Grammar

This grammar section covers matters such as word order, sentence patterns, extended sentences, verb tenses, and pronouns. Significant parts of this section are derived from "Noongar Waangkiny: A learner's guide to Noongar", Batchelor Press, 2014.

As previously mentioned, the Noongar language follows a grammatical structure of Subject-Object-Verb, however this can vary in the case of transitive verb sentences. There is no definite ("the") or indefinite ("a", "an") in Noongar. For example, Kaa-kaa boorn-ak ("The/A Kookaburra is in the tree", literal "kookaburra tree-in"). The same applies when changing the noun to a pronoun, for example using baal (he, she, it) or baalap (they), Baal keba-k (he/she/it is in the water, literally "he/she/it water in") or Baalap djooraly-ak: (they are on the grass, literally: "they grass-on").

In the Noongar language a preposition (at, in, on at, with, to, from) can be represented by a suffix on the substantive object noun or pronoun. The suffix is -ak if the substantive ends ends in a consonant or -k, if the substantive ends in a vowel or double-vowel.

Further elaborating word order, quantifiers appear before the noun or pronoun. e.g., Koodjal dwert yongka baakaniny. (The two dogs are biting the kangaroo, literally "Two dogs kangaroo biting"), Daambart djerap boorn-ak nyininy. (The threee birds are sitting in the tree. Literally, "Three birds tree-in sitting").

Adjectives occur before the subject noun, and pronouns representing the subject occur after the subject in the sentence i.e., Adjective Subject Pronoun Object Verb. e.g., Nyit wooyan djildjit baalap keba-k djiba-djobaliny. (The little blue fish are swimming in the water. Literally "Little blue fish they water-in swimming").

Adverbs, which modify or provide additional information about a verb (e.g., manner, direction), precede the verb. e.g., Boola-boola yerderap keba-k dabakarn
koorliny. (Lots and lots of ducks are moving slowly in the water. Literally "Lots lots ducks water-in slowly moving.")

Conjunctions, used to join or connect words, phrases and sentences, are numerous in the Noongar language. The following are some examples:

The English conjunctions "that", "there", "who", "whom", "which", "where", "when" can all be represented by the Noongar word "ali". For example; Ngany ngaarn boola karil ali ngany barang maambakoort-ak. (I ate lots of crabs which I caught in the sea. Literally: "I ate lots crabs which I caught sea-in." )
The English conjunction "or" is represented by the Noongar word "ka".
The English conjunction "again" is represented by the Noongar word "karo".
The English conjunction "already" is represented by the Noongar word "kori".
The English conjunction "while" is represented by the Noongar word "koram".
The English conjunction "before" is represented by the Noongar word "kwadjat".
The English conjunction "if" is represented by the Noongar word "mining".
The English conjunction "and" is represented by the Noongar words "wer" or "koodjir". The latter can mean "also" as well and can be placed at the end of a sentence for questions. To use the example (note spelling difference) from A.J. Bussel's "Dornderup Wongie", "Mulacan yayer injal? coolang kidgie?" (Mulacan now where? Children also?)