Download Word order in English – Common Errors

Objects
Objects follow verbs. They can be preceded by modifiers such as 'some', 'a lot of', etc.
She bought some ice-cream.
Indirect Object First
English has both direct objects and indirect objects. Direct objects refer to the object that is
affected and indirect objects refer to whom or for whom something is done. When using
both a direct and indirect object, the indirect object usually comes first.
I bought Tim a present last week. - 'Tim' is the indirect object, 'a present' is the direct object.
Our friends wrote us a nice letter. - 'us' is the indirect object, 'a nice letter' is the direct object.
Indirect Object Last
The indirect object is placed after the direct object when a preposition such as 'for' or 'to' is
used.
I bought the roses for my daughter.
She lent two thousand dollars to her friend.
These two examples could also be expressed by placing the indirect object first by NOT using
the preposition.
I bought my daughter the roses.
She lent her friend two thousand dollars.
When both direct and indirect object are pronouns, place the indirect object last generally
preceded by the preposition 'to'.
She offered it to them.
They sent them to her.
Word Order Explanation
When we make a sentence in English, we normally follow the following order. Subject +
Verb + Object + Adverb of Manner + Adverb of Place + Adverb of Time. Let's see the
following example.
Subject
Verb
Object
Manner
Place
Time
The boy
studies
English
well
at school
every day.
The maid
cleans
the house thoroughly
John
works
Mary
will get married to George
hard
every
morning.
every day.
tomorrow.
Verb + Object
The verb and the object of the verb normally go together. We do not usually put other
words between them.
Verb + Object

Susan likes children very much. (not 'Susan likes very much children.')

Did you watch the football match yesterday?

Ann often sees him.

Do you clean the house every week-end? (not 'Do you clean every weekend the house?')
Place and Time
We usually say the place before the time.
place + time

Paul walks to school every morning. (not ' Paul walks every morning to school.')

She has been in Copenhagen since May.

We arrived at the airport early.

I'm going to Paris on Monday. (not 'I'm going on Monday to Paris.')
(To be continued)
Adverb of Time at the Beginning of a Sentence
We can put the time at the beginning of the sentence.

On Sunday I'm going to Paris.

Every morning Paul walks to school.
Note that you cannot use early or late at the beginning of the sentence in this way.
Adverbs before verbs
A lot of adverbs are put before verbs.

always

also

sometimes

possibly

probably

often

seldom

never

hardly ever

almost

still

definitely

certainly

even

only
Let's see the following sentences.
1. Paul always walks to school.
2. I also walk to school.
3. He often asks me to go together.
4. We never go to school by car.
Adverbs after the first verb
When there are more than one verb, we usually put an adverb after the first verb. Let's see
the following examples:
1. I can never forget her. ( can = the first verb, forget = the second verb )
2. She has always loved him. ( has = the first verb, loved = the second verb.)
3. This house has probably been neglected.
Exercise I
Arrange the sentences into the correct order:
1. her-very-likes-John-much
2. nicely-Mary-talk-can-everyone-to
3. guide-our-English-spoke-fluently
Exercise II
In this exercise you have to choose the sentence with the correct word order in each
number.
1. a. She often goes to work by car. b. She goes often to work by car.
2. a. She has always kept her secret. b. She always has kept her secret.
3. a. I only can give you this book.
4. a. I never will forget her.
b. I can only give you this book.
b. I will never forget her.
5. a. She will probably come back.
b. She probably will come back.
(To be continued)
Word order in English – Common Errors
Avoid mistakes using the correct word order
1. Sentences
correct word order
incorrect word order
tip
I was shopping in Leipzig.
I was in Leipzig shopping.
1
He played yesterday football.
2
Dan rode his bike carefully.
Dan rode carefully his bike.
3
He often reads books.
He reads often books.
4a
He is always late.
He always is late.
4b
When did you see Peggy yesterday?
When did you yesterday see Peggy?
6
He played football yesterday.
Yesterday he played football.
tip
Be careful!
1
main verb before place
2
place before expression of time
3
object before adverb of manner
4a
adverb of frequency before main verb
4b
adverb of frequency after form of to be
6
Put the expression of time (yesterday) at the end of the question.
Place & Time
In English, the place is usually mentioned before the time.
Examples:

I go to the supermarket every Saturday.(NOT: I go every Saturday to the
supermarket)

Bill has lived in London for 10 years.(NOT: Bill has lived for 10 years in London)
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency such as always, never, sometimes, often, rarely, etc. generally go
before the verb.
Examples:

Susan often goes shopping.

I never gamble.

They always sleep early.
However, with the verb to be, they go after the verb.
Examples:

She is rarely late.

He is never home before dark.
They can also go between two verbs.
Examples:

I will always remember my brother.

I have never been to Japan.
(To be continued)