Basic word order in English

Basic word order in English

Exercise 3

Write sentences using the words in the correct position.

1 a nice lunch / had / today / we / at a restaurant ⇒ We .

2 the keys / last night / in the car / forgot / He ⇒ He .

3 often / Susan / takes / to work / a taxi ⇒ Susan .

4 have to return / I / the book / to the library / today ⇒ I .

5 are / never / at lunchtime / They / at home ⇒ They .

6 It / always / very hot / here / in July / is ⇒ It .

7 play / football / after school / in the park / We ⇒ We .

8 usually / She / cereal / has / for breakfast ⇒ She .

9 met / at a nightclub / in 2006 / Linda / her husband ⇒ Linda .

10 always / I / from home / work / on Tuesdays ⇒ I .

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Basic word order in English – Grammar chart

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Subject + verb

In English, we normally need to include the subject in a sentence. The subject goes before the verb.

• We dance.
• She is waiting.

We use it or they as a subject to talk about something that we mentioned before.

• I like your guitar. Is nice.
• I like your guitar. It is nice.
• Can you see those trees? Are beautiful.
• Can you see those trees? They are beautiful.

We don’t include the subject in imperative sentences.

• Sit down, please.
• Call me soon.

We can put an adverb of frequency between the subject and the verb. BUT adverbs of frequency go after the verb when the verb is be.

• We often dance.
• BUT: You are always late.

Verb + object

When there is an object in the sentence, we need to put it after the verb. Verb and object are together.

• I like very much pizza.
• I like pizza very much.
• She plays every day the guitar.
• She plays the guitar every day.

Place + time

We normally say ‘where’ and ‘when’ something happens in this order.

• She arrives in the morning at the hospital.
• She arrives at the hospital in the morning.
• Will you be at 3 pm in the office?
• Will you be in the office at 3 pm?

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