Word Order in Spanish

                                                       Word Order in Spanish.
                                                         Problems in Syntax.

Word order in Spanish is always problematical for English speakers. I can´t tell you how often I hear them ask,
"Why do you say it that way? That doesn´t make any sense."

Well, sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it doesn´t. Sometimes, it´s just a case of mistaken English.
You´ll see what I mean by this shortly.

First, let´s look at how changing the word order of a sentence in Spanish can completely change its meaning:

              Spanish                                                                                English

      Tengo que hacer algo.                                                I have to do something.

      Tengo algo que hacer.                                                I have something to do.

In the first example, the obligation is clear, and it´s made clear by using "tengo que" PLUS an infinitive.

The second example, or the construction of that syntax, was a very difficult thing for me to discover when I was first
learning to speak Spanish. It doesn´t mean that there is something available for me to do, if I wish. It means that I
already have something to do to which I am already committed.

Still, what is clear form the above two examples is the fact that the meaning of those four words in combination can
change completely based on the way in which they are ordered in the sentence, both in Spanish AND in English.

The important point is to realize that the word order in Spanish is much more flexible that in English. Lets look at
some examples to see how this is so and what effect, if any, it might have on the sentences we use to illustrate the
point.

              Spanish                                                                                English

      El elefante es enórme.                                                The elephant is enormous.

      Es enórme el elefante.                                                Is enormous the elephant.

      Enórme es el elefante.                                                Enormous is the elephant.

      Es el elefante enórme.                                                Is the elephant enormous.

All four of these examples are perfectly acceptable word order in Spanish. Of the English examples, only the first
could likely be used as a declarative sentence, and only the last as a question. The third might pass muster in a
strictly literary sense.

Is there any change in meaning from these changed word orders. No. None whatsoever. However, what we can
accomplish by changing the word order is a shift in EMPHASIS from one aspect of the sentence to another. Again,
lets look at an example.

              Spanish                                                                                English

      Elena ha preparado una comida para Miguel.        Elena has prepared a meal for Miguel.

      Ha preparado Elena un comida para Miguel.          Has prepared Elena a meal for Miguel.

      Elena ha preparado para Miguel una comida.        Elena has prepared for Miguel a meal.

      Para Miguel ha preparado Elena una comida.        For Miguel has prepared Elena a meal.

Again, we have perfectly acceptable word order in Spanish, but, after the first example, they look a bit funny in
English, i.e., funny "peculiar," not funny "ha ha".

However, we some practice in the language, you´ll begin to recognize some subtle changes of emphasis that are
accomplished by the shifting word order. Also, as you gain skill in speaking and are more comfortable in the
language, you will probably come to see these changing word orders as perfectly natural. I do it now, and I don´t
even think about it. It just happens.

However, there are two things with respect to word order that I can think of which never change.

First, the word "no" when it means either "no" or "not" must always be in front of the verb and can only be separated
from the verb by either a direct object, indirect object or pronominally used (relflexive) pronoun.

The second is that one cannot place ANY word between the auxiliary verb "haber" in any of its forms and the past
participle of the verb to which it is joined.

Let´s look at a couple of examples of these two issues.

              Spanish                                                                                        English

      Eso no permite cuálquier duda.                                      That does NOT permit any doubt.

      Elena NO ha preparado la comida.                                Elena has NOT prepared the meal.

In the first example, you can see that the "no" is clearly before the verb, where it belongs. In the second example,
not only is the "no" in front of the verb, it is in front of the auxiliary verb "haber" as expressed by "ha". "Ha preparado"
could not be separated by having "no" in the middle.

Finally, I want to look a a couple of common mistakes that are frequently made by English speakers in speaking
Spanish. The first has to do with what is often called parallel construction, that is, word for word translation of an
English sentence into Spanish.

Again, a quick look at a couple of examples might help.

      They have to come and help me do this.

It looks like we might translate this as:

      Ellos tienen que venir y me ayudan hace esto.

The problem is, this is really bad Spanish based on a lack of understanding of what was actually said in English.
The English, if we were to be absolutely proper and grammatically correct about it, should better have been:

      They have to come to help me to do this.

Doing this, we can see that there are actually three infinitives in the sentence. That accomplished, the Spanish
would more correctly be stated as:

      Ellos tienen que venir y ayudarme hacer esto.

So, be sure of your English grammar before you "translate". Most of you know I prefer interpretations to
translations, and this example shows one of the reasons why.

If we aren´t sure of the grammar in English, we can make some really silly mistakes in Spanish.

Not to fret, though, because the person who isn´t making mistakes isn´t doing anything.

I would much rather see you making mistakes and trying to speak Spanish than to see you being perfect and sitting
on the sidelines. So, get out there and talk.