Editing Cherokee language (section)

=== Word order ===
All orderings between subjects, verbs, and objects are possible in Cherokee sentences, but word order preferences are influenced by a number of factors. Some preferences are determined by [[information structure]]; items that express contrast with alternatives generally precede other arguments,{{sfn|Hsu|Frey|2024}} and items that express new information typically precede those that refer to entities already in the conversation.{{sfn|Scancarelli|1987|pp=181-198}} Word order is also influenced by [[Thematic relation|thematic role]], such that agent arguments of transitive sentences (subjects) typically precede theme arguments (objects).{{sfn|Feeling|1975|p=353}}{{sfn|King|1975|p=111}}{{sfn|Hsu|Frey|2024}} Verbs typically occur either at the end of the sentence or followed by exactly one phrase; it is highly uncommon to find two phrases following the verb in a single sentence.{{sfn|Hsu|Frey|2024}} In [[Copula (linguistics)|copular]] sentences, the subject complement must precede the copular verb.{{sfn|Akkuş|2018}} Negative sentences have a different word order.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Within the nominal expression, some relative orders are fixed, while others are flexible. Demonstratives, such as {{lang|chr|ᎾᏍᎩ}} {{lang|chr-Latn|nasgi}} ('that') or {{lang|chr|ᎯᎠ}} {{lang|chr-Latn|hia}} ('this'), occur at the beginning of noun phrases.{{sfn|Scancarelli|1987|p=175}} Numerals follow demonstratives, and precede both nouns and adjectives.{{sfn|Montgomery-Anderson|2008a|p=516}} Adjectives may either precede or follow nouns. Relative clauses follow the nouns that they modify.{{sfn|Feeling|1975|p=353}} Adverbs precede the verbs that they are modifying. For example, 'she's speaking loudly' is {{lang|chr|ᎠᏍᏓᏯ ᎦᏬᏂᎭ}} {{lang|chr-Latn|asdaya gawoniha}} (literally, 'loud she's-speaking').{{sfn|Feeling|1975|p=353}}

In affirmative present tense sentences, no verb is required to express a copular, predicative relationship between two noun phrases. In such a case, word order is flexible. For example, {{lang|chr|Ꮎ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎠᎩᏙᏓ}} {{lang|chr-Latn|na asgaya agidoda}} ('that man is my father'). Adjectives can also be used predicatively with a noun phrase subject, as in {{lang|chr|ᎠᎩᏙᏓ ᎤᏔᎾ}} {{lang|chr-Latn|agidoda utana}} ('my father is big').{{sfn|Feeling|1975|p=354}}