subjektpredikatobjekt

Subjektpredikatobjekt is a term used in syntax and language teaching to describe the canonical order of simple transitive sentences in many languages: the subject comes first, followed by the predicate (the verb), and then the object. The predicate is the verb that expresses the action, while the object receives that action. The structure is commonly referred to as SPO (Subjekt-Predikat-Objekt).

In practice, subjektpredikatobjekt corresponds to the familiar subject–verb–object (SVO) order found in English and many other languages. Examples: English: The dog chases the cat. Swedish: Hunden jagar katten. In both sentences, the subject acts, the verb states the action, and the object receives it.

Usage and variation: The SPO order is typical in simple, declarative main clauses of languages with fixed SVO word order. Variation occurs with questions, emphasis, or subordinate clauses, where function words or intonation may alter the surface order without changing the underlying core structure. Intransitive verbs lack an object and thus reduce the structure to subject–predicate (S–P).

Relation to other orders: Subjektpredikatobjekt is often contrasted with other word orders such as subject–object–predicate (SOP), verb–second (V2) systems, or languages with flexible word order like SOV (subject–object–verb). It is a foundational concept in grammar descriptions and language teaching, helping learners recognize the basic sentence skeleton in many European languages.