Latinida linguo: Diferi inter la revizi
Kontenajo efacita Kontenajo adjuntita
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Concomitant with the loss of cases, freedom of word order was greatly reduced. Classical Latin had a generally verb-final (SOV) but overall quite free word order, with a significant amount of [[scrambling (syntax)|word scrambling]] and mixing of [[left-branching]] and [[right-branching]] constructions. The Romance languages eliminated word scrambling and nearly all left-branching constructions, with most languages developing a rigid SVO, right-branching syntax. ([[Old French]], however, had a freer word order due to the two-case system still present, as well as a predominantly [[V2 word order|verb-second word order]] developed under the influence of the [[Germanic languages]].)
This was the pattern followed by the Romance languages: In the Romance languages that still preserved a functioning nominal case system (e.g. Romanian and Old French), only the combination of article and case ending serves to uniquely identify number and case (compare the similar situation in modern [[German language|German]]). All Romance languages have a definite article (originally developed from ''ipse'' "self" but replaced in nearly all languages by ''ille'' "that (over there)") and an indefinite article (developed from ''ūnus'' "one"). Many also have a [[partitive article]] (''dē'' "of" + definite article).
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