The property Object Verb has the value "yes" when a verb can follow its object in a <a href="/glossary#neutral-context">neutral context</a>. The clause in this property is an active (non-passive) declarative (non-interrogative) clause. The object in this property is a noun phrase (we exclude pronouns). As with all word order properties, we restrict our attention to <a href="/glossary#productive">productive word order</a> patterns.

<br><br><b><a href="/glossary#object">Definition of Object</a></b><br><br>

<b>General Note on Word Order Properties</b>: A "yes" value for Object Verb does not exclude a "yes" value for  Verb Object. In other words, a language could allow both orders in a neutral context.<br><br>

<b>NA (Not Applicable)</b>: Since all languages have verbs and objects, no language will have the value NA for this property.<br><br>

Examples:<br><br>

1.<br>
English does have Object Verb word orders, but they are not used in neutral contexts.<br><br>
So English is “noâ€ for Object Verb:<br><br>

A: What happened?<br>
B: I dropped the mug.<br>
B': #The mug, I dropped. (object precedes verb)<br>
(# stands for grammatical but not appropriate)<br><br>

2.<br>
German is "yes" for Object Verb because of sentences like these where the main verb follows the object:<br><br>

Hans hat die Tasse gesehen.<br>
Hans has the mug   seen<br>
"Hans has seen the mug"<br><br>

Note: in determining whether a language allows the order Verb Object or Object Verb, it is necessary to look the order of the main verb and its object, not the order of the auxiliary verb and the object of the clause.<br><br>

3.<br>
German is also "yes" for Verb Object because of sentences such as the following:<br><br>

Hans sah die Tasse.<br>
Hans saw the mug<br>
“Hans saw the mug.â€<br><br>

In other words, German is "yes" for both Verb Object, and Object Verb.<br><br>

 4.<br>
 Japanese is "yes" for the property Object Verb:<br><br>

 dareka-ga      koppu-o   otosi-ta.<br>
 someone-Nom cup-Acc  drop-Past<br>
 "Someone dropped a cup."<br>
