Basic Sentence Structure
SVO word order in Cantonese
I can form basic SVO sentences.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
我鍾意食嘢。
I like eating.
佢飲咖啡。
He/She drinks coffee.
我媽媽煮飯。
My mom cooks rice.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
SVO Word Order
Cantonese uses Subject + Verb + Object order, same as English:
我 (I) + 食 (eat) + 飯 (rice) → 我食飯。
佢 (he) + 飲 (drink) + 水 (water) → 佢飲水。
Topic-Comment Structure
Cantonese also allows Topic + Comment word order, where the topic comes first:
呢本書 (this book) + 我睇咗 (I read) → 呢本書我睇咗。(This book, I've read it.)
SVO is familiar for English speakers. German speakers: no V2 rule.
我鍾意食嘢。
I like eating.
ngo5 zung1 ji3 sik6 je5 — S(我) + V(鍾意) + O(食嘢). Classic SVO.
佢飲咖啡。
He/She drinks coffee.
keoi5 jam2 gaa3 fe1 — Subject 佢 + Verb 飲 + Object 咖啡.
我媽媽煮飯。
My mom cooks rice.
ngo5 maa4 maa1 zyu2 faan6 — 我媽媽 (my mom, subject) + 煮 (cook, verb) + 飯 (rice, object).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Put it into practice
Try a free exercise from the courseFrequently asked questions
- When is 基本句式 used?
- Cantonese uses Subject + Verb + Object order, same as English:
- How is 基本句式 formed?
- Cantonese also allows Topic + Comment word order, where the topic comes first: 呢本書 (this book) + 我睇咗 (I read) → 呢本書我睇咗。(This book, I've read it.)
- What are common mistakes with 基本句式?
- EN speakers: SVO is familiar — main trap is topic-fronting which feels unnatural. DE speakers: No V2 rule in Cantonese — verb always follows subject. JP/KO speakers: Must switch from SOV to SVO.