Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika –
Зарубежная лингвистика и
лингводидактика – Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
Sentence structures and word order variations involving
statives in English and the Uzbek language
Farangiz KHOLMURODOVA
1
Karshi State Technical University
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received March 2025
Received in revised form
15
March 2025
Accepted 25
April 2025
Available online
15
May 2025
This article explores the concept of “word order” in English
and Uzbek, highlighting its critical role in sentence structure and
meaning. It begins by examining definitions from major
dictionaries and demonstrates how variations in word
placement, such as with the word “only” can lead to drastically
different interpretations. The article then outlines key
grammatical rules governing sentence construction, including
assertive, negative, and interrogative forms, and the use of
complements, adjuncts, indirect objects, multiple adjectives, and
adverbs. Special attention is given to “stative adjectives” and
“participles” in Uzbek, analyzing their morphological features,
syntactic functions, and theoretical significance. Through
comparative and descriptive analysis, the article underscores the
necessity of understanding word order to ensure clarity,
coherence, and expressive depth in both written and spoken
communication.
2181-3663/© 2025 in Science LLC.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol3-iss3-pp122-129
This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru
Keywords:
word order,
sentence structure,
complement,
multiple adverbs,
direct and indirect object,
morphology,
function,
participle,
theoretical significance.
Ingliz va o‘zbek tillarida stativlar ishtirok etgan gapning
tuzilishi va so‘z tartibining o‘zgarishlari
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar:
so‘z tartibi,
gap tarkibi,
to‘ldiruvchi,
ko‘p qirrali ravish,
vositasiz va vositali
to‘ldiruvchi,
morfologiya,
Ushbu maqola ingliz va oʻzbek tillarida “soʻz tartibi”
tushunchasini oʻrganib, uning gap tuzilishi va maʼnosidagi
muhim rolini koʻrsatib beradi. U asosiy lug‘atlardagi ta’riflarni
o‘rganishdan boshlanadi va so‘zlarni joylashtirishdagi
o‘zgarishlar, masalan, “faqat” so‘zi bilan qanday qilib keskin
farqli talqinlarga olib kelishi mumkinligini ko‘rsatadi. So‘ngra
maqolada gap qurilishi, jumladan, tasdiqlovchi, inkor, so‘roq
1
Assistant Professor, Karshi State Technical University. E-mail: farangizkholmuradova@gmail.com
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
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123
vazifa,
sifatdosh,
nazariy ahamiyat.
shakllari hamda to‘ldiruvchi, qo‘shimcha, bilvosita predmet, ko‘p
sifat va qo‘shimchalardan foydalanishni tartibga soluvchi asosiy
grammatik qoidalar bayon etilgan. O‘zbek tilidagi “turg‘un
sifatlar” va “bo‘lim”larga alohida e’tibor berib, ularning
morfologik xususiyatlari, sintaktik vazifalari, nazariy ahamiyati
tahlil qilinadi. Qiyosiy va tavsifiy tahlil orqali maqola yozma va
og‘zaki muloqotda aniqlik, izchillik va ifodali chuqurlikni
ta’minlash uchun so‘z tartibini tushunish zarurligini ta’kidlaydi.
Структуры предложений и вариации порядка слов с
участием стативов в английском и узбекском языках
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
порядок слов,
структура предложения,
дополнение,
множественное наречие,
прямое и косвенное
дополнение,
морфология,
функция,
причастие,
теоретическое значение.
В статье рассматривается концепция «порядка слов»
в английском и узбекском языках, подчеркивая ее важную
роль в структуре и значении предложения. Она начинается
с изучения определений из основных словарей и
демонстрирует, как вариации в размещении слов –
например, со словом “only” – могут привести к кардинально
разным толкованиям. Затем в статье излагаются ключевые
грамматические правила, регулирующие построение
предложений, включая утвердительные, отрицательные,
вопросительные формы и использование дополнений,
адъюнктов,
косвенных
объектов,
множественных
прилагательных и наречий. Особое внимание уделяется
«статичным прилагательным» и «причастиям» в узбекском
языке, анализируются их морфологические особенности,
синтаксические функции и теоретическое значение. С
помощью сравнительного и описательного анализа в статье
подчеркивается необходимость понимания порядка слов
для обеспечения ясности, связности и выразительной
глубины как в письменной, так и в устной коммуникации.
INTRODUCTION
Language is not merely a collection of words; it is a system governed by structure
and order. One of the most crucial aspects of this structure is “
word order
” the arrangement
of words within a sentence that enables clarity, coherence, and precision in
communication. The positioning of a single word can dramatically alter the meaning of a
sentence, highlighting the importance of mastering word order, particularly in a language
as structurally sensitive as English. While the subject-verb-object (SVO) format forms the
foundation of standard English syntax, various sentence types and grammatical elements
such as complements, adjuncts, adjectives, and adverbs further influence the arrangement
of words. Moreover, distinctions in word function and usage – especially with
homophones, participles, and statives – demonstrate the depth and complexity of sentence
construction. This article explores the fundamental rules and nuanced variations of word
order, illustrating how linguistic choices shape meaning and emphasizing the importance
of syntactic accuracy in both English and Uzbek contexts.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
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LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODS
Word order has long been a critical area of inquiry in both descriptive and theoretical
linguistics, with scholars emphasizing its central role in meaning-making and syntactic clarity.
In English, the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order forms the foundation of most sentence
structures, a notion extensively analyzed by Fries, who provided one of the earliest systematic
treatments of English sentence construction. His work paved the way for understanding how
syntactic patterns underpin functional communication. Building on structural principles,
Halliday proposed a functional grammar approach that underscored the interplay between
syntax and communicative intent. His framework interprets word order not merely as a
grammatical formality but as a dynamic feature influenced by discourse, thematic
progression, and contextual meaning. Huddleston and Pullum, in their authoritative grammar
of English, delve deeply into sentence structure, modifiers, and functional roles, presenting a
highly detailed and formalized view of English syntax. Their treatment of constituents,
complements, adjuncts, and modifiers has become foundational in understanding the
nuanced ways in which word order governs meaning. Lexicographic sources such as the
“Macmillan English Dictionary”, “Merriam-Webster”, and “Collins Dictionary” also emphasize
the functional and interpretive significance of word order. These sources provide accessible
definitions that align with more technical descriptions found in academic grammars.
Turning to Uzbek, research on syntactic categories such as statives and participles
is critical for understanding the unique morphological features that influence word
placement and sentence construction. Shoabdurakhmonov’s work further clarifies the
function of participles and statives in Uzbek, addressing common misclassifications and
advocating for clearer distinctions between verbal and adjectival categories. These
insights are corroborated by Gulomov and Khodjaev, who explore how participial suffixes
operate within broader syntactic roles, such as attribution and definiteness, offering a
framework for understanding their contribution to sentence structure.
Collectively, this div of literature highlights the crucial interplay between
morphology and syntax in determining word order. While English syntax is relatively rigid
and rule-bound, Uzbek presents a more morphologically rich system where word order
interacts dynamically with inflection and derivation. This study seeks to bridge these
linguistic perspectives, offering a comparative analysis that demonstrates both the
structural constraints and expressive flexibility found in each language.
DISCUSSION
The concept of “word order” pertains to the arrangement or sequence of words
within a sentence. To gain a comprehensive understanding, let’s examine various
dictionary definitions. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, word order is
described as “the order or arrangement of words in a phrase, clause, or sentence”. The
Collins Dictionary defines it as “the arrangement of words in a phrase, clause, or sentence,
which in many languages, including English, plays a significant role in determining
meanings expressed through inflections”. Similarly, the Macmillan Dictionary defines word
order as “the sequence in which words generally occur, especially in a clause or sentence”.
The importance of adhering to word order becomes evident when even a slight
alteration can completely alter the sentence’s meaning. Let’s consider the following example:
Sentence 1:
I only like non-vegetarian dishes.
Sentence 2:
Only I like non-vegetarian dishes.
Sentence 3:
I like only non-vegetarian dishes.
Sentence 4:
I like non-vegetarian dishes only.
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In each of these sentences, the placement of the word “only” varies, leading to
distinct interpretations. While the first sentence indicates a preference for non-vegetarian
dishes, the second implies exclusivity in liking them. The third and fourth sentences convey
a preference solely for non-vegetarian dishes, excluding other options. These shifts in
meaning are achieved by altering the position of the word 'only' to emphasize different
aspects of the statement. The typical sentence structure follows Subject (S) + Verb (V) +
Object (O), where the subject initiates the sentence, followed by the verb, and then the
object. However, certain types of sentences, like imperatives and interrogatives, deviate
from this structure.
English, like many languages, contains homophones–words that sound alike but
have different meanings–and versatile words that function as different parts of speech
with or without inflections. This complexity underscores the necessity of adhering to
proper word order for clarity and comprehension. Beyond subjects, verbs, and objects,
sentences may include complements and adjuncts, which contribute to the sentence’s
meaning. Complements typically follow the verb or precede the object, while adjuncts can
occupy positions at the beginning, middle, or end of the sentence. Additionally, sentences
may contain multiple adjectives and adverbs, each with its own placement rules. These
rules ensure coherence and effectiveness in written communication. Let’s delve into each
of these aspects in the following section.
Rule 1 – Subject + Predicate: Every assertive sentence consists of a subject and
a predicate:
1.
I like apples.
2.
It is a beautiful night.
Rule 2 – Negative Sentences: The word “not” typically indicates negation in
a sentence. In negative sentences, “not” usually follows the main verb. If there are multiple
verbs, it is placed after the main verb and between the main verb and any helping verbs.
Alternatively, the verb forms of “do” can be used in some cases to form negative sentences:
1
. I do not like apples.
2
. It is not a beautiful night.
Rule 3 – Interrogative Sentences: Interrogative sentences feature an inversion of the
subject and verb positions compared to assertive sentences. Examples of interrogative
sentences:
1.
Are you a student?
2.
Have you found your purse?
Rule 4 – Sentences with Complements: Complements come in two types: subject
complements and object complements. Sentence structures with complements can be SVC
(if it's a subject complement) and SVCO/SVOC (if it's an object complement). Examples of
sentences with complements:
1.
My sister is a psychologist
. (SVC: my sister [subject] + is [verb] + psychologist
[subject complement])
2.
She likes floral skirts.
(SVOC: She [subject] + likes [verb] + skirts [object] + floral
[object complement])
Rule 5 – Sentences with Adjuncts: Adjuncts, including adverbs, adverbial phrases,
adverb clauses, and prepositional phrases, can appear in a sentence any number of times
and be placed anywhere. However, there are rules to guide their positioning. Common
sentence structures with adjuncts include SVA, ASVA, SVAA, ASVAA, SVOA, SVCA, etc.
Examples of sentences with adjuncts:
1.
We are leaving next weekend
. (SVA: We [subject] + are leaving [verb] + next
weekend [adjunct])
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2.
There is a new supermarket at the end of the street
. (SVPA: There [subject] + is
[verb] + a supermarket [object] + at the end of the street [adjunct])
3.
He called me as soon as he found out
. (SVCA: He [subject] + called [verb] + me
[object] + as soon as he found out [adjunct]).
Rule 6 – Sentences with Indirect Objects: When a sentence contains two objects, one
being the direct object and the other the indirect object, the indirect object is placed after
the verb and before the direct object, resulting in the pattern SVIODO. Alternatively, the
indirect object may form part of a prepositional phrase:
The English teacher gave us our marksheets.
(SVIODO: The English teacher [subject]
+ gave [verb] + us [indirect object] + our marksheets [direct object])
Rule 7 – Sentences with Multiple Adjectives: When using multiple adjectives to
describe a noun, there is a specific order in which they should be placed:
1. Determiner
5. Age
9. Material
2. Adjective of quantity
6. Shape
10. Qualifier/Purpose
3. Opinion
7. Colour
4. Size
8. Origin
Examples of sentences with multiple adjectives:
1.
My mother gave me a big grey teddy bear for my birthday.
– Determiner: My
– Colour: grey
– Size: big
– Qualifier/Purpose: teddy bear
2
. There was a large circular compartment in the cupboard.
– Size: large
– Shape: circular
– Noun: compartment
Rule 8 – Sentences with Multiple Adverbs: Adverbs can be used multiple times and
placed anywhere in a sentence. However, their positioning depends on which part of
speech they are modifying. If an adverb modifies a verb, it comes after the verb; if it
modifies an adjective, it precedes the adjective; and if it modifies another adverb, it
precedes the adverb it modifies. Adverbs of frequency typically come after the subject,
while adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of the sentence. When a sentence
contains multiple adverbs, follow this order: manner, place, frequency, and time:
I am wearing a yellow soft silk Banarasi saree for my best friend’s wedding.
– Adverb of manner: soft
– Noun: saree
– Adverb of colour: yellow
– Purpose: for my best friend's wedding.
– Adverb of material: silk
– Adverb of origin: Banarasi
Certain adjectives starting with 'a-' are primarily used in the predicative form, such
as “afraid”, “afloat”, “alight”, “alike”, “alive”, “alone”, “asleep” and “awake”. Instead of using
them directly before nouns, we use alternative expressions. For example:
–
The baby drifted off to sleep.
– I saw a man who was sleeping.
(NOT 'an asleep man')
– He feels fear.
– He is a man who is frightened
. (NOT 'an afraid man')
Similarly, “ill” and “well” are typically used predicatively. When used attributively
before nouns, we employ different words:
–
She is sick.
– She is a child who is unhealthy
. (NOT 'an ill child')
–
Who cares for the people who are unwell?
(NOT 'the ill people')
–
She speaks English fluently.
– I can speak English proficiently.
(NOT 'well English')
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These statives are typically positioned after the verb and are commonly employed
to convey emotions. Adjectives like “afraid”, “ashamed”, “alone”, “asleep”, etc., fall into the
category of adjectives that can only be used predicatively:
–
She experienced fear after watching the horror movie.
– He experienced a sense of isolation even in a crowd.
The stative plays a crucial role in Uzbek language morphology, carrying both
theoretical and practical significance. To qualify as a part of speech, an adjective must
possess three attributes: morphological, lexical, and syntactic. Similar to nouns, statives
denote the inherent, unchanging attributes of a person or thing. Research on statives in
Uzbek reveals these attributes, advocating for the classification of adjectives as a distinct
part of speech.
Current classification schemes often conflate adjectives with verbs, obscuring their
true nature and distinct characteristics. Statives, unlike verbs, do not directly relate to
speech time but rather indicate time in relation to the subject or context. They participate
in forming past tense verb forms, known as gerunds. Statives are primarily formed with
suffixes such as -gan, -digan, -yotgan, -(a)r, -ajak, -gusi, -g'usi, and -(u)vchi. These suffixes
denote various aspects of permanence, movement, or characteristics.
RESULTS
Statives can replace verbs and perform their functions, taking on suffixes to express
possession, arrival, or quantity. In oral speech, adjectives can be nuanced, allowing for the
expression of multiple ideas within a simple sentence. This linguistic complexity arises
from the principle of simplicity in expression. The form of the verb that is adapted to the
quality is called the participle, mainly characterized by the form and sometimes by the
feature of being associated with the verb root. In the participle construction, it serves in
the role of specifying the relation to fire, and sometimes the state of being associated with
the verb can also be seen. When the participle is formed by adding the suffix in the process
of undergoing transformation, it performs the function of time. For example, “When I see
this person, I suddenly remember”. In school textbooks, the following are mentioned as
additional suffixes forming participles: “Additional suffixes such as -gan (kan, qan), -ydigan
(adigan), -(a)yotgan, -(a)r are formed by adding suffixes to the verb bases”.
Many ideas have not yet come to a consensus in this functional form of the verb.
Academic Gani Abdurakhmonov provides information on additional suffixes such as -gan,
-ar, -gʻon, -digan, -mish, -jak, -si, -yotgan, -asi, -gusi as participial suffixes and gives the
following examples: reading, standing, laughing, writing, thinking, future, coming,
becoming, being. We consider the words “future, coming, becoming, being” in these
examples not to be verbs in the verb system.
The reason is that suffixes such as -mish, -jak, -si, -gʻusi do not create suitable
participles for the current Uzbek literary language, this is in accordance with the goal of
considering the diachronic aspect (historicity). In the textbook “Contemporary Uzbek
Literary Language” by Ra’no Sayfullayeva, participial suffixes such as -gan, -(a)r, -(u)vchi,
-mish, ajak, -asi (gusi) are counted. Sh. Shoabdurakhmonov also notes the additional
suffixes selected by R. Sayfullayeva in the textbooks prepared for university students.
Sh.Shoabdurahmonov presents the student word by making an example of forming a
participle with the suffix -(u)vchi. In the textbook titled “Contemporary Uzbek Literary
Language” by Sh. Shoabdurakhmonov, the suffix -(u)vchi is identified as a participial suffix,
while the reader’s word is described as a personal ending. This information aligns with the
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views accepted by philology specialist Nargiza Erkaboyeva in her textbook “Collection of
Uzbek Language Presentations”. To address these inconsistencies, a review of the affix
system is needed.
Another complex issue is the acceptance of participles' attributive and definitive
functions. The participle can function attributively. For instance, we can observe the
participle's function as a definitive attribute in phrases like “The brave person’s action” or
“The tree’s falling leaves”. Academic Gani Abdurakhmonov provides information on the
attribute of participles' definitional feature and gives examples such as “yozgansan” (you
have written), “oʻtarsiz” (without going), “oʻtardingiz” (you went). Another scholar who
has previously addressed this matter is Azim Khodjaev. He proposed the idea that “the
present participle accepts the person-defining attribute”. He illustrates this with examples
such as “coming” and “becoming”. In such cases, when the participle accepts the person-
defining attribute, it takes the form of a verbal stem.
However, A.G.Gulomov firmly states in his work that the place of the participle is
definite, and it functions definitively in the sentence. He provides information about the
definitive and attributive functions of the participle in his textbook, where groups
functioning definitively also include participles. If personal suffixes are added to the
participle composition, in such cases, it is correct to consider suffixes such as -gan, -adigan,
-yotgan, -ar, -ydigan, and other similar suffixes as forming tense-creating suffixes in the
verb composition.
In cases where these ideas are mistakenly perceived by linguists, it is most
appropriate to consider the suffixes -man, -miz, -san, -siz added to the participle as
belonging to the aspect of shaping the verbal stem. Therefore, it can be seen that the
participle in the sentence can only function definitively and in the role of a verbal stem,
without accepting any person-defining attributes. The form of the verb that is adapted to
manner is called the manner participle, and it performs the task of linking verbs. Manner
participles are as follows: -(a)y, -(i)b, -may/masdan, -gach, -ganda, -guncha, -gani. These
suffixes, depending on their addition, express the state of the movement, continuity,
intermittency, starting point of the movement, occurrence time of the movement, purpose
of the movement, and other situations related to movement.
CONCLUSION
In both English and Uzbek, word order plays a vital role in conveying clear, accurate,
and nuanced meaning. From the basic Subject-Verb-Object structure to more complex
sentence constructions involving complements, adjuncts, and multiple modifiers, the
placement of words directly affects how messages are interpreted. The flexible yet rule-
governed nature of English syntax, along with the morphological and syntactic depth found
in Uzbek–particularly in the use of statives and participles–underscores the importance of
understanding not just “what” words mean, but “where” they belong. Through consistent
patterns and structural variations, word order enables effective communication, supports
grammatical integrity, and reflects the unique linguistic character of each language.
As demonstrated, even subtle shifts in placement can result in significant changes in
meaning, highlighting the importance of syntactic awareness in both everyday usage and
advanced linguistic study.
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Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
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