Editing Syntax (section)

===Sequencing of subject, verb, and object===
{{Redirect|Subject and object|philosophical terms|Subject (philosophy)|and|Object (philosophy)}}
One basic description of a language's syntax is the sequence in which the [[subject (grammar)|subject]] (S), [[verb]] (V), and [[object (grammar)|object]] (O) usually appear in sentences. Over 85% of languages usually place the subject first, either in the sequence [[subject-verb-object|SVO]] or the sequence [[subject-object-verb|SOV]]. The other possible sequences are [[verb-subject-object|VSO]], [[verb-object-subject|VOS]], [[object-verb-subject|OVS]], and [[object-subject-verb|OSV]], the last three of which are rare. In most generative theories of syntax, the surface differences arise from a more complex clausal phrase structure, and each order may be compatible with multiple derivations. However, word order can also reflect the semantics or function of the ordered elements.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Word Order |encyclopedia=International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |last=Rijkhoff |first=Jan |date=2015 |editor-last=Wright |editor-first=James D. |edition=2nd |pages=644–656 |language=en |doi=10.1016/b978-0-08-097086-8.53031-1 |isbn=978-0-08-097087-5|url=https://pure.au.dk/ws/files/90431351/Word_Order_draft_May_2014.pdf}}</ref>