Matrix Clauses
The standard word order for matrix clauses is:
Subject ‐ Auxiliary ‐ Adposition - Oblique ‐ Verb ‐ Object ‐ Adverb.
None of these slots are compulsorily filled. If a subject is obvious from context, or is the same as that of the immediately prior sentence, it can be dropped. The adverb can act as a pro-sentence.
Intransitive Clauses
As already discussed, intransitive clauses do not have objects.
“He is asleep.”
Transitive Clauses
Transitive clauses do require an object.
“I love you.”
Sometimes the object is in an oblique case.
“She can see the dog.”
Copular Sentences
Copular sentences do not have a main verb. These sentences are used to show an equivalence relationship between two nouns, or to show that one noun is an element of the set described by the other noun. They are transitive sentences.
“She will become a married woman.”
Another use of copular sentences is to tell the location of something in relation to something else.
“It’s under the table.”
The copular sentence structure for ownership is as follows. It has the possessor in the dative case, and the possessum as the subject.
I have a cloak.
The arguments may be swapped without a change in meaning.
I have a cloak.
Contrasting Pronouns
These example sentences have been given to clarify alignment and the correct use of pronouns with different auxiliaries.
“She turned red.”
“She was red.”
“She ate it.”
“She was eating it.”
As can be seen, the only time the transitive case is used for the subject of a clause is in transitive (as well as copular) sentences using dynamic or iterative auxiliaries.