Syntax
The basic word order, both in conversation and the written language, is subject–verb–object in transitive clauses, and free word order in intransitive clauses. However, because the relations are marked by inflection, considerable latitude in word order is allowed even in transitive clauses, and all the permutations can be used. For example, the words in the phrase "я пошёл в магазин" ('I went to the shop') can be arranged
- Я пошёл в магазин. (I went to the shop)
- Я в магазин пошёл. (I to the shop went)
- Пошёл я в магазин. (Went I to the shop)
- Пошёл в магазин я. (Went to the shop I)
- В магазин я пошёл. (To the shop I went)
- В магазин пошёл я. (To the shop went I)
while maintaining grammatical correctness. Note, however, that the order of the phrase "в магазин" is kept constant.
The word order expresses the logical stress, and the degree of definiteness. Primary emphasis tends to be initial, with a slightly weaker emphasis at the end.
Read more about this topic: Russian Grammar