The document discusses word order in English sentences. It explains that in English, word order is important to distinguish subjects from objects since there are no morphological case markers. The basic word order in positive sentences is subject-verb-object. It then provides examples of word order in different types of sentences including negative sentences, subordinate clauses, questions, and with different types of adverbs and adjectives. The document is intended as a reference for learners of English grammar to understand rules around word order.

1. Word Order in English Sentences1
Word Order in English Sentences
In the English language there are no different forms for subjects and objects. To keep
subject and object apart, however, we have to stick to the word order.
Word Order in Positive Sentences
Subject Verb(s) Object
I speak English
I can speak English
Exercises: Arrange the words to make affirmative sentences.
1- Arrange the words to make affirmative sentences.
2- sell / flowers / we
3- you / see / me / can
4- feed / you / my / cat / can
5- must / the book / read / you
If you are a more advanced learner, remember the following rule:
Subject Verb(s) Indirect object Direct object Place Time
I will tell you the story at school tomorrow.
Exercises: Arrange the words to make affirmative sentences.
1- go / now / home / will / I
2- give / the present / tomorrow / we / him / will
3- her / met / last night / at / we / the station
4- was / last week / he / in hospital
5- in Greece / spend / I / will / next year / my holiday
Word Order in Negative Sentences
The word order in negative sentences is the same as in affirmative sentences. Note,
however, that in negative sentences we usually need an auxiliary verb:
Subject Verb(s) Indirect object Direct object Place Time
I Will not tell you the story at school tomorrow.
Exercises: Arrange the words to make negative sentences.
1- our holiday / will / at home / we / not / spend / next year
2- to a party / not / we / tonight / going / are
3- will / a letter / not / next week / send / you / she
4- not / the truth / did / he / tell / you
5- eat / in winter / ice-cream / do / not / I

2. Word Order in English Sentences2
Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
In subordinate clauses, the word order is the same as in simple affirmative sentences.
(Conjunctions are often used between two clauses):
Conjunction Subject Verb(s) Indirect object Direct object Place Time
I Will not tell you the story at school tomorrow..
because I don't have time now.
Exercises: Complete the sentences with the words in brackets
1- She is in great form because (every week / goes / she / to the gym)
2- I can't talk to you because (time / do not have / I / now)
3- We are glad that (at home / did not leave / we / our umbrella)
4- They don't know where (have left / the key / they)
5- I'd like to know why (her holiday / does not spend / she / in France)
Position of Adverbs
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 Time
I Will tell you the story 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.
Exercises: Arrange the words to make sentences.
1- the cinema / yesterday / went to / we
2- tomorrow / visit / will / my grandfather /I
3- plays / he / on Thursday / football
4- I'll / you / see / soon
5- help / immediately / I / need
Adverb of Manner
(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)
These adverbs are put behind the direct object (or behind the verb if there's no direct
object).

3. Word Order in English Sentences3
Subject Verb(s) Direct object Adverb
He drove the car carefully.
He drove carefully.
Rewrite the sentences and put the adverbs in correctly.
1- She speaks. (slowly)
2- He treated her. (respectfully)
3- John speaks English. (well)
4- The dog barks. (loudly)
5- They sang. (wonderfully)
Adverbs of Place
(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)
Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put behind the direct object or the verb.
Subject Verb(s) Direct object Adverb
I didn't see him here
He stayed behind
Make sentences and put the adverbs (in italic print) in correctly
1- is / over there / the cinema
2- inside / go / let's
3- playing / the kids / are / outside
4- she / not / been / here / has
5- were / everywhere / we / for / looking / you
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 behind 'be'. Is there 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.
Rewrite the sentences and put the adverbs in correctly.
1- I have been to London. (often)
2- He plays golf on Sundays. (sometimes)
3- The weather is bad in November. (always)
4- We have fish for dinner. (seldom)
5- We have fish for dinner. (seldom)

4. Word Order in English Sentences4
Word Order in Questions
In questions, the word order subject-verbs-object is the same as in affirmative
sentences. The only thing that’s different is that you usually have to put the auxiliary
verb (or the main verb “be”) before the subject. Interrogatives are put at the
beginning of the sentences:
interrogative
auxiliary
verb
subject other verb(s)
indirect
object
direct
object
Place Time
What would you like to tell Me ?
Did you have a party in your flat yesterday?
When were you here?
You don’t use an auxiliary verb if you ask for the subject. In this case the
interrogative simply takes the place of the subject.
interrogative Verb(s) Object
Who asked you?
Arrange the words to make questions.
1- do / a dog / you / have
2- speak/ she / English / does
3- play / at / you / the weekends / do / tennis
4- the train / when / leave / does
5- she / Australia / from / is
Ask for the subject (in bold print). Use 'who' (for people) or 'what' (for everything
else).
1- Gareth speaks English.
2- John is from Australia.
3- You will meet them next week.
4- My computer doesn't work.
5- The show started early.
Position of Adjectives
Adjectives are usually used before the nouns they qualify.
An honest boy A clever fox A beautiful girl
When two or more adjectives come before a noun, they are not usually separated by
and.
A large, round vase (NOT A large and round vase)
A fat old lady (NOT A fat and old lady)

5. Word Order in English Sentences5
Note that when the last two are adjectives of color they are usually separated by and.
A black and white photo.
A blue and red sparrow.
Numbers go before adjectives
Six large tables (NOT Large six tables)
Five beautiful women (NOT Beautiful five women)
Adjectives can be placed after be and other copular verbs like seem, appear,
become, look etc.
She seemed upset.
He was angry.
She looked beautiful.
When two adjectives come after a verb, they are separated by and. When more than
two adjectives come after a verb, the last two are separated by and.
The boy was handsome, polite and lovable.
It was hot and sultry.
Adjectives are sometimes placed after nouns for the sake of emphasis.
There lived an old man strong and quick-witted.
He was a great man, truthful, and fearless.
In phrases such as the following, the adjective always follows the noun:
Time immemorial
Heir apparent
Alexander the Great
God Almighty
President elect
Notary public
Resource: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/word-order