Introduction

Syllabus

Part I

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Part II

Chapter One

Back to Realelvish

Basic Sentence Syntax

This applies to pronouns and nouns alike. Because of Prestanneth, there is a bit of lee-way for placing words.

• The nominative word goes at the very beginning of the sentence, though when attached to an intransitive verb (a verb that doesn't take a direct object) it can go before or after the verb.
• The accusative word is right beside the verb, either before or behind it.
• Because it includes a preposition, the dative word can go anywhere except in front of a nominative word, but normally, it goes at the end of the sentence. There are two cases where it doesn't have its pronoun attached, and both of those times it was put directly in front of an intransitive verb.

Examples from Tolkien's work

Transitive With Nominative Suffix

*We forgive them. → Gohenam di.
They should** call him "Full-wise". → Panthael estathar aen**.
I gave the Hope of Man. → Ónen i-Estel Edain.
*They do sins to us. → Cerir úgerth ammen.
I don't keep hope for myself. → Ú-chebin estel anim.

Transitive

Narvi made them. → Narvi hain echant.
Celebrimbor of Eregion drew these letters. → Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thîw hin.
Aragorn will approach the Brandywine River. → Aragorn anglennatha i Varanduiniant.
He wants to greet all of his friends. → E aníra suilannad mhellyn în phain.
He wants to see the Master Samwise. → E aníra tírad i Cherdir Perhael.

Intransitive With Nominative Suffix

I will sing to you. → Le linnathon.
I call to you. → Le nallon.

Intransitive

Vengence comes! → Tôl acharn!
Elbereth Gilthoniel slants down from heaven. → Elbereth Gilthoniel penna o menel.
The moon is shining for us. → Ithil ammen síla.
My heart speaks for me. → Guren bêd enni.

*I have the quotes from Ae Adar Nín marked with asterixes because that poem is a headache of grammatical constradictions, and I don't like using it as proof of anything. I have a feeling that it is something that Tolkien randomly scribbled down one day without giving it much thought. Hopefully, basic syntax is untainted, even if everything else goes all over the place.

**The exact translation of that quote is hotly debated. No one for certain knows what aen means.

Imperative Syntax

An imperative grammar is the grammar of giving orders, normally, but in Sindarin, it is something more. You can use it to say that you wish something would happen. The equivalent structure in English is starting a sentence with "may" or "I hope that" or "I wish that".

• In an imperative sentence, the verb always comes first.
• If there is a nominative noun or pronoun, it goes right after the verb.
• Lastly comes the date or the accusative, either one could come before the other.

Examples

Imperitive-Intransitive

May light flare! → Lacho calad!
May darkness flee! → Drego morn!
May the hobbits live long! → Cuio i pheriain anann!
*May your kingdom come. → Tolo i arnad lîn.
*May your name be holy. → No aer i eneth lîn.
Open for us. → Edro ammen.

Imperative-Transitive

See me. → Tiro nin.
*Do that which is your will. → Caro den i innas lîn.
Say "Friend". → Pedo mellon.
Hear a word of my tongue. → Lasto beth lammen.
*Give our daily bread to us. → Anno ammen i mbas ilaurui vîn
*Forgive our sins for us. → Díheno ammen i úgerth vîn

Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause is a sentence imbedded within a sentence.

"That/Who/Which" for beginning subordinate clauses is i and its plural is in. The verbs that follow are mutated, using Soft mustation for i and Nasal mutation for in. In English, we often leave this word out, so be careful. Also, unlike English, it must be attached to a noun or pronoun.

Example

I am the girl who saw uncountable orcs. → Ni i 'wend i dírant yrch veneg.
The wind that blows. → I hûl i chwesta.
You know that I wish to remain. → Istog han i aníron darthad.
I fear the monsters that walk at night. → Goston in yryg i phadar ne dû.

"For he or she who" for beginning subordinate clauses is anin, and "for those who" for beginning subordinate clauses is ai. It makes the following verb undergo Soft Mutation.

For he who loves, a flower blossoms. → Anin vêl loth edlothia.
Death follows for those who stray. → Gurth aphad ai vistar.

"When/while" for beginning subordinate clauses is ir. This word doesn't cause mutation in the verb following it.

I will go when I have no friends. → Ledhithon ir ú-hevin vellon.

"Where" for beginning subordinate clauses is ias.

He arose where he had fallen. → Erias ias dannas.

"If" for beginning subordinate clauses is ae. This word doesn't cause mutation in the verb following it.

If you are brave, you will fight. → Ae le beren maethathal.

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