPA|cʰkae IPA|ɓəːj/ (dog three) = three dogs
Classifying particles for use between numerals and nouns exist although are not obligatory as in, for example, Thai.
Pronouns
The pronominal system is complex, full of honorific variations.
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 "/IPA|min/", "/IPA|pum/" or "/IPA|ʔɐt/" before them and "/IPA|teː/" at the end of the sentence or clause.ខ្ញុំជឿ /IPA|kʰɲom IPA|cɨə/ - I believe
ខ្ញុំមិនជឿទេ /IPA|kʰɲom IPA|min IPA|cɨə IPA|teː/ - I don't believe
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