Editing Breton language (section)

===Word order===
{{expand section|V2 word order|date=May 2022}}
Normal word order, like the other [[Insular Celtic languages]], is at its core [[verb–subject–object word order|VSO]] (verb-subject-object), which is most apparent in embedded clauses. However, Breton finite verbs in [[main clause]]s are additionally subject to [[V2 word order]] in which the finite main clause verb is typically the second element in the sentence.<ref name="V2">{{cite journal | last=Kennard | first=Holly J. | title=Non-Negative Word Order in Breton: Maintaining Verb-Second | journal=Transactions of the Philological Society | publisher=Wiley | volume=116 | issue=2 | date=12 January 2018 | issn=0079-1636 | doi=10.1111/1467-968x.12119 | pages=153–178| s2cid=148910543 | url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:9131b11a-3eff-43b1-9055-b6c9f19b413b}}</ref> That makes it perfectly possible to put the subject or the object at the beginning of the sentence, largely depending on the focus of the speaker. The following options are possible (all with a little difference in meaning):

*the first places the verbal [[infinitive]] in initial position (as in (1)), followed by the [[Auxiliary verb|auxiliary]] {{lang|br|ober}} 'to do'.
*the second places the Auxiliary verb {{lang|br|bezañ}} 'to be' in initial position (as in (2)), followed the Subject, and the construction {{lang|br|o(cʼh)}} ''+ infinitive''. At the end comes the Object. This construction is an exception to verb-second.
*the third places the construction {{lang|br|o(cʼh)}} ''+ infinitive'' in the initial position (as in (3)), followed by the Auxiliary verb {{lang|br|bezañ}}, the Subject, and the Object.
*the fourth option places the Object in initial position (as in (4)), followed by an inflected verb, followed by the Subject.
*the fifth, and originally least common, places the Subject in initial position (as in (5)), followed by an inflected verb, followed by the Object, just like in English (SVO).

{{interlinear|number=(1)
| Lenn a ra brezhoneg
| read PRT do.3SG Breton
| 'He/she reads Breton.'}}

{{interlinear|number=(2)
| Ema Yann {o lenn} brezhoneg
| be.3SG Yann reading Breton
| 'Yann is reading Breton.'}}

{{interlinear|number=(3)
| {O lenn} ema Yann brezhoneg
| reading be.3SG Yann Breton
| 'Yann is reading Breton.'}}

{{interlinear|number=(4)
| Mad eo an istor
| good be.3SG the story
| 'The story is good.'}}

{{interlinear|number=(5)
| An istor zo mad
| the story be.3SG good
| 'The story is good.'}}