Cantonese Word Order

Word order
Unit 8 A verb takes 2 objects
51
He gives money to me
My friend teaches me Cantonese
51
51
Unit 1 Importance of Sentence Elements
1.
2.
Unit 2 Definitions of Sentence Elements
Unit 9 A Verb takes a comp. and an object
1.
2.
3.
4.
Unit 3 Basic Rules for Word Order

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
By logical sequence
Modifier comes before what it modifies
Result comes after the action
Open Questions
Yes/No questions
Unit 4 Positions of Different Elements

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Subject
Predicate
Object
Attributive
Adverbial
Complement
Independent Elements
Unit 5 Common sentence patterns

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
I beat him
He seldom beats his son
This clothing is very expensive
She will go at 3:00
I work in Central
Open Questions
Yes/No question
6
7
8
9
10
12
12
16
17
19
22
24
26
Unit 7 Prepositional Phrases
47
http://www.clc.com.hk
53
58
59
61
Unit 10 Daily Useful Expressions
62
The way that people say

The words that people use
The word order
62
62
63
1.
2.
3.
Unit 11 Glossaries: English to Cantonese
64
The end of the book
74
29
30
31
32
33
35
43
45
I work in Sheung Wan

I have been waiting from 3:00
He put the books on the sofa
I am beaten by my mum
He is much smarter than you
He told me
53
29
Unit 6 Word order with all Sentence Elements

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Verb + Comp + Object

Verb + Object + Verb + Comp
Verb + Object + Comp
Verb + Object 1 + Comp + Object 2
47
47
48
48
49
49
Page 1
Word Order
Page 2
Unit 1 Importance of Sentence Elements

4)
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih heui JngJng-Wahn
Parts of speech can help to tell the usage of a word, but it doesnt mean
it must be able to tell the word order.
they
For examples, a noun can be a subject or an object. If the noun works
5)
They are shopping in Central (adverbial)
they
____________________________________________
kuih hu leng
very
Jung-Wahn is a noun (place word), since it works as an object
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih hi JngJng-Wahn maihmaih-yh
She is very pretty (subject)
she
Central
heui
as an object, it comes at the end.

Instead, sentence elements can help to tell the word order
go
(object of the action go: heui), it has to come after the action go:
as a subject, it comes at the beginning of a sentence. If the noun works
1)
They go to Central (object)
at
Central
buy
stuff
Jung-Wahn is a noun (place word), since it form with at: hi to

works as an adverb (adverb of place), it has to come before the action/
pretty
verb go: heui it modifys
kuih: she here is a pronoun.

kuih works as a subject and therefore it is put at the beginning of
the sentence
2)
Her mum beat her (object)
____________________________________________
kuih mm-mh d kuih
her
mum
beat
her
kuih: her here is also a pronoun.

kuih works as a object and therefore it is put at the end of the
sentence
3)
We have meal at 5:00 (adverbial)
____________________________________________
nghngh-deih gg-dm sihksihk-faahn
we
5:00
eat
rice
5:00 is a noun (time word), since it works as an adverb (adverb of

time) to modife the verb eat. it has to come before eat.
Page 3
Word Order
Page 4
Unit 2 Definitions of Sentence Elements
Unit 3 Basic Rules for Word Order
There are 6 elements of a sentences in total:
1. By logical sequence
1. Subject
If you dont know what word order you have to use, just put the order
in the way you are used to. Usually you will be correct as basically
The subject in a Cantonese sentence is the topic talked about.
most languages are in logical sequence.
2. Predicate
1)
The predicate tells what is said about the subject
She has money
____________________________________________
kuih yuh chn
3. Object
she
The sentence element that is governed by a verb and denotes a person,

thing or place that receives the actions of verb is called an object.
2)
has
She will buy a piano
____________________________________________
kuih wih maih ytyt-ga gonggong-khm
An object is usually placed after a verb.
she
4. Attribute
The sentence element that modifies a noun or nominal phrase and
3)
buy
1 MW
piano
He is going to go to Central (He goes to Central)
he
modified is called an attribute.
4)
go
Central
She has $3.5
____________________________________________
kuih yuh samsam-gogo-bun
The sentence element that modifies a verb or an adjective by
she
expressing its time, place, manner, scope, quality, state or degree is

called an adverbial.
5)
has
$3.5
He is going to Wanchai to buy flowers
____________________________________________
kuih heui WanWan-Ji maih f
6. Complement
Complement is a supplementary or explanatory
explanatory element, which is
attached to a verb or an adjective.
he
6)
It indicates how the action is going on, what its result is, how many
times or how long it is done, or what degree or extent a quality or state
Page 5
go
Wanchai
buy
flowers
They are students
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih haih hohkhohk-sang
they
of things reaches.
will
____________________________________________
kuih heui JngJng-Wahn
expresses the quality, state, quantity or category of the person or thing
5. Adverbial
money
Word Order
be
students
Page 6
2. Modifier comes before what it modifies
8)
____________________________________________
samsam-bn sy
(1) Attributive modifies a noun

1)
a big apple
____________________________________________
ytyt-go daaih phngphng-gw
1
2)
MW
big
1)
are
good
friends
2)
3)
Japan
1)
hot
PRT
he
2)
most of the time
take
MTR
He always goes to play
____________________________________________
kuih shngheui wan
shng-yaht
language
he
My colleagues (my modifies colleagues)
____________________________________________
ngh thngthng-sih
always
go
play
3. Result comes after the action
colleagues

He takes the MTR most of the time
____________________________________________
kuih d sou
daap deihdeih-tit
people
German (language)
my
too
(3) Adverbial modifies a verb
____________________________________________
dk
mn
7)
nice
Its really too hot!
really
Japanese (people)
German
quite
language
____________________________________________
yahtyaht-bn yhn
6)
MW clothing
____________________________________________
jnla
jn-haih taai yiht
English (language)
____________________________________________
yng
mn
5)
lazy
This clothing is quite nice
this
people
English
very
____________________________________________
nn-gihn sam gi hu
____________________________________________
JngJng-Gwok yhn (Jng(Jng-Gwok modifies yhn)
4)
He is very lazy
he
Chinese (people)
China
books
____________________________________________
kuih hu lahn
They are good friends
they
MW
(2) Adverbial modifies an adjective
apple
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih haih hu phngphng-yuh
3)
Three books (three modifies books)
Page 7
Complement is the results or explanatory of the action
Word Order
Page 8
1)
They have gone for 4 hours
2)
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih heuiheui-j sei go jng
they
2)
gone
____________________________________________
nih maih j mt yh a?
4 MW hours
you
I have left Hong Kong for 3 years
3)
____________________________________________
ngh lihlih-hi j HungHung-Gng samsam-nhn
I
3)
leave
ed
Hong Kong
three years
4)
4)
half MW hour
how
money
PRT?
How about you?
you
how
PRT?
leaves Peter.
5. Yes/No questions
ju can not be followed by an object.
1)
I have been to Vancouver once
go
EXP
Vancouver
dolphin
jump
you
PRT?
will
not
will
buy
a?
PRT?
(using wih h wih here shows more emphasis on the willingness
Is he tall?
____________________________________________
kuih gu h gu
ga?
he
Where do you go?
3)
____________________________________________
nih heui bn (douh)
a?
buy
of buying)
They share the same order as the statements
where
not
up
4. Open Questions
go
buy
nih wih h wih maih
2)
you
Will you buy?(Do you buy)
you
1 time
The dolphin jumps up
MW
A-not-A format
____________________________________________
nih maih h maih a?
or
____________________________________________
jek hihi-tyhn tiu hi
1)
PRT?
lih-hi must be followed by an object eg. leave Hong Kong, Mary
what
____________________________________________
nih dm a?
____________________________________________
ngh heui gwo WnWn-GG-Wh yt chi
5)
ed
How much is it?
this MW
____________________________________________
kuih juju-j bun go jng
leave ed
buy
____________________________________________
nn-go gi chn a?
She has left for half an hour
he
What did you bought?
tall not
tall
PRT?
Do you have money?
____________________________________________
nih
yuh muh
chn
a?
PRT?
you
Page 9
Word Order
have
not have
money
PRT
Page 10
4)
Do you have small change?
____________________________________________
nih
yuh muh
sana?
san-j
you
5)
have
not have
small change
Unit 4 Positions of Different Elements
PRT
The subject you: nih is usually understood and can be skipped.

Is he your husband?
____________________________________________
kuih haih h haih nih snsn-sang a?
he
6)
is
not
1. Subject
is
your
husband
(1) Subject is at the beginning
PRT?
1)
How about this one?
good not good
She likes the doll
____________________________________________
kuih
jng yi go gng ji
____________________________________________
n go hu h hu
a?
this MW
Subject is the topic talked about
she
PRT?
2)
like
MW
doll
The weather is fine
____________________________________________
tntn-hei hu hu
weather
3)
very
fine/good
Heres $150
____________________________________________
nn-douh ytyt-baak gg-sahp mn (baak g mn)
here
4)
1 hundred
50
dollars
(short form of $150)
Happiness cant be bought by money
____________________________________________
hi sm haih h hh-yh yuhng chn maih ge
happy
5)
be
not
can
use
money buy
PRT
Today is Tuesday
____________________________________________
gm yaht haih sngsng-kihkih-yih
6)
He is very stubborn
____________________________________________
kuih hu
gugu-jp
Page 11
Word Order
Page 12
7)
He is watching TV
____________________________________________
kuih ti gn dihndihn-sih
my
8)
watch ing
(2) Subject comes after the time adverbial

TV
before the subject.
He is Australian
Usually, if the time adverbial is long, people always place it before the
____________________________________________
kuih haih OuOu-Ju yhn
9)
Time adverbial can be placed between the subject and the verb or even
subject. It is because the sentence wont be so clumsy.
1)
He scolds her
I will go the New Zealand next month,
____________________________________________
hahhah-go yuht,
yuht, ngh wih heui NuNu-SiSi-Lahn
____________________________________________
kuih laauh kuih
next
10) Who has come?

____________________________________________
bnbn-go lihlih-j a?
2)
to
body
much
3)
is
is
15
number,
they
will
go
Tomorrow, I will visit my friends
money
On Mothers day, our family had meal together
____________________________________________
MuhMuh-ChnChn-Jit1, nghngh-deih kk-kiki-yhn ytyt-chih
mother
festival ,
our
family
people
together
sihksihk-faahn
mine
eat
14) Today is Christmas

____________________________________________
gmgm-yaht haih SingSing-DaanDaan-Jit
today
MW month
____________________________________________
tngtng-yaht,
yaht, ngh wih taam
taam ngh phngphng-yuh
4)
book
On the fifteenth of next month, they will go to travel
travel
13) This book is mine

____________________________________________
n bn sy haih ngh ge
this MW
New Zealand
Of course, one can also put hah-go-yuht after the subject ngh.
next
very good
have to use
go
luihluih-hhng
12) Travel has to spend lots of money

____________________________________________
luihluih-hhng yiu yuhng huhu-d chn
travel
will
____________________________________________
hahhah-go yuht sahpsahp-gh houh,
houh, kuihkuih-deih wih heui
11) Swimming is good to health

____________________________________________
yuhyuh-sui deui snsn-ti hu hu
swimming
MW month, I
5)
rice
I will go to study in Canada later

(Later, I will go to Canada to study)
____________________________________________
Christmas
1
muh-chn is the Chinese form of mother, usually Hong Kong people say m
mh for mother.
Page 13
Word Order
Page 14
chhchh-d,
d, ngh wih heui GG-NhNh-Daaih duhkduhk-sy
later,
will
go
Canada
or
study
____________________________________________
kuih hi n douh hihi-sm d
(3) Subject comes after the prepositional phrase
5)
In Hong Kong, many houses are very small
(adverbial)
____________________________________________
hi HungHung-Gng,
Gng, hu d k du hu sai
Very often, prepositional phrase ( preposition + noun) placed after the
in
or
subject. Just in certain situation, it may also be put before the subject.
Hong
Kong
many
houses
also
very small
____________________________________________
hu d k hi HungHung-Gng,
Gng, du hu sai
For example, for prepositional phrase with place word, defining the
action in a certain place, it may also be placed before the subject.
Usually if the prepositional phrase is longer, the higher chance that
people would like to put them before the subject.
1)
2. Predicate
At the company, he is responsible for typing
Predicate section comes after the subject
____________________________________________
hi gngge.
gng-s,
s, kuih haih fuhfuh-jaak dd- jih
The main verb or adjective is called predicate
at
company,
he
be
responsible type characters PRT
Again, of course one can also put the hi gng-s after the subject kuih
kuih hi gnggng-s haih fuhfuh-jaak

jaak dd- jih
2)
1)
ge.
____________________________________________
hi hohkhohk-haauh,
haauh, kuih haih ytyt-go gwai hohkhohk-sang,
school,
he
be
MW
daaihdaaih-haih hi kk-ki,
ki, kuih jauh
but
3)
at
family,
he
nice
student
hu yih
2)
4)
more
money,
he
do
concurrent job
____________________________________________
hi n douh,
douh, kuih hihi-sm d
here,
she
happy
Predicate section:
always cry = shng-yaht
Predicate:
cry = haam
haam
My younger brother is very foolish/stupid
Subject:
My younger brother = ngh sai-lu
Predicate section: very foolish = hu chun

Predicate:
foolish = chun
In here, she is happier
at
she = kuih
____________________________________________
ngh sai lu hu chun
____________________________________________
waih j jaahn dd-d chn,
chn, kuih jouh
gmgm-jk
earn
Subject:
EMPHASIS very naughty
In order to earn more money, he has part-time jobs
for
She always cries
____________________________________________
kuih shnghaam
shng-yaht
At the school, he is good boy. However at home, he is very naughty
at
Predicate section tells what is said about the subject.
more
Page 15
Word Order
Page 16
3)
There are many people in Hong Kong
____________________________________________
HungHung-Gng yuh hu d yhn
4)
3)
____________________________________________
nih ak ngh
Its very hot in summer in Hong Kong
____________________________________________
Hung Gng ge hahhah-tn hu yiht
Hong
5)
Kong
summer
4)
he
She is very fat
she
very
5)
very
they
6)
lazy
____________________________________________
kuih hu jngjng-yi sihk syutsyut-gu
very
likes
eat
7)
[ice-cream]
8)
They laughed at me
laugh
9)
exercises books
very
Central
Im doing my homework
do ing
homework
He killed that man
____________________________________________
kuih saatyhn / yn
saat-j gg-go
me
he
____________________________________________
kuih wah ngh hu khnkhn-lihk
said
go
He said that Im very diligent
he
and
____________________________________________
ngh jouhjouh-gn gnggng-fo
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih siu ngh
2)
text books
I am going to Central
Object is the one who receives the action of the verb
they
have to buy
____________________________________________
ngh heui JngJng-Wahn
Object comes after the verb
1)
tired
I have to buy text books and exercise books
3. Object
not afraid
____________________________________________
ngh yiu maih sy thng bu
He likes eating ice-cream very much
he
comics
They dont afraid of being tired
You(plural) are very lazy
you
can draw
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih h pa gwuih
fat
____________________________________________
nih deih hu lahn
7)
He can draw comics
_________________________________________
kuih sk waahk maahnmaahn-w
very hot
____________________________________________
kuih hu fih
6)
You cheat me
kill ed
that MW(the)
person
diligent
Page 17
Word Order
Page 18
4. Attributive
leng nui (leng is single syllable, dont use ge)
Attributive modifies a noun or a noun phrase

Attributive comes before the noun
8)
Usually between the attributive and the noun, the Linking Particle ge
_________________________________________
fih lu (fih is single syllable, dont use ge)
is used.
1)
9)
very cute baby
(kinship/belongs to that organization, usually skip ge)
10) his daughter
very interesting book
(nui is single syllable, due to balancing the sound, people make it be disyllable)
_________________________________________
hu hu ti ge sy
very
3)
good
his home
kuih kk-ki
____________________________________________
hu dkdk-yi ge bhbh-b
2)
fat guy
kuih nuih nui

(usually for the daughter who is less than 10)
watch LP book
kuih go nui
ticket for 9:30
(go is the MW and marks for singular) (his daughter)
_________________________________________
gu dm bun ge fi (where ge is the linking particle)
kuih d nui
(d is the MW and marks for plural) (his daughters)
4)
a very brave person
kuih ge nui
____________________________________________
ytyt-go hu yhngyhng-gm ge yhn
1
5)
MW very
brave
LP
(possessive particles ge dont shows its singular or plural)

(his daughter / his daughters)
person
three interesting books

____________________________________________
samsam-bn hu hu ti ge sy
3
6)
MW
very good read
possessive
11) my hand
LP books
____________________________________________
ngh jek su (jek is MW for hand)
very cute puppy
____________________________________________
hu dkdk-yi ge gugu-ji
very
7)
cute
LP
12) this person

_________________________________________
nn-go yhn
dog SUFFIX (baby, son)
pretty lady
____________________________________________
Whenever the MW is used, no need to use the LP ge to show
13) those money

_________________________________________
Page 19
Word Order
Page 20
gg-d chn ( d is MW for any plural objects when the exact

du jngjng-yi ge shngshng-sh
quantity is not know or for uncountable objects)
also
14) a pen
_________________________________________
ytyt-j bt
____________________________________________
nih jingjing-yat haih go sk sihk faahn
faahn,
aahn,
you
LP
dont know
1)
like
MW
study
smart LP
2)
also
have only
many
do
research
LP
scholars
4)
salary
be
MW many
big
rice
bucket
very clever
Shes very arrogant and so no one like her
very
arrogant
therefore
no
one
like
her
I also went
always yawn
_________________________________________
ngh chhmchhm-yaht muh fahnfahn-gaau,
19) Hong Kong is a city that many people like it

____________________________________________
HungHung-Gng haih ytyt-go huhu-d yhn
yhn
Hong Kong
LP
_________________________________________
ngh du heui
huhu-su yhnyhn-gng
little
thing
Adverbial modifies the verb or the adjective
she
3)
____________________________________________
hi JngJng-Gwok, huhu-d jouh yhnyhn-gau ge hohkhohk-j
Chinese,
do
_________________________________________
kuih hu jihjih-daaih ss-yh muh yhn jngjng-yi kuih
children
salaries
in
eat rice
____________________________________________
hu chngchng-mhng
18) In the mainland, many scholars doing research jobs get very low
du dk
know
It comes before the verb or the adjective
17) Parents like children who are good at school work

____________________________________________
fuhfuh-muh du jngjng-yi d duhkduhk-sy lk ge saisai-mnmn-ji
also
MW
foreigner
many
parent
be
5. Adverbial
hh-haih huhu-d
not
just
h sk jouh yh ge daaih faahnfaahn-tng
The modifier could be a clause
Cantonese
city
work.
16) There are not many American who can speak Cantonese
____________________________________________
sk gng GwngGwng-DngDng-W ge ngoihngoih-gwokgwok-yhn
know speak
LP
20) You are just a person that know how to eat but dont know how to
15) a cup of milk tea

_________________________________________
yt bi naihnaih-chh
chh
like
yesterday
didnt
sleep
s yh gmgm-yaht shng yaht dd-haamhaam-louh

therefore
people
Page 21
Word Order
today
always
yawn
Page 22
5)
Sometimes, he has to do overtime
_________________________________________
kuih yuhyiu gyuh-sh
g-ban
he
6)
sometimes
have to
13) They will come to my home tomorrow

_________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih tngtng-yaht lih ngh kk-ki
OT
He seldom offends others
14) I will go to watch movie at 4:30

____________________________________________
ngh seisei-dm bun heui ti hei
_________________________________________
kuih huhu-su dkdk-jeuih yhn
he
7)
very
less
offend
people
Ive just eaten
4:30
movie
10:45
go
your
company
The child is crossing the road carefully
_________________________________________
go sai
sai-mnmn-ji hu susu-sm gm gwogwo-gn mhmh-louh
MW
child
very careful ly
cross ing
(LP gm is used for disyllabic adjectives used as adverbial)
9)
watch
15) I will go to your office at 10:45

____________________________________________
ngh sahpsahp-dm gu heui nih gnggng-s
_________________________________________
ngh am am sihksihk-j faahn
8)
go
6. Complement
road
Complement is an explanatory element that is attached to a verb or an
You have to study more diligently
adjective.
_________________________________________
nih yiu khnkhn-lihklihk-d duhk sy
It comes after the verb or the adjectives
1)
(d means more here, If d is used, dont use the LP gm)
_________________________________________
gng dk hu faai
10) You should practice more

_________________________________________
nih yng gi dd-d lihnlihn-jaahp
speak
LP very
fast
Between the verb gng and the complement hu faai, usually the linking particle
dk is used
11) She works in a hospital

_________________________________________
kuih hi yy-yn fan gng
2)
3)
12) I will go to Paris in June

_________________________________________
ngh luhkluhk-yuht heui B Lih
I saw Peter
_________________________________________
ngh gin du Peter
place word: y-yn should add at: hi in front of it to form a prepositional phrase to
work as an adverbial
speak very fast
saw successfully
Peter
She answers correctly
_________________________________________
kuih daap am
she
Page 23
Word Order
answer correctly
Page 24
4)
He answers incorrectly
_________________________________________
kuih daap cho
5)
not yet
gin du
ngh
he
see successfully
me
saw
clear
they
sit
at sofas
place
Please clean the table
please
wipe
clean
MW(the)
table
13) Go in
_________________________________________
yahp heui
PRT
in
go
(heui shows the direction away the speaker)
Your cloth is so dirty, you make the table dirty
_________________________________________
nih faai bou gam ww-ju, maat ww-ju jung ti la
your MW(the) cloth
so
dirty ,
wipe
dirty
MW(the) table
PRT
14) She picked up the book

_________________________________________
kuih jp hi
bn sy
she
pick
up
MW (the)
book
We arrived at home
_________________________________________
nghngh-deih fan dou kk-ki
we
9)
chhm yaht, kuih
or
12) They sit on the sofa

_________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih chh hi ss-f douh
_________________________________________
hh-gi maat gnggng-jehng
jehng jung ti
8)
ngh
I havent seen clearly yet
7)
gin du
yesterday,
_________________________________________
ngh meih ti chngchng-ch
6)
kuih chhmchhm-yaht
back
to, arrived
15) They finished their homework

(they do finish homework)
_________________________________________
kuihuih-deih jouh yhn gnggng-fo
home
He opened the window
they
do
finish
homework
_________________________________________
kuih d
hi
chung
he
open
arrived at the state of being open
window
7. Independent Elements
10) They walked to the elephant

_________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih hahng heui jek daaihdaaih-bahnbahn-jeuhng douh
they
walk
to
MW(the)
(The short form of elephant is just jeuhng)
big
An independent element is one which has no structural relation with

other elements
clumsy elephant s place
It is rather flexible in word position

Usually they are placed in a very logical place and learners wont make
11) She saw me yesterday

_________________________________________
mistake with it.
(1) Ming, what time is it?

Appellation
Page 25
Word Order
Page 26
1)
Ming, what time is it?
____________________________________________
h Mhng,
Mhng, yhyh-g gi dm a?
PX
2)
Ming,
now
what time
8)
Oh you see, how cute it is!
____________________________________________
nih ti,
ti, gi dkdk-yi
yi
PRT?
Mum, I want to buy this toy car
you see, how cute!
____________________________________________
mm-mh,
mh, ngh sung maih nn-ga wuhnwuhn-geuih ch
mummy ,
3)
want
buy
this MW
toy
car
Oh you, be more careful!
____________________________________________
nih a,
a, susu-sm d a!
you PRT,
careful
more
PRT!
(2) Im dead, I forget to bring my wallet

Interjection
4)
Im dead, I forget to bring my wallet?
____________________________________________
si la,
la, ngh h geigei-dk daai nghnnghn-bau a
dead PRT,
5)
forget
bring
wallet
PRT
Oh, I even thought its she
____________________________________________
aiai-yah,
yah, ngh juhng yhyh-wih haih kuih tm
ai ya,
even
thought
be
him
PRT
(3) It seems, it will rains tonight

Parenthesis
6)
It seems, it will rain tonight
____________________________________________
ti lih,
lih, gmgm-mahn wih lohklohk-yh
seems,
7)
tonight
will
fall
rain
To be frank, you are really too fat
____________________________________________
gng jn ge,
ge, nih jn haih taai fih la
talk real PRT,
you really be
too
fat
PRT
Page 27
Word Order
Page 28
Unit 5 Common sentence patterns
8)
____________________________________________
kuih heui MihMih-Gwok
1. I beat him
Subject + Verb + Object
1)
9)
The main verb follows the subject and comes before the object.
____________________________________________
ngh d kuih
2)
beat
10) Ive bought some apples

____________________________________________
ngh maihmaih-j d phngphng-gw
him
I go to Central
____________________________________________
ngh heui JngJng-Wahn
I
3)
go
I am eating an apple
____________________________________________
ngh sihksihk-gn phngphng-gw
I beat him
She is going to the State
11) We have to go home

(we have to back home)
Central
____________________________________________
nghngh-deih yiu fan kk-ki
I watch TV
____________________________________________
ngh ti
dihndihn-sih
I
4)
watch
TV
2. He seldom beats his son

Subject + adverb + verb + object
I buy books.
____________________________________________
ngh maih sy
5)
1)
he
2)
I watch movie
beat
MW son
They are going together
they
I know him
3)
____________________________________________
ngh sk kuih
together
go
Im only going to buy this
____________________________________________
ngh jihngjihng-haih maih nn-go
I
seldom
____________________________________________
kuih deih yt chih heui
____________________________________________
ngh ti hei
7)
He seldom beats his son
____________________________________________
kuih huhu-su d gogo-ji
I go to Jordan.
____________________________________________
ngh heui JJ-Dun
6)
Adverb comes before the verb
Page 29
Word Order
only
buy
this
Page 30
4)
He always gambles
kuih
(after always very often also: du will be used)

(both always and also: du are adverbs)
____________________________________________
kuih shngshng-yaht du du -chn
I
5)
always
also
hu
he
4)
This one is very cheap
You are going, well, I am going too
you
5)
go ,
well,
also
This table is $1680
____________________________________________
nn-jung ti ytyt-chn luhkluhk-baak baatbaat-sahp mn
go
this MW
6)
____________________________________________
ngh whngwhng-yhn du h wih jngjng-yi nih
I
forever
thousand
hundred
ten
dollars
also
not will
love
I am very lazy
you
very
lazy
I will certainly come
certainly
will
4. She will go at 3:00

Subject + Time Word + Verb + Object
come
3. This clothing is very expensive

Subject + Predicate
1) This clothing is very expensive
____________________________________________
n gihn sam hu gwai
this
MW clothing
very
The time word work as adverbial and therefore is placed before the
1)
verb.
She will go at 3:00
____________________________________________
kuih sam dm heui
heui
She
2)
expensive
Newspaper costs $7
newspaper
3 oclock
go
He resigned yesterday
____________________________________________
kuih chhmchhm-yaht/khm yaht chhchh-jk
____________________________________________
bu j
cht mn
3)
____________________________________________
ngh hu lahn
____________________________________________
ngh ytyt-dihng wih lih
2)
table
I will never love you

(I forever also not will love you)
7)
tall
____________________________________________
nn-go hu phng
gamble money
____________________________________________
nih heui, gm, ngh du heui
6)
gu
very
She
3)
dollars
yesterday
resign job
He will go to interview two days later
He is very tall
____________________________________________
kuih hauhhauh-yaht gingin-gng
____________________________________________
She
Page 31
Word Order
2 days later
see
job
Page 32
4)
I am going to Jordan today
____________________________________________
ngh gmgm-yaht heui JJ-Dun
2)
____________________________________________
ngh hi JJ-Dun maih j ytyt-tuh kwhn
Expression indicating A Period of Time always follow the verb as
5)
this is the complement of duration for an action.

She has gone for three hours
3)
6)
gone
MW
my
4)
____________________________________________
ngh chhmchhm-yaht heui JngJng-Wahn
7)
8)
MW month
go ed
he
5)
buy
this MW
7)
at
Hong
Kong
live ed
10
year
friend
at
Hong Kong
live ed
very long
I work in Tsim Sha Tsui
at
TST
back
work
Ive worked in this company for four years
____________________________________________
ngh hi nn-gan gnggng-s jouhjouh-j seisei-nhn
I
8)
at this MW
company
do
ed
4 years
I am shopping in Jordan
____________________________________________
ngh hi JJ-Dun maih gn yh
I
____________________________________________
ngh hi Jng Wahn fan gng
back
study
My friends lived in Hong Kong for a long time
adverbial and therefore is placed before the verb.

1) I work in Central
Central
University
book
The prepositional phrase with place word here word work as
at
Hong Kong
____________________________________________
ngh hi JmJm-SS-Jui fan gng
5. I work in Central
Subject + Preposition + Place word + Verb + Object
younger brother at
my
____________________________________________
ngh hahhah-go lihlih-baai wih maih nn-bn sy
dress
the USA
6)
will
a MW
____________________________________________
ngh phngphng-yuh hi HungHung-Gng jyuhjyuh-j hu noih
I will buy this book next week
I
next
week
(chhm-yaht = khm-yaht)
ed
He has lived in Hong Kong for 10 years
Central
____________________________________________
ngh seuhngseuhng-go yuht heui j MihMih-Gwok
last
buy
____________________________________________
kuih hi HungHung-Gng jyuhjyuh-j sahpsahp-nhn
I have gone to the State last month
Jordan
My younger brother studies in Hong Kong University
hours
I went to Central yesterday
I
yesterday
go
(chhm-yaht = khm-yaht)
in
____________________________________________
ngh saisai-lu hi HungHung-Gng DaaihDaaih-Hohk duhkduhk-sy
kuih heuiheui-j sam go jng

She
I bought a dress in Jordan
work
in
Jordan
buy
ing
stuff
If there are the time noun and prepositional phrase with place word,
time noun comes first.
Page 33
Word Order
Page 34
9)
He will come back from Australia next month
Therefore before you know how to make a question, you must have to
____________________________________________
kuih hah go yuht wih hi OuOu-Ju fanfan-lih
he
next
MW month will
from Australia
back
know how to make the statement/ answer first. Then just replace the
answer with the question word, and adding the question particle at the
come
end, you can got the questions.
10) She is cooking in the kitchen now

____________________________________________
kuih yhyh-g hi chyhchyh-fng jyjy-gn faahn
she
now
in
kitchen room
cook
ing
(1) What?
rice
1)
yesterday
at
Culture
Centre
Q: nih giu mtmt-yh mng a?

2)
(Q: You tell her what ?)
Wan Chai
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: ngh thng kuih gng ngh h jngjng-yi kuih
Of course it can also be put before the verb as all other adverbials:
(I in Wan Chai live)
____________________________________________
ngh hi Wan Ji jyuh
I
in
Wan
Cha
What did you tell her?

(A: I tell her I dont like her)
____________________________________________
ngh jyuh hi Wan Ji
in
A: ____________________________________________
Q: ____________________________________________
A: ngh giu Peter
watch drama
after the verb, the adverb of place in can be put after the verb.
12) I live in Wan Chai
live
call Peter
(Q: You call what name?)
Exceptions: if live in is used without a complement which comes
What is your name?

(A: I
11) I watched a drama in Culture Centre yesterday

____________________________________________
ngh chhmchhm-yaht hi MhnMhn-Fa JngJng-Sm ti ww-kehk
mtmt-yh?
Q: nih thng kuih gng

3)
live
mtmt-yh
a?
What did you bought?
____________________________________________
nih maihmaih-j mt yh a?
you
6. Open Questions
In English, the question word must be put at the beginning, while in

Cantonese, the order of question is the same as that in declarative
sentences.
4)
ed
what
PRT?
What are you eating?
____________________________________________
nih sihk gn mt yh a?
you
Page 35
buy
Word Order
eat
ing
what
PRT?
Page 36
(2) Where?
1)
bnbn-douh?
5)
Where do you work?

(A:
at
Central
back to work )
(Q:
you at
where
back to work? )
____________________________________________
chyhchyh-fng hi bnbn-(douh) a?
kitchen
A: ____________________________________________
Q: ____________________________________________
A: ngh hi Jng Wahn
fan gng
I
at
Central
Q: nih hi
bn douh
You
2)
at
back
back
work
MTR station
1)
)
?
gigi-sh?
A: ____________________________________________
Q: ____________________________________________
A: kuih tng yaht heui Jng Wahn
she
tomorrow
gi sh
she
2)
where ? )
go
Central
heui Jng Wahn a ?
when
go
Central
PRT ?
What time will you go?

(A: I
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: sisi-susu-gan hi samsam-lu
will
(Q: You will
5:15
what time
go
go ?
Q: sisi-susu-gan hi bnbn-douh a?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: ngh wih ghgh-dm sam heui
Where does she go?
Q: nih wih
____________________________________________
kuih heui bnbn-(douh) a?
she
go
where
gigi-dm
heui a?
(when: gigi-sh can also be used)
PRT?
3)
When did you come to Hong Kong

(A:
in 1986 came Hong Kong
(Q: You when

2
PRT?
(Q: She when go to Central ?)
(A: The toilet is on the 3/F )
4)
where
When will she go to Central?
Q: kuih
in
at
(A: She 3:00 go to Central )
Where is the toilet?

(Q: The toilet
PRT?
PRT?
(3) When?
where
where
____________________________________________
deihdeih-tit jaahm hi bnbn-(douh) a?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: ngh heui PauPau-MhMh-Di
Q: nih heui bn (douh)2 a ?
3)
at
Where is the MTR station?
fan gng a ?
where
I go Happy Valley
(Q: You go
6)
work
Where do you go?

(A:
Where is the kitchen?
came
Hong Kong ?
)
)
bn-douh is the full form of where, bn is the short form)
Page 37
Word Order
Page 38
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: ngh (haih) hi ytyt-gugu-baatbaat-luhk nhn lih HungHung-Gng ge
A: ngh haih Peter ge phngphng-yuh (more formal, use ge)

Q: nih haih bn wi a? (polite form of the MW for people wi)
Q: nih (haih) gigi-sh lih Hung

Hungng-Gng ga?
4)
3)
When will you go to Parkn shop
____________________________________________
nih gia?
gi-sh heui BaakBaak-Gai
you
5)
when
go
Parkn
____________________________________________
nih gigi-sh lih
lih a?
6)
when
come
4)
when
marry
is
coming? )
Who is her boy friend?
her
PRT?
male
which
MW for people
PRT?
Who stole my car?
which
who ?
6)
MW
steal
my
MW
car
PRT?
Q: kuih haih
bn go
Who is fatter?
____________________________________________
bn
go
fih d a?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: kuih haih ngh chhn f
which
MW of people
Who are you?

am
(Q: You are
1)
Peters friend )
who?
PRT
bnbn-MW?
Which pen is better ?

(A: This
(Q: Which
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
fat er
a?
(5) Which?
(A: I
is
my former husband )
(Q: He is
2)
friend
____________________________________________
bn go tu ngh ga ch a?
bnbn-go?
Who is he?
(A: He is
(Q: who
____________________________________________
kuih nahmgo
a?
nahm-phngphng-yuh haih bn
5)
1)
coming )
PRT
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih gigi-sh gitgit-fn a?
(4) Who?
is
Q: bnbn-go lih gn a?
When will they get married?
they
(A: Peter
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: Peter lih gn
PRT?
When will you come?
you
Who is coming?
pen is better
pen is
better ? )
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Page 39
Word Order
Page 40
A: nn-j bt huhu-d
A: ngh gnggng-s yuh yihyih-baak luhkluhk-sahp yhn
Q: bnbn-j bt huhu-d a?
Q: nih gnggng-s yuh
pen: bt can be skipped if it is understood
2)
Which kitty more cute?

(A: That
(Q: Which
3)
2)
kitty is cuter)
(Q: Your telephone is
how many number?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: ngh dihndihn-w haih yih yih sam sei g luhk cht baat
Q: bnbn-jek maumau-ji dkdk-yi d a?
Q: nih dihndihn-w gi d houh a?
Which pen is longer
which
3)
MW
pen
long
er
PRT?
how
Which pen is yours?
4)
1)
people
PRT?
how
many money
PRT?
gigi-noih?
How long will you stay in Hong Kong?

(A:
I will stay in Hong Kong for half an year )
(Q: You will stay in Hong Kong
(Q: Your company has how many people? )
how long
?)
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
have
(7) How long?
How many people are there in your company?

260
people
How much (money) do you have?
you
gigi-d?
(A: My company has
many
____________________________________________
nih yuh gi d chn
a?
which MW pen
be
your PRT?
(possessive case, the question particle should be ga instead of a)
(6) How many?
How many people?
____________________________________________
gi d yhn a?
____________________________________________
bn j (bt) haih nih ga?
1)
is 22345678 )
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: gg-jek maumau-ji dkdk-yi d
____________________________________________
bn j (bt) chuhng d a?
4)
a?
What is your telephone number?

(A: My telephone
kitty is cuter? )
gigi-d yhn
Page 41
Word Order
Page 42
A: ngh wih luh hi HungHung-Gng bun nhn

Q: nih wih luh hi HungHung-Gng
gigi-noih
nih jng h jng yi
a?
you
2)
How long have you been married?

(A:
how long
4)
?)
3)
gigi-noih
a?
5)
ed
how long
6)
PRT?
nih
you
2)
not
go
not
goods
PRT?
PRT
Will you come?
you
7)
come not
come
PRT?
Does it look good?

(looks good is hu ti)
____________________________________________
hu h hu
hu ti
a?
____________________________________________
nih heui h heui a?
or
go
deliver
____________________________________________
nih lih h lih
a?
Will you go ? (Do you go?)
you
not
Is it OK?
7. Yes/No question
A-not-A format
1)
Do you deliver?
____________________________________________
u h u ki a ? (the English OK is localized)
localized)
____________________________________________
kuih heuiheui-j gi noih a?
go
PRT
like is jng-yi, to avoid sounds repeat so much, the second syllable
deliver
How long has he gone?
he
a?
like
____________________________________________
sung h sung fo
ga ?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
A: ngh gitgit-jj-fn sahpsahp-gigi-nhn
Q: nih gitgit-jj-fn
not
of the first jng-yi is skipped.
I have been married for more than 10 years )
(Q: You have been married
like
good
not
good
look
PRT
PRT
wih h wih heui a?

will
not
will
go
PRT
Will you come? (Do you come?)
____________________________________________
nih lih h lih a?
or
you
nih
you
3)
come not
come
PRT
wih h wih lih a?

will
not
will
come
PRT
Do you like it?
____________________________________________
Page 43
Word Order
Page 44
Unit 6 Word order with all Sentence Elements
kuih phngphng-yuh seuhngseuhng-go lihlih-baai ti yhn gg-bn sy

his
Usually, the order is:

Attributive + subject + adverbial + predicate + complement + object
1)
6)
(finished is translated as: read finished)
____________________________________________
ngh phngyhn n bn sy
phng-yuh yhyh-gng ti
friend
subject
noun
already
adverbial
adverb
MW
week
read finish that MW book
The girl has already finished the meal
read
finish
this
book
predicate complement attributive object
verb
verb
pronoun + MW noun
MW(the)
7)
girl
already
eat
finish
rice
They have arrived at my home at 11:00

(arrived is translated as: come arrived)
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih sahpsahp-yt dm lih dou ngh kk-ki
they
2)
last
____________________________________________
go
nuihnuih-ji yhyh-gng sihk yhn faahn
My friend has already finished this book
my
attributive
pronoun
friend
11
oclock
come arrived
my
home
The fat guy arrived at Peters home at 4:00

(arrived is translated as: go arrived)
____________________________________________
go fih lu seiPeter ksei-dm jng heui dou
dou
k-ki
MW fat
guy
attributive subject
MW + adj noun
3)
4:00
adverbial
noun(time word)
go
arrived
Peter
home
predicate complement attributive object
verb
verb
pronoun
noun
The child finished the homework this morning

(finished is translated as: do finished)
____________________________________________
go saiyhn
gngsai-mnmn-ji gm ju jouh
gng-fo
MW
child
attributive subject
MW
noun
4)
this morning
do
adverbial
predicate
noun (time word) verb
finish
homework
complement object
verb
noun
My mother always beats him severely

(severely here: gn yiu)
____________________________________________
ngh mm-mh shngshng-yaht d kuih
kuih d dk hu gngn-yiu
my
attributive
pronoun
5)
mum
always
subject adverbial
noun
adverb
beat him beat

pred. object pred
verb pronoun verb
LP
LP
LP
very severely
complement
adverb adjective
His friend has finished that book last week
____________________________________________
Page 45
Word Order
Page 46
Unit 7 Prepositional Phrases

3)
He walked from Sha Tin to Tai Po
____________________________________________
ngh yuh SS-Thn hahng heui DaaihDaaih-Bou
Many prepositional phrase works as adverbials and is placed before the
action
from
Shatin
walk
to
Tai
Po
Prepositional phrase = Preposition + noun
3. He put the books on the sofa

jung sentences
1) He put the books on the sofa
____________________________________________
kuih jung d sy
fong hi
ss-f douh
1. I work in Sheung Wan

in / at
1) I work in Sheung Wan
____________________________________________
ngh hi SeuhngSeuhng-Wahn fanfan-gng
I
2)
at
Sheung Wan
back
he
work
2)
____________________________________________
ngh haih hi hohkhohk-haauh jouhjouh-yh ge
3)
be
at
school
do
thing
PRT
3)
at
balcony
play
2)
from
3:00
wait
ing
4)
to
now
I walked from Wan Chai to here
____________________________________________
ngh yuh Wan Ji hahng lih nn-douh
I
from
Wan Chai
walk
come
make
sofa s
place
the
robber
send
to
police station
They broke the things completely
they
2. I have been waiting from 3:00

from
1) I have been waiting from 3:00
____________________________________________
ngh yuh sam dm (jng) dng douh yhyh-g/yg/y-g
I
on
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih jung dd-yh jng laahn saai
____________________________________________
d saisai-mnmn-ji hi louh th wanwan-gn
children
put
He sent the robber to the police station
he
The children are playing at the balcony
MW
the books
____________________________________________
kuih jung go chak sung heui chaichai-gn
I work in a school
make
the stuff
make
broken
all
Please translate this passage into English
____________________________________________
h gi jung nyihk jouh Yngn-pn mn
Yng-Mn
please
make
this MW
passage
translate to be
English
PRT
4. I am beaten by my mum
by
1) I am beat by my mum
____________________________________________
ngh bi
mm-mh d
I
here
make
2)
by
mother
beat
My money was being stolen
____________________________________________
Page 47
Word Order
Page 48
ngh d chn
my
3)
MW
bi yhn tutu-j
money
by
people
1)
steal ed
____________________________________________
kuih thng ngh gng
He was being played tricks
____________________________________________
kuih bi yhn jng g
he
4)
by
people
he
2)
\play tricks \
____________________________________________
jek
gu bi kuih tutu-j
by
him
2)
compare to
you
3)
steal ed
smart
me
speak
My friend told me she is unhappy
my
friend
with
me
speak
she
very
not happy
She told me that she lose lots of money in horse racing
____________________________________________
kuih thng ngh gng kuih dudu-mh sysy-j huhu-d chn
5. He is much smarter than you

compare to
1) He is much smarter than you
____________________________________________
kuih bi nih lk huhu-d
he
with
____________________________________________
ngh phngphng-yuh thng ngh gng
gng kuih hu h hihi-sm
The dog is stolen by him
MW (the) dog
He told me
she
4)
with
me
speak
she
gamble horse
lose ed
much
money
I told them
____________________________________________
ngh thng kuihkuih-deih gng
I
much
with
them
speak
The things in this shop is much cheaper than those in that one
____________________________________________
ngn-gan poupou-tu bi
g-gan phng huhu-d
this
3)
MW
shop
compare to
that MW
cheap
much
He is 10 marks higher than me (in exam)
____________________________________________
kuih bi ngh d sahp fn
he
4)
compare to
me
more
10
marks
He is 3 pounds heavier than you
____________________________________________
kuih bi nih chhng sam bohng
he
compare to
you
heavy
pounds
6. He told me
with
Page 49
Word Order
Page 50
Unit 8 A verb takes 2 objects

2)
____________________________________________
ngh gaau kuih SiSi-BanBan-Ngh mn
When a verb can takes 2 objects, there will be problem about the
sequence of the two objects.
In English, usually the indirect object come first and then the direct
object, however in Cantonese, sometimes the direct object come first.
1. He gives money to me
give something to somebody
I teach her Spanish
3)
When talk about give the direct object money must have to come
1)
first. The indirect object me must have to come after.

He gives money to me
her
Spain
language
I teach her English
____________________________________________
ngh gaau kuih YngYng-Mn
I
teach
teach
her
English
____________________________________________
kuih bi chn ngh
he
2)
give
money
me
Please give me a glass of water
____________________________________________
h gi bi bi sui ngh
please
3)
give
glass
water
me
PRT
He gave me the letter
____________________________________________
kuih bi
fng seun ngh
he
gave
MW(the)
letter
me
2. My friend teaches me Cantonese

teach somebody something
Here, the indirect object me must come first and the direct object
Cantonese comes after.

1) My friend teaches me Cantonese
____________________________________________
ngh
ngh phngphng-yuh gaau ngh Gwng Dng W
my
friend
teach
me
Cantonese
Page 51
Word Order
Page 52
Unit 9 A Verb takes a comp. and an object

6)
____________________________________________
kuih kih hi3
bb-s jaahm douh
A verb can take both complement and object at the same time. Because
he
both the complement and object comes after the verb, the position of
the complement and object may be confusing to learners
He is standing at the bus-stop
7)
they
8)
I saw Peter
____________________________________________
ngh gin du Peter
2)
9)
3)
not successfully
Peter
4)
see COMP
please
Peter
5)
successfully
MW(the)
some sound
Sorry, I cant hear what you said
____________________________________________
hnih gng mth-hu yiyi-si, ngh tng h du
mt-yh
they
hear
not
successfully
you say
drive
car
learn ed
Cantonese
year
still
learnt not know
action of open the state of open
MW (the) door
PRT
door
not
action of open the state of open e
12) The door is too tight, I cant open it.

____________________________________________
douh mhn taai saht, ngh d h hi
MW(the)
door
too
tight,
open not
the state of open
what
3
know
11) The door didnt open

____________________________________________
douh mhn muh
d
hi
d
____________________________________________
kuih deih tng du
d sng
hear
there
10) Please open the door

____________________________________________
hd
hi
douh mhn
h-gi
They heard some sound
they
learn
however
____________________________________________
kuih gm ju
gin du Peter
this morning
at
daahndaahn-haih du hohk h sk
He saw Peter this morning
he
stand
Ive learnt Cantonese for 1 year, however I still cant speak Cantonese
____________________________________________
ngh gin h du Peter
saw
not
____________________________________________
ngh hohkhohk-j GwngGwng-DngDng-W ytyt-nhn ,
Peter
I cant saw Peter.
place
He learnt driving
he
I saw Peter
saw successfully
stops
____________________________________________
kuih hohk sk
j ch
A complement of result tells the result of an action
bus
They are not standing over there
(1) For Complement of result
1)
being at there
____________________________________________
kuihgkuih-deih h haih kih hi
g-douh
1. Verb + Comp + Object
stand
Page 53
hi: being at there due to the action of standing
Word Order
Page 54
13) He watched this movie the day before yesterday

____________________________________________
kuih chhnti
yhn
nchhn-yaht
n-tou hei
he
the day before yesterday
read
finished
3)
yesterday
read
finished
that
____________________________________________
hh-hu yiyi-si, ngh gmgm-yaht meih ti yhn bnbn-sy
return back
to
not yet read finished

you
5)
the book
this
have not have
read not finish
problem PRT?
6)
week
this MW book
7)
2)
will
fly
to
the USA
father
want
back
come
Hong
Kong
(3) For potential complement

He can learn driving
____________________________________________
kuih fan lih kk-ki
come
PRT
My father wants to come back to Hong Kong
She came back home
back
come
____________________________________________
ngh bhbh-b sung fan lih HungHung-Gng
A directional complement tells the direction of an action
she
go
She will go back to the State (She will fly to the State)
he
She came back home
1)
out
____________________________________________
kuih wih fi heui Mih Gwok
(2) For Directional complement

2:00
____________________________________________
yahp lih
dudu-haih ti h yhn nn-bn sy

still
come
Please come in
in
think
back
She will go out at 2:00 (no object are in this example)
she
16) I think I cant finish this book this week!

____________________________________________
ngh nm ngh nn-go lihlih-baai
I
just
____________________________________________
kuih luhngluhng-dm chut heui
tngtng-yaht sn wahnwahn-fan bi nih yuhyuh-muh mahnmahn-tih a?

tomorrow then
go
MW book
return it to you tomorrow?
today
heui
He just came back (no object are in this example)
he
15) Im sorry, I didnt finish the book today, is there any problem if I
out
____________________________________________
kuih jihng wah fan lih
4)
sorry,
chut
you
this MW movie
14) He finished the book yesterday

____________________________________________
kuih chhmyhn
gchhm-yaht ti
g-bnbn-sy
he
nih
A potential complement tells the possibility of an action taking place. It

is formed with the linking particle dk insert between a verb and a
home
resultive or directional complement.
You go out (no object are in this example)
____________________________________________
1)
You are so smart, you can learn driving planes definitely.
____________________________________________
Page 55
Word Order
Page 56
nih gam lk, ytyt-dihng hohk dk sk j fifi-gi ge

kuih hh-yh fan lih HungHung-Gng
you so smart, definite

learn
can know drive planes PRT
(he has the capability of learning how to drive, maybe he still hasnt learnt it yet)
2)
she
can
back
come
Hong Kong
(h-yh is an auxiliary verb but not a complement)
Hes so stupid, definitely he cant learn driving
____________________________________________
kuih gam chun, ytyt-dihng hohk h sk j ch
he
3)
so
stupid,
definite
9)
____________________________________________
d daaihwndaaih-yhyh-lng
wn-gn kuih,
learn not know drive car
I can understand your Cantonese
the big ear hole (loan shark)
____________________________________________
ngh tng dk mhng nih ge GwngGwng-DngDng-W
I
listen
can
understand
The loan sharks are looking for her, so she cant come back to Hong
Kong.
your
look
ing
ss-yh kuih h fan dk

therefore
or:
Cantonese
she
not back
her,
lih HungHung-Gng
can
come
Hong Kong
ss-yh kuih h hh-yh fan lih HungHung-Gng

4)
Im sorry, you speak too fast. I cant understand.
she
____________________________________________
hh-hu yiyi-si, nih gnggng-dk taai faai, ngh tng h mhng
mhng
sorry,
5)
you
speak
LP
too fast,
hear
not understand
I can see the blackboard clearly
you
or:
you
I
see
can
clear MW(the) blackboard
(Ive worn the glasses and I have the capability to see it clearly)
____________________________________________
ngh muh daai ngahnngahn-gng, ti h chng ch d jihjih-mohk
I
not
wear
spectacles ,
see not
clear
(Ive worn the glasses and I have the capability to see it clearly)
7)
the
can
back come
Hong Kong
LP(can)
go
chut
can
there
heui gg-douh
out
go
there
11) Mummy said you cant go out there.

____________________________________________
mm-mh wah nih h chut dk heui gg-douh
mummy
say
you
not
out
can
go
there
or
subtitle
mm-mh wah nih

mummy
said
you
h hh-yh chut heui gg-douh

douh
cant can
out
go
there
I can finished that book tomorrow
____________________________________________
ngh tnggtng-yaht ti dk yhn
g-bnbn-sy
I
8)
out
nih hh-yh
I havent worn glasses, I cant see the subtitles clearly
not
10) You can go out there

____________________________________________
nih
chut dk heui gg-douh
____________________________________________
ngh ti dk chng go hakhak-ban
6)
can
tomorrow read LP(can) finished
that
2. Verb + Object + Verb + Comp
book
(1) For complement of degree
She can came back to Hong Kong
She types very slowly
____________________________________________
kuih fan dk lih HungHung-Gng
she
or:
back LP (can)
come
It indicate the degree or extent of an action or a thing
Hong Kong
Page 57
Word Order
Page 58
1)
She types very slow
____________________________________________
kuih d jih d dk hu maahn
she
type character type
As a habit, one can also says:
kuih
she
2)
d jih
LP
very
3)
____________________________________________
ngh heui gwo WhngWhng-Gm HiHi-Ngohn huhu-d chi
slow
hu maahn
type character
very
3)
drive
LP
very
4)
1)
homework
do
LP
very poor
time
piano
play
It tells how long an action or state lasts
LP
very
She didnt eat any food for 2 days
she
didnt have eat stuff
2
days
In negative, the duration can be put before the verb and form with the muh to form an
adverbial.
kuih
____________________________________________
kuih tahn gonggong-khm tahn dk hu lk
play
many
____________________________________________
kuih muh sihksihk-yh luhng yaht
She is very good at playing piano
she
coast
fast
____________________________________________
kuih jouh gng fo jouh dk hu ch
do
gold
Ive come to Hong Kong for 3 years
He does his homework very poor
he
EXP
(2) Duration Complement
____________________________________________
kuih j ch j dk hu faai
drive car
go
slow
He drives very fast
he
Ive been to the Golden Coast many times
luhng yaht muh sihksihk-yh
she
well
2)
days
didnt have eat stuff
Ive come to Hong Kong for 3 years
____________________________________________
ngh lihlih-j HungHung-Gng sam nhn
3. Verb + Object + Comp
come ed
Hong Kong
years
(1) Frequency complement

(3) Quantity Complement
It shows the frequency of an action
Ive been to Hong Kong twice

1)
Im 3 inches taller than him
Ive come to Hong Kong twice
1)
____________________________________________
ngh lihlih-gwo HungHung-Gng luhngluhng-chi
____________________________________________
ngh gu gwo kuih sam chyun
I
come EXP
Hong
Kong
2
time
(one may says ngh lih-gwo yt-ch Hung-Gng, however its not very common)
2)
I
tall than
him
another sentence pattern:
____________________________________________
kuihkuih-deih jihngjihng-haih gingin-gwo kuihkuih-deih ge dd-dh ytyt-chi
only
see
EXP
inches
ngh bi kuih gu sam chyun
They only saw their daddy once.
they
Im 3 inches taller than him
their
daddy
one time
Page 59
2)
compare
him
tall
inches
Im 5 cm taller than him
____________________________________________
Word Order
Page 60
ngh gu gwo kuih gh cm (English for cm)

I
tall than him
cm
Unit 10 Daily Useful Expressions
ngh bi kuih gu gh cm
I
3)
compare
him
tall
cm
Peter is much fatter than David
However quite often, the way that people say just a kind of habit you
____________________________________________
Peter fih gwo David hu d
cant tell why people say in this way, using these words and in this
Peter fat than David

word order.
much
Then its better for you to just remember them instead of trying to
Peter bi David fih hu d

Peter compare David
4)
fat
know the logic in it.
much
Mary is a bit prettier than Kelly
1. The way that people say
____________________________________________
Mary leng gwo Kelly su su
Mary pretty than Kelly
a bit
Mary
compare Kelley
pretty
a lift is so heavy and how can people give it to somebody!
a bit
1)
give
flower
to
honourable
2)
Mary
lend
money to
PRT?
I wish you good (usage = Nice to meet you)
you
____________________________________________
ngh phngphng-yuh je chn bi ngh
friend
surname
____________________________________________
nih hu
My friend lend money to me
My
May I have your honourable surname?
____________________________________________
gwai sing
a?
4. Verb + Object 1 + Comp + Object 2

He gives flowers to Mary
1) He gives flowers to Mary
____________________________________________
kuih sung f bi Mary
he
For example, an English learner may not understand How about I give
you a lift? means How about I drive you?. The learner may thinks
Mary bi Kelly leng su su
2)
What a beginning learner learns may be some daily useful expressions.
me
good
2. The words that people use

Its not common to say Merry new year and Happy Christmas. As
a habit, people say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
1)
Good morning
____________________________________________
Page 61
Word Order
Page 62
ju shn
early morning
(ju also means morning or dawn, however people never use ju here)
Unit 11 Glossaries: English to Cantonese
3. The word order

(yt) + MW
baby
bh b
about
daaih koi
back
add
come back: fan,

the back of a body:
Happy birthday
afraid
____________________________________________
sang
sang-yaht faai lohk (set expressions)
gng
after
hauh, j hauh
Due to the way that what people say maybe different from your own
language, the word order maybe out of your expectation
1)
birthday
happy
What we learnt in the previous chapters is the modifier happy: faai-lohk should comes
before what it modifies birthday: sang-yaht, however its reverse here. Its because
Cantonese say I hope your birthday will be happy instead of saying happy birthday
here
2)
Today, I have a very happy birthday ( a made statement)
____________________________________________
gmgm-yaht, ngh yuh ytyt-go hu hihi-sm ge sangsang-yaht
Generally, happy should be hi sm, faai lohk is very formal and

mainly used in some set expression such as sang-yaht faai- lohk.
balcony
louh tih
be
haih
beat
all
s yuh, chyhn bouh
already
yh gng
because
yn waih
also
du
before
chhn, j chhn
always
shng yaht
belong
suhk y
am
haih
big
daaih
American
Mih Gwok
birthday
sang yaht
American style:
style: mih
sk
bit
su su
today ,
I
have
1 MW very happy
LP
birthday
This sentence matches with what weve learnt as happy: hi-sm comes before birthday:
sang-yaht)
bui, behind: hauh bihn
and
thng, thng maih
another
lihng ngoih yt MW
answer
verb: daap, noun:
blackboard hak ban

body
sn ti
book
text books/books with

content printed: sy,
daap on
phng gw
arrive
dou
arrogant
jih daaih
both
luhng j
as
similar: hu chh
boy
nahm ji, boy
at
hi
Australia
Ou Ju
away
Page 63
blank books for writing:
apple
Word Order
to leave: lih hi
bu, verb: dehng, book

keeping: bouh gei
friend: nahm phng

yuh
brave
yhng gm
break
to break: jng waaih,

Page 64
jng laahn, broken

cry
functional: waaih,
physical damage:
laahn; break up
disassemble: chaak
bring
daai
brother
hng daih, elder
bus
b s
but
daahn haih
buy
maih
by
sign of passive: bi
can
capable of doing sth:

sk, permitted to: h
English
people: Yng Gwok
cute
dk yi
chng git, to wipe:

maat
daddy
d dh
daughter
nui
example
day
laih j, laih yh
yaht
EXP
deliver
abbr.: Experiential
sung fo
die
si
expensive
gwai
diligent
khn lihk
fall
dit
dirty
w ju
family
do
jouh
casual: k ki,
formal: g thng
dog
gu
fast
faai
doll
gng ji
fat
fih
dollar
mn
father
bh b, d dh
dolphin
hi tyhn
festival
jit, jit yaht
dont
fine
hu
door
mhn
finish
yhn
drama
w kehk
finished
jouh yhn
draw
waahk, draw
money: tih chn
flower
fly
verb: fi, the insect:

w yng
on clothing: jeuk
food
yh sihk
clear
clever
cloth
clothes
chng ch
chng mhng
bou
clothing in general for
the top: sam
yh
colleague
thng sih
G Nh Daaih
Daaih
come
lih
Cantonese Gwng Dng W
comics
maahn w
car
ch
common
pu tng
careful
su sm
COMP
abbr.: Complement
Central
Jng Wahn
company
gng s
certain
yt dihng
compare
bi / bi gaau
change
gi
complete
yhn chyhn
character
jih
cheap
phng
concurrent gm
gm--jk
job
cook
jy, jyn faahn, a
Chinese
sihk
MhnMhn-Fa JngJng-Sm
gn jehng, to clean:
ngohn, hi ngohn
China
eat
clean
coast
child
shout: giu
shng sh
leuhn jeuhn
cheat
jaahn
city
clumsy
Canada
earn
Culture
Centre
cup
Christmas Sing Daan Jit
brother: gh g,
younger brother: sai
lu
with tears: haam,
dress
yhn, language: Yng

Mn
bi
even
juhng, even more: juhng,

gang g
Aspect Marker
a dress: kwhn, put
cook: chyh s
drive
j ch
foolish
am
chun
sai mn ji
correctly
ear
yh
foreigner
fo chhng (M: go)
ngoih gwok yhn
Jng Gwok
course
early
ju
forever
gwo
whng yhn
style: jng sk,
cross
ak
Page 65
Word Order
Page 66
forget
h gei dk
four
sei
he
kuih
frank
tan baahk, luh saht
health
gihn hng, usually
friend
phng yuh
from
yuh
hear
tng
front
chhn bihn
heavy
chhng
her
kuih
here
n douh
him
kuih
Mn
his
kuih ge
l, lng, get off:

lohk
hole
lng
home
k ki
gamble
German
get
girl
du chn
people: Dk Gwok
yhn, language: Dk
nuih ji, girl

friend: nuih phng yuh
give
bi, give back the

change: jau
faahn
husband
people say
homework gng fo
Hong Kong Hung Gng
hope
hi mohng
horse
mh, horse racing:

pau mh
heui, go out: chut heui
hospital
y yn
gold
gm
hot
yiht
Golden
Coast
good
Whng Gm Hi Ngohn
hour
jng (tuh)
house
how?
qty: gi, the way:

dm (yung), how
glass
cup: bi, glass

material: b li
go
hu, good value: di
sn sang(polite),
luh gng(casual)
language
y yhn
ice
bng
last
ice-cream
syut gu
previous: seuhng,
the end: jeui mih
if
yh gw
late
chh
in
at: hi, enter: yahp
laugh
siu
inches
chyun
lazy
lahn
ing
gn
learn
hohk
interesting dk yi, hu wan

wan
leave
ju, lih hi
interview
gin gng, mihn si
left
into
yahp heui
left side: j bihn,

verb: ju, lih hi
it
kuih
lend
je
Japan
Yaht Bn
less
su d
Japanese
people: yaht bn yhn,

language: yaht mn
letter
seun (M: fng)
like
jng yi
gng (M: fahn), gng
listen
tng
jok
little
hu su, a little bit:

su su
job
Jordan
J Dun
jump
tiu
live
jyuh
June
luhk yuht
loan
borrow money: je chn
just
just before: am a
am /
long
chuhng long
guy
lu
about ? hu h
half
bun
hu, how long?: gi

noih, how many?: gi
kill
animals: tng
kitchen
however
daahn haih
hundred
baak
happy
hi sm
have
yuh, have to: yiu,

have a meal: sihk
Page 67
address a lady: su j
ngh
fo (maht)
su
girl: nuih ji,
goods
hand
lady
winded: chuhng hei
jing wah, just only:

jihng
jihng haih
look
mohng, look for:

wn
chyh fng
lose
h gin
kitty
baby cat: mau ji
lots
know
j dou
love
formal: oi, casual
Word Order
Page 68
(more common): jng yi
mother
m mh
LP
abbr.: Linking Particle
Muh Chn Jit
mainland
daaih luhk
Mothers
day
movie
make
jouh, make by hand:
often
shng yaht
please
once
yt chi
police
hei (MW: tou, chut),

movie star: mhng
one
yt
sng
only
jihngjihng-haih
open
hi, opening hours:

hi fong sh gaan
jng, in a slang way:

gau
MTR
deih tit
male
nahm
much
hu d
man
nahm yn
mum
m mh
many
MW
abbr.: Measure Word
marry
git fn
my
ngh ge
may
permitted to do sth: h
yh
name
mng
our
naughty
yih
out
never
chhng lih h
May
h yuht
me
ngh
meal
chan
h gi
gng chaat, police
station: chai gn
poor
inferior: ch, no

money: khng
pound
bohng
or
dihng, waahk j
practice
lihn jaahp
order
command: mihng
pretty
leng
lihng, order food in a

restaurant: giu
problem
mahn tih
PRT
abbr.: Modal Particles
ngh deih ge
puppy
gu ji
chut, out of order,
put
take: lng, l, place:

fong
waaih
New
Nu Si Lahn
Zealand
newspaper bou j
overtime
g ban
question
mahn tih
parent
fuh muh
quite
gi
meaning: yi s
next
gaak lih
Paris
B Lih
rain
milk
naih
nice
personality: hu, hu
Baak Gai
verb, raining: lohk

yh, noun, the rain:
milk tea
naih chh
Parkn
shop
part
mine
ngh ge
money
chn
month
yuht, this month: n
now
yh g
go yuht, last month:

seuhng go yuht, next
number
houh mh,
mean
equal to: jk haih,
month: hah go yuht

more
morning
most
d d
ju ju
jeui most probably:
d sou
yhn, look nice: leng

not
transliteration: nm
nm b
oclock
dm
offend
dk jeuih
office
baahn gng st, s jih

luh, usually people
say
Page 69
yh
part a place: gaan
read
ti
passage
mn (MW: pn)
real
jn haih
pen
bt, pencil case: bt
really
jn haih
hp
research
yhn gau
person
yhn, yn
resign
chh jk
piano
gong khm
responsible fuh jaak
pick
jp
return sth
back
rice
dont: h, be not:

h, not yet: meih,
dont have: muh
a part: bouh fahn, to
place(verb) ji
play
Word Order
wan, playing
tricks: jng g
wahn
cooked rice: faahn,
uncooked rice: mih
road
louh, mh louh
Page 70
robber
chak
slow
maahn
room
fng
small
sai, small change:
salary
yhn gng
say
wah, gng
school
studies
duhk sy
there
g douh
san j
study
wn sy
therefore
s yh
smart
lk
stuff
yh
they
kuih deih
hohk haauh, school
so
gam
stupid
chun
thing
yh
bag: sy bau,
primary school: su
sofa
s f
subject
f, f muhk
think
nm
some
yt d
subtitle
jih mohk
this
n + MW
hohk, secondary
school:: jng hohk,
school
scold
see
seem
sometimes yuh sh
successfully complement: du
those
g d
university: daaih hohk
son
ji
summer
thousand
chn
laauh
sorry
hh-hu yiyi-si
hah tn, summer

holiday: sy ga
three
sam
gin
sound
surname
sing
ticket
fi
ti lih, seems like:

hu chh
Spain
swim
yuh sui
time
sh gaan, freq.: chi
table
ti
tired
guih
Tai Po
Daaih Bou
to
heui
take
carry: l,
transportation: daap
today
gm yaht
together
yt chih
toilet
seldom
hu su
send
sung
severe
Sha Tin
yhm laih, yhm juhng

S Thn
Spanish
sng
Si Ban Ngh
people: Si Ban Ngh
yhn, language: Si
Ban Ngh Mn
speak
gng
gng j
talk
gng
spend money: si,

use: yuhng
tall
gu
wash room: si su
gan (elegant, used with
teach
gaau
strangers),
strangers), toilet: chi
stand
kih
telephone
dihn w
state
country: gwok g,
tell
gng
s (casual, used at
home)
the USA: Mih Gwok
ten
sahp, ten thousand:

maahn
speaker
spend
Shatin
S Thn
she
kuih
Sheung
Wan
shop
Seuhng Wahn
shopping
maih yh
yh
station
jaahm
short
in height: i
i, in
stay
lauh
than
length: dyn
steal
tu
should
yng gi
still
sit
chh
skip
sleep
tomorrow
tng yaht
tonight
gm mahn
over: gwo
too
taai
that
g + MW
toy
wuhn geuih
juhng
the
MW
translate
yihk, fan yihk
stop
thng
them
kuih deih
travel
luih hhng
tiu
stubborn
gu jp
then
gn jyuh
Jm S Jui
fan gaau
student
hohk sang
Tsim Sha
Tsui
Tuesday
pou tu
Page 71
Word Order
lih baai yih

Page 72
TV
dihn sih
we
ngh deih
twice
luhng chi
wear
jeuk
two
yih
weather
tn hei
type
to type:
type: d jih, kind:
week
lih baai, this week:
jng (leuih)
typing
n go lih baai, last

week: seuhng go lih
d jih
h hi sm
up
hi
USA
Mih Gwok
use
yuhng
usually
tng suhng
well
visit
a well: jng, good:

hu, interjection: gm
what
mt yh, what time:

gi dm
when
in a statement: dng,

in a question: gi sh
Vancouver Wn G Wh
very
where
bn douh
which
bn MW
who
bn
bn go?
a president visit
will
wih
another country, a
reporter interview a
window
chung
hu
friends: taam,
museums: cham gn,
yet
(juhng) meih
you
singular: nih, plural:
plural: nih deih ge

yours
singular: nih ge, plural:

nih deih ge
nih deih
your
singular: nih ge,
Word Order
Edited by
Tel
e-mail
URL
Version
First printed in:
Last revised in:
Printed in:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
Cantonese Learning Centre

(852) 2881 0116
info@clc.com.hk
V2.3
Dec 2000
July 2000
January 2006
All rights reserved.

Printed in Hong Kong.
The end of the book
famous person: fng

mahn
wipe
maat
wish
hi mohng, jk
wait
dng
with
thng
walk
hahng
work
back to work: fan
wallet
nghn bau
Wanchai
Wan Ji
yawn
d haam louh
want
sung
year
watch
to watch: ti, wrist

watch: su bu (M: jek)
nhn, this year: gm

nn, last year: gauh
water
sui
khm yaht
baai, next week: hah

go lih baai
understand mhng
unhappy
yesterday
gng, do: jouh
nn, seuhng nn, next

year: chut nn, years
old: seui
Page 73
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Word Order
Page 74

Cantonese Word Order

Transféré par

Informations du document

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Cantonese Word Order

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Word order

Unit 8 A verb takes 2 objects

Unit 1 Importance of Sentence Elements

Unit 2 Definitions of Sentence Elements

Unit 9 A Verb takes a comp. and an object

Unit 3 Basic Rules for Word Order

Unit 4 Positions of Different Elements

Unit 5 Common sentence patterns

Unit 7 Prepositional Phrases

Unit 10 Daily Useful Expressions

The way that people say

Unit 11 Glossaries: English to Cantonese

The end of the book

I work in Sheung Wan

Unit 6 Word order with all Sentence Elements

Verb + Comp + Object

Unit 1 Importance of Sentence Elements

For examples, a noun can be a subject or an object. If the noun works

They are shopping in Central (adverbial)

Jung-Wahn is a noun (place word), since it works as an object

She is very pretty (subject)

as an object, it comes at the end.

as a subject, it comes at the beginning of a sentence. If the noun works

They go to Central (object)

Jung-Wahn is a noun (place word), since it form with at: hi to

verb go: heui it modifys

kuih: she here is a pronoun.

Her mum beat her (object)

kuih: her here is also a pronoun.

We have meal at 5:00 (adverbial)

5:00 is a noun (time word), since it works as an adverb (adverb of

Unit 2 Definitions of Sentence Elements

Unit 3 Basic Rules for Word Order

There are 6 elements of a sentences in total:

The subject in a Cantonese sentence is the topic talked about.

most languages are in logical sequence.

The predicate tells what is said about the subject

She has money

The sentence element that is governed by a verb and denotes a person,

She will buy a piano

An object is usually placed after a verb.

He is going to go to Central (He goes to Central)

modified is called an attribute.

She has $3.5

The sentence element that modifies a verb or an adjective by

expressing its time, place, manner, scope, quality, state or degree is

He is going to Wanchai to buy flowers

They are students

expresses the quality, state, quantity or category of the person or thing

2. Modifier comes before what it modifies

(1) Attributive modifies a noun

most of the time

He always goes to play

My colleagues (my modifies colleagues)

3. Result comes after the action

He takes the MTR most of the time

(3) Adverbial modifies a verb

Its really too hot!

This clothing is quite nice

They are good friends

(2) Adverbial modifies an adjective

Three books (three modifies books)

Complement is the results or explanatory of the action

They have gone for 4 hours