The basic sentence order is SVO (subject-verb-object):
(Subject/actor) (conjugated principal verb) (object) (location).
The subject/actor can be dropped if it’s clear from context. Add an appropriate preposition before the object or location if the sentence requires it for clarity.
See also:
Conjugation (how to indicate the main action of a statement)
To create the simple present tense, drop the last letter of the active (principal) or auxiliary verb. For other tenses, see Time, Tenses.
Mando'a only has the simple form for verbs; in standard grammar, there is no way to form perfect, imperfect, or other forms that most Earth languages have. Sometimes the original author translated active verbs as continuous (progressive) instead of simple, so some fans also translate active verbs this way.
The most common auxiliary verbs in Mando'a are liser (can) and enteyor (must). Cuyir (to be), ganar (to have), narir (to do), and vaabir (to do) are never used as auxiliary verbs.
Note that, in Mando’a, all unconjugated verbs include the particle “to” and it is thus incorrect to add any Mando’a word for “to” before a verb.
In some Earth languages, the ending of the verb changes based on various factors; in ordinary, standard Mando'a grammar, the ending of the verb only has the final "r" dropped and does not otherwise change based on the subject, object, or almost anything else. The grammar used in songs and poems deals with conjugation differently, and fan dialects often add their own touches to how to form sentences. For more about songs and poems, see Songs and poems.
Example statements (one from each kind of verb ending):
Aalar. To feel. Ni aala. I feel.
Parer. To wait. Ni pare. I wait.
Akaanir. To fight. Ni akaani. I fight.
Betenor. To sigh. Ni beteno. I sigh.
Pirur. To drink. Ni piru. I drink.
Two verbs
Secondary verbs in sentences are not conjugated; only the principal (active) verbs are conjugated.
Typical statement format: [optional subject] [conjugated verb] [infinitive verb].
Examples: Ni lise akaanir. I can fight. Ni copaani akaanir. I want to fight.
Three verbs
As with two verbs, only the principal verb is conjugated.
Typical statement format: [optional subject] [conjugated verb] [infinitive verb] [infinitive verb].
Examples: Ni copaani partaylir pirur. I want to remember to drink. Ni enteyo partaylir pirur. I must remember to drink.
Translating infinitive (base) verbs from Mando'a to English
There are three different ways that the infinitive form of a Mando'a verb can be translated into English.
The most common way is as "to [verb]," which is how English translates its infinitive verbs. Example: Ni copaani dajunar. I want to plan.
When the verb comes after an auxiliary verb, such as liser (can) and enteyor (must), then translate as the base verb. Example: Ni lise dajunar. I can plan.
When the verb comes after par (for), translate it as the verb's gerund ("ing") form. Example: Ni copaani ibic par dajunar. I want this for planning.
Most uses of “to be” in English are passive voice and can be made active; for example, "I am writing" becomes "I write," which translates to Ni miit’gaana. If cuyir (to be) is used with an auxiliary verb, cuyir is included in the sentence and is not conjugated. Specific dialects may have additional uses for cuyir.
Per the creator of Mando'a:
In the Mando font I have, there's only one case, so I don't think they bother with it unless they're using an alien font with upper and lower cases, in which case they'll be totally confused by capitals because it's outside their grammar framework - like Hebrew. (Behold retcon at work!)
I'm happy for it all to go in lower case when we're using the Latin alphabet. Proper names like Atin would be capped up, for clarity.
Per customary usage on Earth:
When using the Latin/English alphabet, use the capitalization and punctuation you would normally use for an English sentence. In particular, capitalize the first letter of a sentence and any names and include between list entries, periods at the end of statements, and question marks at then end of questions.