Basic word order in English

Basic word order in English

Exercise 1

Fill in the gaps with the correct options.

Please wait...

1I didn't like the food very muchvery much the food last night.

2We arrived very late homehome very late.

3Teresa speaks very well EnglishEnglish very well.

4Please, can you put that box in the cornerin the corner that box?

5After the accident, Jim was in hospital for a weekfor a week in hospital.

6I like this music a lota lot this music.

7They met after a party at a friend's houseat a friend's house after a party.

8Tigers approach their victims very slowlyvery slowly their victims.

9I saw at the library HellenHellen at the library.

10He finished the exam very quicklyvery quickly the exam.

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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?