Understanding the Basic Structure of Cantonese Sentences

The Sentence Structure in Cantonese

Just like in English, sentences in Cantonese have a basic structure, but it's slightly different. Understanding the core structure will help you form sentences effectively.

Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Pattern

Cantonese typically follows the Subject-Verb-Object pattern, similar to English. For example:

Adding Time Expressions

Time expressions usually appear at the beginning of a sentence or right after the subject to indicate when the action occurs. For instance:

Using Location

In Cantonese, location elements often come after the subject or at the end of the sentence, especially when defining where actions happen.

Incorporating Questions

Formulating questions involves adjusting the sentence slightly by using specific question words or changing intonation.

Negation in Cantonese Sentences

Negativity is mostly expressed using the word 唔 (m) before verbs, which is akin to saying 'not' in English.