Sindarin Sentence Structure
Sindarin sentence structure: VSO order, subordinate clauses, relative clauses, negation, and complex sentence examples.
Basic Word Order: VSO
Sindarin is Verb-Subject-Object — the verb typically comes first, then the subject, then the object. This is the same as Classical Arabic, Welsh, and Irish.
| Position | Element | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verb | Cenin (I see) |
| 2 | Subject (implied in verb suffix) | — (subject encoded in -n suffix) |
| 3 | Object | galadh / 'aladh (tree) |
Full sentence: Cenin 'aladh — "I see a tree"
When the subject is a named noun (not just a pronoun suffix), it follows the verb:
Tôl Aragorn — "Aragorn comes" (verb-subject) Cenin Aragorn i 'aladh — "Aragorn sees the tree" (verb-subject-object)
Simple Sentences
Subject + Predicate Adjective (Copula)
Sindarin often omits the "to be" verb in simple statements:
| Sindarin | Literal | English |
|---|---|---|
| Beleg aran | Great king | The king is great |
| Bain i edhel | Beautiful the elf | The elf is beautiful |
| Maen i 'waith | Skilled the people | The people are skilled |
Subject + Verb
| Sindarin | English |
|---|---|
| Tôl Aragorn | Aragorn comes |
| Cenir Legolas | Legolas sees |
| Pêd Galadriel | Galadriel speaks |
Subject + Verb + Object
Object undergoes soft mutation:
| Sindarin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cenin 'aladh | I see a tree | galadh → 'aladh (direct obj. lenited) |
| Annon ylf an benn | I give a goblet to a man | ylf = goblet (object); an benn = dative |
| Pêd Aragorn i·vethed | Aragorn speaks the ending | methed → vethed (direct obj. lenited) |
Questions
Sindarin questions are formed by intonation (rising tone) or with question words at the start. The word order may remain the same:
| Type | Sindarin | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yes/No | Tôl Aragorn? | Does Aragorn come? |
| Who | Man cenir? | Who sees? |
| What | Ma cennich? | What did you see? |
| Where | Mi van? | Where? |
| When | Na min ir? | When? |
| Why | An-man? | For what reason? (why) |
Man (who) and ma (what) are question words that typically front the sentence.
Negation
Sindarin negation uses:
-
Prefix ú- (without, not) on verb or adjective:
- ú-cenin (I do not see)
- ú-veleg (not great)
-
Negative particle al-, avo-, na- (various; debated):
- avo garo! — "Do not do it!" (imperative negative)
-
Úgarnen — "I did not make it" (ú- + verb in past)
The prefix ú- triggers soft mutation on the following consonant:
- ú- + beleg = ú-veleg (not great)
- ú- + gar- (have) = ú-'ar- (not have) — g disappears under soft mutation after ú-
Conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| a / ar | and | a before consonants; ar or before vowels (disputed) |
| egor | or | |
| dan | but, against | |
| pan | when, since | introduces subordinate clauses |
| im | as, while | |
| nî | so that | final/purpose clause |
| be | as, according to | comparison |
Coordinating conjunctions
A connects two nouns or verbs:
- Aragorn a Legolas — "Aragorn and Legolas"
- Cenin a linnon — "I see and I sing"
Subordinate Clauses
Sindarin has relative and temporal subordinate clauses introduced by:
Relative Clause with i
The relative pronoun i (same word as the definite article — distinguished by context) introduces relative clauses:
I pherian i aníra iest lín — "The hobbit who desires your wish"
- i pherian = the hobbit (article i + lenited pherian)
- i aníra = who desires (relative i + verb)
- iest lín = your wish (lín = your possessive)
Temporal Clauses with pan, im
Pan tôl Aragorn, linnon — "When Aragorn comes, I sing" Im cenin i 'aladh, maeron — "While I see the tree, I rejoice"
Complex Sentence Examples
From Tolkien's Texts
Pedo mellon a minno (Doors of Durin)
- pedo = speak! (imperative of ped-)
- mellon = friend
- a = and
- minno = enter! (imperative of minno-)
- Translation: "Speak, friend, and enter"
Le abdollen (Rivendell — Elves to Gandalf)
- le = you/thee (2nd sg. object)
- abdollen = "been delayed/come late" (past participle of ab- + tol- + -nnen)
- Translation: "You are late" (literally "You have-been-held-back")
Nef aear, sí nef aearon (from A Elbereth Gilthoniel)
- nef = on this side of
- aear = ocean, sea
- sí = here, now
- aearon = great ocean (augmented form)
- Translation: "On this side of the ocean, here on this side of the great ocean"
A Elbereth Gilthoniel — full parsing of first stanza:
| Word | Analysis | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| A | exclamatory particle | O! |
| Elbereth | name (Star-Queen) | Elbereth |
| Gilthoniel | name compound: gil (star) + thoniel (who kindled) | Star-kindler |
| silivren | celeb (silver) + -ren (adj. suf.) | sparkling-silver |
| penna | falls, slants down | slanting down |
| míriel | mîr (jewel) + -iel (daughter/fem.) | sparkling like a jewel |
| o menel | from (o) + heaven (menel) | from (the) heaven |
| aglar | radiance, glory | glory |
| elenath | star-host (collective) | of the stars |
Translation: "O Elbereth Star-kindler, sparkling silver slanting down, sparkling like a jewel, from heaven the glory of the stars!"
Sentence Patterns Summary
| Pattern | Sindarin | English |
|---|---|---|
| Simple statement | Tôl Aragorn | Aragorn comes |
| Transitive | Cenin 'aladh | I see a tree |
| Predicate adj. | Beleg aran | The king is great |
| Dative | Annon ylf an benn | I give a goblet to a man |
| Negation | Ú-cenin 'aladh | I don't see a tree |
| Question | Man cenir? | Who sees? |
| Relative | I berian i aníra | The hobbit who desires |
| Command | Pedo mellon! | Speak, friend! |