Download Word order in sentences

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Word order in sentences
subject
verb(s)
object
I
speak
English
I
can speak
English
subject verb(s)
indirect
object
I
will tell
you
direct
object
time
place
at
school
the story
tomorrow.
Negative sentences
subject
I
verbs
indirect object direct object
will not tell you
the story
place
time
at school tomorrow.
Subordinate sentences
conjunction subject verb(s)
because
I
will tell
I
don't
have
indirect
object
you
direct
object
place
the story
at
school
time
time
tomorrow
...
now.
Position of Time Expressions(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)
subject verb(s) indirect object direct object
I
will tell
you
the story
time
tomorrow.
If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb
of time at the beginning of the sentence.
time
subject verb(s) indirect object direct object
Tomorrow I
will tell
you
the story.
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Note that some time expressions are adverbs of frequency (always, never,
usually usw.). These are usually put before the main verb (except for 'be' as
a main verb).
subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time
I
often
go swimming in the evenings.
He
doesn't
always play
tennis.
We
are
usually
here in summer.
I
have
never
been
abroad.
Position of Adverbs
Adverb of Manner(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)
These adverbs are put after the direct object or after the verb if there's no
direct object.
subject
verb(s)
He
drove
He
drove
direct object
the car
adverb
carefully.
carefully.
Adverbs of Place(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)
Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put after the direct object or the
verb.
subject
I
verb(s)
didn't see
direct object
him
adverb
here.
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Adverbs of Time(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)
Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.
subject verb(s) indirect object direct object
I
will tell
you
the story
time
tomorrow.
If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb
of time at the beginning of the sentence.
time
subject verb(s) indirect object direct object
Tomorrow I
will tell
you
the story.
Adverbs of Frequency(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)
Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the main verb. If 'be' is the
main verb and there is no auxiliary verb, adverbs of frequency are put after
'be'. If there is an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of frequency are put
before 'be'.
subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time
I
often
go swimming in the evenings.
He
doesn't
always play
tennis.
We
are
usually
here in summer.
I
have
never
been
abroad.
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Order of adjectives
Adjectives are placed before the noun they qualify and are invariable (they
are not used plural)
Opinion Size
a silly
Age
Shape Colour Origin Material Purpose
young
a
huge
a
small
English
round
man
metal
red
bowl
sleeping
bag
Opinion: An opinion adjective explains what you think about something
(other people may not agree with you). Examples:
silly, beautiful, horrible, difficult
Size: Examples: large, tiny, enormous, little
Age: Examples:ancient, new, young, old
Shape: Examples:square, round, flat, rectangular
Colour: Examples:blue, pink, reddish, grey
Origin: An origin adjective describes where something comes from.
Examples:French, lunar, American, eastern, Greek
Material: Examples:wooden, metal, cotton, paper
Purpose: A purpose adjective describes what something is used for. These
adjectives often end with "-ing". Examples:
sleeping (as in "sleeping bag"), roasting (as in "roasting tin")