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An Outline of Syntax
51
Word-order
112, The word-order in Apbh is much more like Prakrit than like Hindi. That is mainly due to the inflexional character of the former.
(a) As a rule, the subject heads the sentence and the verb ends it. The object is kept nearest to the verb, unless other cases and particles of importance intervene. This rule is, however, not strictly followed in the metrical portion of the literature. Some typical examples are : FroT 061 Tag =One gets the fruit afhgfyra fa qfiets The master deserts even a good servant. ATG ATT. tg fag=The time passed as in the heaven. 363 fa53 U Top One spoke non-sense. अहरै अहरु न पत्त =The lips did not reach the lips. केसरी न लहइ बोड्डिअ वि=The lion does not get even a shell. =सायरु उप्परि TTTg=The sea keeps straw at the surface. .
(b) The attributive adjective generally precedes its substantive, and a genitive form precedes even this adjectives : धवलु विसूरइ समिअहो गरुआ भरु पिक्खेवि =The white bull is sorry to see the heavy burden of the master.
Numbers
123. The sg. and pl. numbers are well-marked even in Apbh. Generally the sg. and pl. forms are distinguished only in oblique cases. The subject and object show their numbers through their verbs : मल्लजुज्झ ससिराहु करहिं=The moon and Rahu are wrestling. 3176 Haarfa=The servants get respect.
(a) The adjectives also show the numbers quite usefully in case of possessive forms of nouns which are generally without endings : अइमत्तहं चत्तंकुसहं गय कुंभई=The temples of the intoxicated and chainless elephants. बढ चिन्तन्ताहं =Of the fools who are thus thinking.