28 Word order
28.1 Statements
28.1.1 The order of basic elements
Spanish has more word order possibilities than English. Objects can be placed in front
of the verb (see 8.3) and the verb itself can stand in initial position. Some possible
equivalents for ‘the man was reading the book to the little girl’ areEl hombre leía el libro a la niña.
Leía el hombre el libro a la niña.
A la niña le leía el hombre el libro.
El libro lo leía el hombre a la niña. (see 24.5)28.1.2 ‘New’ and ‘old’ information
The choice among these various possibilities depends on a number of factors, and
sometimes appears quite random to foreigners, but has to do with topicalization and
stress. While it is inappropriate to speak of a hard and fast rule, Spanish tends to place
the element which has just been a subject of interest (the topic, ‘old’ information) first
in the sentence, and new information, or elements on which it is wished to lay some
kind of stress or contrast, last. This is clearest in statements which are answers to
questions asking for information. Examples are:(a) –¿Quién habla?
‘Who’s talking?’
–Habla Nicolás. (see 29.8)
‘Nicolás is talking.’–¿Qué hace Nicolás?
‘What is Nicolás doing?’
–Nicoláshabla.
‘Nicolás is talking.’(b) Me gusta el helado de fresa.
I like strawberry ice cream.–¿No quieres un helado de fresa?
‘You don’t want a strawberry ice cream?’
–¿Sí, papá, que el helado de fresa me gusta!
‘Yes, Daddy – I like strawberry ice cream!’