Editing Cornish language (section)

=== Syntax ===
Word order in Cornish is somewhat fluid and varies depending on several factors such as the intended element to be emphasised and whether a statement is negative or affirmative. In a study on Cornish word order in the play Bewnans Meriasek ({{circa|1500}}), Ken George has argued that the most common word order in main clauses in Middle Cornish was, in affirmative statements, [[Subject–verb–object|SVO]], with the verb in the third person singular:<ref>{{cite book |last=George |first=Ken J. |chapter=Notes on word order in Beunans Meriasek |date=1991 |title=Studies in Brythonic Word Order |series="Current Issues in Linguistic Theory" series |volume=83 |pages=205 |place=Amsterdam |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing |doi=10.1075/cilt.83.06geo |isbn=9789027235800}}</ref>

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=kw-kkcor|My a wel an gath|1SG PTCL see-PRES.3SG DEF cat|'I see the cat.'{{sfn|Ball|Müller|2009|p=529}}}}

When affirmative statements are in the less common VSO order, they usually begin with an adverb or other element, followed by an affirmative particle, with the verb inflected for person and tense:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=kw-kkcor|Ev a grys y hwelav an gath|3SG.M PTCL believe-PRES.3SG PTCL see-PRES.1SG DEF cat|'He believes that I see the cat.'{{sfn|Ball|Müller|2009|p=529}}}}

In negative statements, the order was usually [[Verb–subject–object|VSO]], with an initial negative particle and the verb conjugated for person and tense:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=kw-kkcor|Ny welav an gath|NEG see-PRES.1SG DEF cat|'I do not see the cat.'{{sfn|Ball|Müller|2009|p=529}}}}

A similar structure is used for questions:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=cnx|a glewsyugh why?|PTCL hear-{{gcl|PLUPERF|pluperfect}}.2PL 2PL|'Did you hear?'{{sfn|MacAulay|1992|p=348}}}}

Elements can be fronted for emphasis:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=kw-kkcor|an gath my a wel|DEF cat 1SG PTCL see-PRES.3SG|'I see '''''the cat'''''.'{{sfn|Ball|Müller|2009|p=239}}}}

Sentences can also be constructed periphrastically using auxiliary verbs such as {{lang|kw|bos}} 'be, exist':

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=cnx|Yma ow kelwel ely|be-PRES-AFF.3SG PTCL call-VN Ely|'(He) is calling Ely.'{{sfn|MacAulay|1992|p=351}}}}

As Cornish lacks verbs such as 'to have', possession can also be indicated in this way:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=cnx|'ma 'gen ehaz nyi dhen|be-PRES-AFF.3SG 1PL health 1PL to+us|'We have our health.'{{sfn|Williams|1997|p=147}}}}

Enquiring about possession is similar, using a different interrogative form of {{lang|kw|bos}}:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=cnx|Hostes, ues boues dewhy?|Hostess be-PRES-INTERR-INDEF.3SG food to+you|'Hostess, have you [any] food?'{{sfn|Williams|1997|p=153}}}}

Nouns usually precede the adjective, unlike in English:<ref>{{cite book |last=Norris |first=Edwin |title=The Ancient Cornish Drama |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |date=1859 |pages=22}}</ref>

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=cnx|Benyn vas|woman good|'[A] good woman.'{{sfn|Norris|1859|p=22}}}}

Some adjectives usually precede the noun, however:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=cnx|Drog den|evil man|'[An] evil man.'<ref>{{cite journal |last=Williams |first=N. J. A. |date=1 May 2013 |title=Adjectival and Adverbial Prefixes in Cornish |url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/10.1386/corn.21.1.33_1 |journal=Cornish Studies |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=33–75 |doi=10.1386/corn.21.1.33_1 |issn=1352-271X}}</ref>}}