Clitics are words attached to other words (hosts) as affixes but playing role in syntax as separate elements. Examples of clitics in English are shortened verbs (-'s from is, -'re from are), particle not (becoming -n't), adverb -like. The main rules for recognizing clitics from affixes and compound words are:

• they should not modify basic meaning of host words;
• they can be written separately (but in the same order) without changing the sense of phrase;

See Wikipedia article about clitics for more theoretical information.

Clitics play an important role in Nûrlâm's grammar and syntax. They are written as one word with their hosts or separated by hyphen but usually translated into English as separate words. Typical lexical categories that often used as clitics are:

• Definite article -um.
• Postpositions attached to nouns and pronouns as case suffixes and to verbs as derivational affixes.
• Pronouns attached to verbs as suffixes or prefixes of person.
• Adverbs attached to verbs as suffixes of aspect.
• Short adjectives, pro-adjectives and possessive pronouns attached to noun without any grammar function but retaining determiner function in syntax.
• Demonstrative pronouns attached to noun as definite articles.

Only short single-syllable words become clitic.