Sundanese grammar, step by step

In the active voice, the agent is the subject. The verb takes a nasal prefix (N-) that merges with or replaces the first consonant of the root: t becomes n-, b becomes m-, k becomes ng-, s becomes ny-, and vowel-initial roots get ng- added in front.

Adding di- to the verb root shifts focus to the patient — the thing being acted upon becomes the grammatical subject. The agent is introduced by "ku" (by). This is the counterpart of the active nasal prefix.

Sundanese follows subject-verb-object order. In noun phrases, modifiers follow the noun: first the adjective, then the demonstrative — the head noun always comes first.

Sundanese has two main speech levels: "loma" (informal, among friends and family) and "lemes" (polite, showing respect). Many common words have entirely different forms in each level — not just different endings, but completely different vocabulary.

The particle "keur" is placed before the verb to mark an action currently in progress — it functions like "is ...ing" and can be used with any verb in either speech level.

"Geus" (informal) or "parantos" (polite) is placed before the verb to mark a completed action. It is the counterpart of "keur" — together they form the core aspect system.

"Rek" (informal) or "bade" (polite) before the verb expresses future intention or plan. With "keur," "geus," and "rek," Sundanese marks aspect through particles rather than verb conjugation.

"Teu" (or formal "henteu") negates present or general statements, while "moal" negates future actions. The negator comes directly before the verb or aspect particle.

Information questions use question words like "naon" (what), "saha" (who), "di mana" (where), "kumaha" (how), and "iraha" (when). "Naha" or rising intonation forms yes/no questions.

Personal pronouns have completely different forms depending on the speech level. First, second, and third person each have informal and polite variants — choosing the right one is essential for social appropriateness.

Repeating the whole word (full reduplication) turns a noun plural. There is no obligatory plural marker — context often makes number clear, and reduplication is used when plurality needs to be explicit.

Partial reduplication (repeating the first syllable) or other reduplication patterns can modify meaning — creating adverbs, expressing intensity, or forming expressive and onomatopoeic words.

In Sundanese noun phrases, the noun always comes first, followed by adjectives, then demonstratives, numerals, or possessors. Everything flows outward from the head noun.

When counting, a classifier word is placed between the number and the noun. Different classifiers are used for people, animals, flat objects, long objects, and other categories.

Sundanese grammar combines nasal-prefix active voice, di- patient voice, aspect particles (keur/geus/rek), speech-level vocabulary (loma/lemes), reduplication for plurals and modification, head-initial noun phrases, and numeral classifiers — all without ever conjugating a verb.