<word_order>

• Basic: SUBJECT + li + PREDICATE
• With object: SUBJECT + li + VERB + e + OBJECT
• Exception: mi/sina alone don't need li
• Adjectives follow nouns: tomo telo (water room = bathroom)
• Multiple adjectives stack: jan pona mute (many good people) </word_order>
• li: separates subject from predicate (except after mi/sina alone)
• e: marks direct object
• la: context separator (X la Y = "in context of X, Y")
• pi: groups modifiers (jan pi pona mute = "person of much good")
• o: vocative/imperative/optative
• a: emphasis/emotion
• anu: or
• en: and (between subjects only)
• taso: but (or "only" as adjective)
• seme: what/which (question word) <special_rules>
• No articles (a/the)
• No plurals marked on nouns
• No tense marking on verbs
• Proper names are adjectives after descriptive nouns
• Foreign names follow toki pona phonotactics
• Pre-verbs: kama, ken, wile, lukin, sona (modify main verb) </special_rules> <vocabulary_principles>
• Each word covers broad semantic range
• Words can be noun, verb, or adjective depending on position
• Context determines specific meaning
• Compound concepts use multiple words
• 120 official words total
• Numbers: ala (0), wan (1), tu (2), mute (3+), ale (∞/100)
• Extended counting: luka (5), mute (20), ale (100) </vocabulary_principles>