Word order Word order is important in English. The word order for subjects, verbs and objects is normally fixed. The word order for adverbial and prepositional phrases is more flexible, but their position in the sentence can change the meaning. Generally, phrases at the beginning of a sentence are considered stronger and more important than phrases at the end of a sentence. We will meet at 7 am. (standard) At 7 am, we will meet. (emphasis on the time of meeting) Can you make that telephone call, please? (standard) Can you please make that telephone call? (this call is important) Please can you make that telephone call? (almost an order) I) Simple and complex sentences a) SVO Sentences in English usually have the same pattern. I am cooking dinner. They watched television. She will write a book. subject + verb + object Autor: Kristen Acquaviva Seite 1 von 5
A subject can be made up of many words. The woman with the blue hat and green shoes will write a book. Complex sentences have the same word order (SVO). I am cooking dinner because they are cleaning our house, which is very dirty. b) negative sentences Negative sentences almost always have a helping verb. Not comes after the helping verb and before the main verb. subject + helping verb + not + verb + object I am not cooking dinner. They didn t watch television. She will not write a book. c) intransitive verbs Intransitive verbs do not take objects. The word order is just: subject + verb. subject + verb An English sentence must have a verb. Subjects and objects are not always necessary, especially when giving orders. Stop! Look at that. II) Sentences with indirect objects Indirect objects are affected by the main verb but do not answer the questions Who? (subject) and What? (object). Indirect objects can start with to or for, but often don t have a preposition before them. a) indirect objects with to subject + verb + object + indirect object I gave the present to my mother. They showed the report to their boss. Autor: Kristen Acquaviva Seite 2 von 5
b) indirect objects without to subject + verb + indirect object + object I gave my mother the present. They showed their boss the report. The word order rules do not change if pronouns are used. I gave it to her. I gave her it. c) passive sentences In passive sentences, the direct object becomes the subject and the subject becomes an indirect object. The word order is remains standard there is just no direct object. subject + verb + indirect object These products were produced by our employees in Germany. III) Questions a) standard questions question word + helping/ modal verb + subject + verb + object + the rest Where do you live? Who will they work with? How are you today? Don t forget the helping verb! Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) show when the action took place (past, present, or future), if the verb is singular or plural, and its person. Helping verbs are very important and change the meaning. Where do you live? / Where did you live? / Where will you live? Where are you living? / Where were you living? Where have you lived? / Where had you lived? Autor: Kristen Acquaviva Seite 3 von 5
b) special questions You do not need a helping verb if you are asking about the subject. question word + verb + object Who saw him? c) indirect questions Indirect questions (also called embedded questions) are questions inside a question. They are used to be polite. The first part is a question word(s), the second part uses SVO word order. question word + subject + verb + object Can you tell me what time it is? May I ask who is calling? Could you tell me where the bank is? Could you tell me where is the bank? IV) Adverbs and adverbial phrases Adverbs usually come at the end of a sentence but can be moved around for emphasis. They do not go between the verb and the object. a) adverbs of manner, place and time Adverbs of manner, place and time usually go in the end position or right after the direct object. subject + verb + (direct) object + adverb of manner, place and time I showered in the morning. He wrote the report quickly. The production problem started at the second assembly belt. If more than one adverb is used, the order is: manner place time I wrote the report quickly in my office yesterday evening. Autor: Kristen Acquaviva Seite 4 von 5
b) adverbs of frequency Adverbs of frequency go between the subject and the verb. subject + adverb of frequency + verb + object I rarely eat breakfast. She often drinks coffee in the morning. To be is an exception. Frequency adverbs come after to be. He is never late. It was sometimes interesting. c) adverbs of degree Adverbs of degree go directly before the word they are modifying. The music is quite loud. I am almost finished. Autor: Kristen Acquaviva Seite 5 von 5