Editing Berber languages (section)

=== Sentence structure ===
Sentences in Berber languages can be divided into verbal and non-verbal sentences. The [[Topic and comment|topic]], which has a unique intonation in the sentence, precedes all other arguments in both types.<ref name="Kossmann-2007d" />

Verbal sentences have a finite verb, and are commonly understood to follow [[verb–subject–object word order]] (VSO).<ref name="Kossmann-2007d" /><ref name="Mettouchi-2010" /> Some linguists have proposed opposing analyses of the word order patterns in Berber languages, and there has been some support for characterizing Taqbaylit as [[Non-configurational language|discourse-configurational]].<ref name="Mettouchi-2010" />

Existential, attributive, and locational sentences in most Berber languages are expressed with non-verbal sentences, which have no finite verb. In these sentences, the predicate follows the noun, with the predicative particle ''d'' sometimes in between. Two examples, one without and one with a subject, are given from Kabyle as follows:<ref name="Kossmann-2007d" /> {{Interlinear|indent=2|ð a-qšiš|PRED {{gcl|EL|free state, also called the accusative case}}:M-boy|"It is a boy." (Kabyle)}}

{{Interlinear|indent=2|nətta ð a-qšiš|he PRED {{gcl|EL|free state, also called the accusative case}}:M-boy|"He is a boy." (Kabyle)}}Non-verbal sentences may use the verb meaning "to be," which exists in all Berber languages. An example from Tarifit is given as follows:<ref name="Kossmann-2007d" />{{Interlinear|indent=2|i-tiři ða|3SG:M-be:{{gcl|I|imperfective}} here|"He is always here." (habitual) (Tarifit)}}