The simple clause

The main parts of the sentence
The order of the parts of the simple sentence
Agreement of the verbal and nominal members in number
Complex sentences

The main parts of the sentence
(Extended and unextended simple sentences)
Simple unextended sentences contain only main parts of sentences: a subject, a verb predicate, a direct object and an indirect object.
If a simple semtence includes any other word, it is a simple extended sentence.

E.g.: Ninom Lelas c'erili misc'era  - Nino wrote a letter to Lela - this is a simple unextended sentence.
Nino sk'amze zis - Nino is sitting on the chair - this is a
simple extended sentence because the phrase on the chair is not a main part of the sentence.

The order of the parts of the simple sentence
Word order is relatively free in Georgian. Relations between members of the sentence are expressed not by the order of the parts of the sentence (as in Swedish or English: Dato hit Vano or Vano hit Dato mean different things) but by the case and person marking in Georgian. That is why word order changes are connected with a logical emphasis but not with the change of the grammatical functions of the members. The most neutral word order in a simple sentence is the following:
subject - indirect object - direct object - verb-predicate:
 
Subject Indirect object  Direct object Verb-predicate
ნინომ მეგობარს წერილი მისწერა
Ninom
megobars
c'erili
misc'era
Nino to friend letter wrote
Nino wrote a letter to the friend

Another order is also allowed:
 
Subject Direct object  Verb-predicate Indirect object
ნინომ წერილი მისწერა მეგობარს
Ninom
c'erili
misc'era
megobars
Nino letter  wrote to friend
Nino wrote a letter to the friend


 
Indirect object  Direct object  Verb-predicate Subject
მეგობარს წერილი მისწერა ნინომ
megobars
c'erili
misc'era
Ninom
to friend letter  wrote Nino
Nino wrote a letter to the friend

etc.
 

Agreement of the verbal and nominal members in number
When the number is expressed by a numeral, both the determined word (ქალი kali) and the verb-predicate remain in the singular:
 
 
ორი ქალი მიდის.
ori kali midis.
two woman goes.
Two women go.

But:
 
ქალები მიდიან.
 kal-eb-i midian.
 woman-Plur-Nom go.
Women go.

When an inanimate subject is plural, the verb-predicate remains in the singular:
 
სახლის წინ ხეები დგას.
saxl-is c'in xe-eb-i dgas.
house-Gen. front tree-Plur-Nom. stands/is standing.
There are trees in front of the house.

But:
 
 
სახლის წინ ბავშვები დგანან.
saxl-is c'in bavshv-eb-i dganan.
house-Gen. front child-Plur-Nom. stand/are standing.
The children are standing in front of the house.
More information:

Complex sentences

 
© Karina Vamling & Manana Kobaidze 2001