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Lahu follows the general pattern of \emph{subject} \emph{object} \emph{verb}. The \emph{subject} can simply be defined as the origin of the action, the \emph{object} is the recipient of the action and the \emph{verb} is the action.
Generally the verb is the most important part of any sentence and often the subject or object are implied and can be omitted. The following examples display some typical sentence structures (for now just observe the structure):
\begin{examples}
\item\label{ex:read-book}
\gll {Ngaˬ hui} {li hta} {g'aw ve yoˬ}.
(sbj) (obj) (vb)
\glt `We read the book.'
\glend
\item\label{ex:i-read}
\gll Ngaˬ {g'aw ve yoˬ}.
(sbj) (vb)
\glt `I read.'
\glend
\item\label{ex:drink}
\gll {Yawˇ hui lehˬ} {iˉ kaˆ} {dawˬ ve yoˬ}.
(sbj) (obj) (vb)
\glt `They drink water.'
\glend
\item\label{ex:is-here}
\gll Chehˇ -aw.
(vb) (fp)
\glt `[he] is here.'
\glend
\end{examples}
\section{Particles}
\label{sec:particles}
In examples such as those above, the subject and object are often very clear. In example~\ref{ex:read-book}, the book can only \emph{be read} by us, it cannot \emph{read us}. In more complex sentences, however, it is necessary to clarify various parts of the sentence such as identifying the subject and object. Particles allow us to do this.
\begin{lahu-vocab}{Common Particles}
\item[lehˬ] Subject particle
\item[hta] Object particle or indicator
\item[ve] (Many uses) Identifies verbs (see~\ref{sec:verbs}), possession (see~\ref{sec:possession}) etc\ldots
\item[yoˬ] Final affirmative particle
\item[mehˍ] Final emphatic request (polite)
\item[sheˍ] Final emphatic request (more forceful)
\end{lahu-vocab}
\subsection{Subject \& Object}
Often in spoken Lahu the subject and/or object are obvious and so the particles are not needed. This is the case in example~\ref{ex:i-read} where the speaker is obviously the subject and there is no object. In example~\ref{ex:read-book} the object particle \emph{hta} would not actually be spoken as it is implied and obvious. In written Lahu, however, it is more acceptable to include the particles unless they are overly obvious. Foreigners speaking Lahu are often guilty of using too many particles in their speech. While the sentence may be correct it is not colloquial and may seem overly formal.
\begin{examples}
\item
\gll {Yawˇ hui} lehˬ, {Li hpu} hta {henˇ ve yoˬ}.
They (sbj) bible (obj) study
\glt `They study the bible'
\glend
\item\label{ex:god-teaches}
\gll {G'uiˬ sha} lehˬ, {ngaˬ hui} hta {maˍ laˇ ve yoˬ}.
God (sbj) us (obj) teach
\glt `God teaches us.'
\glend
\end{examples}
The previous examples demonstrate the use of the particles. In example~\ref{ex:god-teaches} it is particularly necessary to qualify the subject and object to get the correct sense.
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