Editing Khmer language (section)

====Verb phrase====
Khmer verbs are completely uninflected, and once a subject or topic has been introduced or is clear from context the noun phrase may be dropped. Thus, the simplest possible sentence in Khmer consists of a single verb. For example, {{IPA|/tɨw/}} 'to go' on its own can mean "I'm going.", "He went.", "They've gone.", "Let's go.", etc.<ref name=ModSpok />{{rp|17}} This also results in long strings of verbs such as:

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /kʰɲom cɑng tɨw daə leːng/
| I {to want} {to go} {to walk} {to play}
| 'I want to go for a stroll.'<ref name=ModSpok />{{rp|187}}
}}

Khmer uses three verbs for what translates into English as the copula. The general copula is {{IPA|/ciə/}}; it is used to convey identity with nominal predicates.<ref name=Haiman />{{rp|212}} For locative predicates, the copula is {{IPA|/nɨw/}}.<ref name=Haiman />{{rp|212}} The verb {{IPA|/miən/}} is the "existential" copula meaning "there is" or "there exists".<ref name=Haiman />{{rp|208}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /piəsaː ciə kaː sɑmdaeŋ cət kumnɨt krŏəp jaːŋ/
| language copula NMLZ {to express} heart thought all kind
| 'Language is the expression of all emotions and ideas'
}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /ʋiə nɨw cɪt ʋŏət/
| he copula close temple
| 'He is close to the temple.'
}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /miən pʰaen kaː/
| to exist plan
| 'There is a plan.'
}}

[[Negation]] is achieved by putting {{lang|km|មិន}} {{IPA|/mɨn/}} before the verb and the particle {{lang|km|ទេ}} {{IPA|/teː/}} at the end of the sentence or clause. In colloquial speech, verbs can also be negated without the need for a final particle, by placing {{lang|km|ឥត}} {{IPA|/ʔɑt/~/ʔət/}} before them.<ref name=msc />

<blockquote>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
{{interlinear|/kʰɲom cɨə/|I {to believe}|'I believe.'}}
{{Col-3}}
{{interlinear|/kʰɲom mɨn cɨə teː/|I NEG {to believe} NEG|'I don't believe.'}}
{{Col-3}}
{{interlinear|/kʰɲom ʔɑt cɨə/|I NEG {to believe}|'I don't believe.'}}
{{Col-end}}
</blockquote>

Past tense can be conveyed by adverbs, such as "yesterday" or by the use of perfective particles such as {{IPA|/haəj/}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /kŏət tɨw msəlmɨɲ/
| he {to go} yesterday
| 'He went yesterday.'
}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /kŏət tɨw haəj/
| he {to go} pfv
| 'He left.' or 'He's already gone.'<ref name=ModSpok />{{rp|22}}
}}

Different senses of future action can also be expressed by the use of adverbs like "tomorrow" or by the future tense marker {{IPA|/nɨŋ/}}, which is placed immediately before the verb, or both:

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
| /sʔaek kʰɲom nɨŋ tɨw {saːlaː riən}/
| tomorrow I FUT {to go} school
| 'Tomorrow, I will go to school.'<ref name=KhDict />
}}

[[Imperative mood|Imperatives]] are often unmarked.<ref name=Haiman />{{rp|240}} For example, in addition to the meanings given above, the "sentence" {{IPA|/tɨw/}} can also mean "Go!". Various words and particles may be added to the verb to soften the command to varying degrees, including to the point of politeness ([[Jussive mood|jussives]]):<ref name=Haiman />{{rp|240}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
|/cou saːk lbɑːŋ kʰluən aeŋ coh/
|IMP try try you REFL IMP
|'Go ahead and try it yourself.'
}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
|/soum tʰʋəː taːm bɑndam kŏət tɨw/
|please do follow instruction he IMP
|'Please follow his instructions.'
}}

Prohibitives take the form "{{IPA|/kom/}} + {{smallcaps|verb}}" and also are often softened by the addition of the particle {{IPA|/ʔəj/}} to the end of the phrase.<ref name=Haiman />{{rp|242}}

{{interlinear|lang=km|indent=2
|/kom nɨw tiː nih ʔəj/
|PROH {to be} place DEM COHORT
|'Don't stay in this place.'
}}