Word order in an English sentence training exercises. Correct word order in an English sentence: exercises

In order to build even the simplest sentence in English, you need to know the word order in the language. This seemingly simple, but very important topic is the starting point in the study of English grammar.

Subject + predicate + direct object

In an ordinary affirmative sentence, the subject is placed immediately before the predicate (verb). The direct object, when present, comes immediately after the verb. For instance:

They bought a car. — They bought a car.
We can't do that. - We can't do that.
The girl in a blue dress was playing the piano. — girl in blue dress played the piano.

Predicate

Note that by subject here we mean not only the main noun or pronoun, but also the adjectives or descriptive phrases that refer to it. The rest of the sentence, which does not refer to the subject, is called the predicate. For instance:

The girl in a blue dress was playing the piano.

Indirect additions and circumstances

If there are any other parts in the sentence - indirect objects or circumstances - they usually occupy a strictly defined place.

Position of indirect object

after direct object if it contains the preposition to.

An indirect addition is put front by direct object when to is absent. For instance:

The teacher gave dictionaries to the pupils. The teacher handed out dictionaries to the students.
The teacher gave them dictionaries. The teacher gave them dictionaries.

Position of circumstance

The circumstance can be placed in three places:

Before the subject (usually these are circumstances of time)

In the morning he was reading a book. — He was reading a book in the morning.

After the addition (here you can put almost any adverb or adverbial phrase):

He was reading a book at the library. — He was reading a book in the library.

Between the auxiliary and the main verb (as a rule, these are short adverbs):

He has already read this book. He has already read the book.

Normally, in standard English, no other words are placed between the subject and the predicate, or between the predicate and the object. But there are a few exceptions. Here are the most important ones:

Adverbs of frequency of action and indirect objects without the preposition to

I sometimes drink coffee in the morning. - I AM sometimes I drink coffee in the morning.
He showed the driver his bus pass. - He showed driver your bus pass.

If you follow these simple rules, you will be able to avoid spelling mistakes in English sentence. The examples given are intentionally simple - but the same rules can be applied to more . For instance:

The woman,, never went to sleep before - A woman [who often felt lonely] never went to bed [without calling her sister].

Stylistic change in word order

Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, and writers or speakers often use not standard order words for special effect. But if we now focus on exceptions, we digress from the main principles, and the problem of word order in a sentence can seem very complicated.

So here are a few more examples: you should be aware that such sentences exist, but don't try to use them unless absolutely necessary until you master the principles of normal word order (remember to learn how to walk first, and then run!):

Never before had he felt so miserable. He had never felt so miserable before.

If the sentence begins with never or never before, the subject and verb are often inverted, i.e. change places. Don't use inversion when never follows the subject!

Hardly had I finished cleaning the house, my friend called. I had hardly finished cleaning the house when my friend called.

(When a sentence begins with hardly, the subject and verb must always be inverted.)

Had they known, they "d never have done that." - If they knew this, they would never have done that.

(The inversion is used in hypothetical condition structures when the if is omitted.)

Whatever you can tell me, I know already. “Whatever you tell me, I already know it.

Here's the extended addendum, Whatever you can tell me, placed at the beginning of a sentence for artistic reasons: this sentence structure is not necessary, it's just .

Now, having mastered the rules for constructing simple sentences, you can move on to more complex sentences with accessory structures.

How do you feel about non-standard word order in English? Difficult, don't you understand? Share in the comments!

Exercises for beginners

Exercise 1.
1. good, I, student, am, a.
2. famous, he, footballer, is a?
3. Mary, very, looks, happy.
4. The dolls, very, are, pretty.
5. clever, she, girl, is, a.
6. Bella, a, is, not, good, cat.
7. sings, well, he.
8. will, rain, it, soon.
9. listened to, teacher, the, they.
10. English, have, they, Wednesday, on.

Exercise 2. Put the words in the correct order.
1. Sunday, went, to the Zoo, we, on.
2. How, do, have, pets, they, many?
3. Not, I, will, see, friend, soon, my.
4. he, what, do, will, weekends, at?
5. Uses, the, at, work, he, computer.
6. does, he, not, know, the girl.
7. English, they, not, do, study.
8. was, I, not, school, at, yesterday.
9. there, many, people, in, the, were, park.
10. at, cinema, the, were, they, week, last.

Exercise 3 Put the words in the correct order.
1. in, town, are, there, houses, a lot of.
2. go, yesterday, they, did, where?
3. country, usually, goes, with, Mary, to, who, the?
4. what, banana, colour, is, a?
5. are, leaves, there, on, trees, the, no.
6. there, is, a, dog, door, near, the.
7. snow, it, winter, last, didn't.
8. book, was, interesting, very, the.
9. can, draw, well, they.
10. we, not, must, eat, on the bus.

Exercise 4 translate sentences into present simple into English. Do not forget that the word order in the English sentence is DIRECT.
1. I go to work every day.
2. At 7 o'clock I get up.
3. My brother reads in the evening.
4. I speak English well.
5. I love sweets!
6. My sister loves dogs.
7. Children play with the dog every day.

1. Put the words in the sentences in order.

Usually / at 10 o'clock / out of the garage / in the morning / drives / his bike / Fred A shower / after dinner / often / Mrs Lewis / takes A parking place / near the library / we / find / seldom To / I / on / a / night-club / sometimes / Saturdays / go Fly / my parents / to Australia / sometimes / I / in winter / and Enjoys / very much / swimming / in the pool / always / Mary Hardly / last year / could / skate / I Is / near / house / there / new / a / our / cinema Got / my / problems / I / with / have / home-task / some Well / think / your / very / I / don't / sister / drives To / parents / once / the theater / month / my / a / go His / car / two / ago / Jim / sold / years Necklace / can't / anywhere / Cindy / her / find Been / to / India / Mike / has / year / already / this Lunch / never / weekdays / she / has / on

2. Translate.

I rarely watch TV. It's dark outside and I'll be going to bed soon. They are discussing something very noisily in the bedroom. He walked slowly along the river. We often sing songs in class. I quietly closed the door and immediately went to the bathroom. My uncle loves fishing very much. Anna knows how to play tennis well. She yells at the kids all the time. I will put your books on the table. I don't know him well enough. There are many good films on TV today. The park has a beautiful fountain. It was very windy last Tuesday. I bought these shoes in Italy.

3. Choose the correct word order in the subordinate part of the sentences.

Could you tell us what time… (it is - is it - does it)? Do you know when… (our bus leave – our bus leaves – does our bus leave)? I wonder if ... (he is a doctor - is he a doctor - a doctor is he). Do you remember what… (did Jane wear – Jane wear – Jane wore) yesterday? Do you think… (she can cook well - can she cook well - she can cook well)?

Answers:

Fred usually drives his bike out of the garage at 10 o'clock in the morning. (Fred usually rides out of the garage on his bike at 10 am.) Lewis often takes a shower after dinner. (Mrs. Lewis often showers after dinner.) We seldom find a parking place near the library. (We rarely find a parking space by the library.) I sometimes go to a night-club on Saturdays. (Sometimes I go to a nightclub on Saturdays.) My parents and I sometimes fly to Australia in winter. (My parents and I sometimes fly to Australia in the winter.) Mary always enjoys swimming in the pool very much. (Mary always enjoys swimming in the pool.) I could hardly skate last year. (I could barely skate last year.) There is a new cinema near our house. (There is a new cinema near our house.) I have got some problems with my home-task. (I have problems with my homework.) I don't think your sister drives very well. (I don't think your sister is a very good driver.) My parents go to the theater once a month. (My parents go to the theater once a month.) Jim sold his car two years ago. (Jim sold his car two years ago.) Cindy can't find her necklace anywhere. (Cindy can't find her necklace anywhere.) Mike has already been to India this year. (Mike has already been to India this year.) She never has lunch on weekdays. (She never has lunch on weekdays.)

I sell watch TV. It's dark outside and I am going to bed soon. They are discussing something very loudly in the bedroom. He was walking slowly along the river. We often sing songs at the lessons. I shut the door quietly and went to the bathroom immediately. My uncle loves fishing very much. Ann can play tennis well. She is shouting at the kids all the time. I will put your books on the table. I don't know him well enough. There are a lot of good films on TV today. There is a nice fountain in the park. It was very windy last Tuesday. I bought these shoes in Italy.

It is (Could you tell us what time it is?) Our bus leaves (Do you know when our bus leaves?) He is a doctor (I wonder if he is a doctor.) Jane wore (Do you remember what you were wearing Jane yesterday?) She can cook well (Do you think she can cook well?)

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The word order in English and Russian is often compared, arguing that in the latter one can arrange words as God puts on the soul. This makes the language easier to use. It seems like at least one less headache. I agree that in the Russian language there is something to think about even without this, but I know for sure that there is a certain word order in it, only for us it is not obvious. I am not a specialist in Russian philology and cannot say anything about this. But, in general, my experience of studying Chinese, in which the word order "needs to be felt", tells me that it is easier when the language still has a clearly established word order. At least you are sure at least in the structure of your sentence, in your subject and predicate, in the fact that you have accurately formulated the question or negation. English has given us a great gift in the form of a certain word order. This language is mathematics. You are given a formula, you substitute your variables x and y. The result is a sentence that is understandable to your listeners and conveys your thoughts.

I. Word order in the affirmative sentence

Subject	Predicate	indirect addition	direct complement	prepositional object	Place	Time
I	will tell	you	a story	about my father	at school	tomorrow.
He	gave		the book	to Catherine	in a cafe	last month.
Joanna	was thinking			about you		last night.
Bred	has been reading		a newspaper		in the hall.

*direct object- direct object, analogue of our accusative case. Indicates the object on which the action is performed. The add-on answers the question “who?/what?” For instance:

The ball hit her. – Who did the ball hit? – Her (direct object).

He is making pancakes. – What is he making? – Pancakes (direct object).

Indirect object- an indirect addition. Not used without a direct complement. Indicates the recipient of the indirect object. For instance:

He bought her flowers. (Who did he buy the flowers for? - for Mom.)

They told me the news. John is writing her a letter. She gave her boyfriend a present.

object of preposition- prepositional addition. Attaches to a verb with a preposition. For instance:

Be careful with fire. (with fire-prepositional addition)

She wrote a book about the war. (about the war -prepositional addition)

Please note that the word order, starting with the indirect object, is preserved in negative and interrogative sentences. Therefore, in the future I will simply refer to them as “the remaining members of the proposal”.

II. Word order in negative sentence

The verb TO BE in Present Simple and Past Simple

Other verbs and tenses

III. Word order in an interrogative sentence

Interrogative sentences with the verb TO BE in Present Simple and Past Simple

Interrogative sentences with an auxiliary verb

Question word (if any)	Auxiliary	Subject	semantic verb	Other members of the proposal
	Do	you	work	at weekends?
What	is	he	doing	in the kitchen?
What books	did	your grandfather	use to read	when he was young?
Where	can	I	find	information about it?
why	haven't	you	spoken	to him yet?

Interrogative sentences without an auxiliary verb

If in a question the interrogative word is simultaneously the subject, then the word order is preserved, as in the statement.

IV. Word order in subordinate clauses

Word order in subordinate clauses is direct, which is especially important when using indirect speech. Compare:

“Do you love me?” I asked. -> I asked if she loved me.

“What are you going to do next?” she asked. -> She asked what I was going to do next.

V. Position of adverbs in an English sentence

Adverbs of frequency (often, always, seldom, never, hardly ever, sometimes, usually etc.) located before the semantic verb, but after the verb TO BE:

I often go to the cinema. I don't often go to the cinema. Do you often go to the cinema?

He is usually happy to see me. He isn't usually happy to see me. Is he usually happy to see me?

In compound predicates:

I have never been to China. Have you ever been to China?

I will always love you. Will you always love me?

Usually, normally, occasionally, and sometimes can be moved to the beginning or end of a sentence.

The correct word order in a sentence in English is a painful topic for many, especially those who are just starting to learn the intricacies of translation. foreign language. But be that as it may, the topic must be learned well, since competent speech is an integral part of a pleasant impression of a person. Consider the word order in an English sentence and the features of its construction, as well as give vivid examples for better assimilation of information. Forward for new knowledge!

Before we proceed to the main block of information, we immediately notice that today we will consider the construction rules only standard offers. Today we will not talk about the intricacies of composing complex inversions, exclamations and elliptical constructions, but we will talk exclusively about standard sentences. They are a kind of skeleton, the basis for compiling other types of proposals. So, let's start with the rules for constructing a standard sentence.

The purpose of sentences is to express a complete thought. To achieve this goal, you need to apply the parts of the sentence in the right composition, which allows you to make the thought complete. For a sentence to be logical, it must contain two main components in the form and predicate. In a standard sentence, the subjects come first, then the predicates.

How to determine the subjects? Everything is simple, if you remember that they can be expressed not only by nouns, but also by pronouns. Mother, apple, cat, tail, flower, phone, cake can act as nouns, and I, we, you, they, he, she, it can act as pronouns. The predicates are expressed (to write, to sleep, to enjoy, to read, to bake) and, as we have already said, take the second place in the sentence (subjects are in the first place).

For a better understanding, here are some examples.:

The bird is singing => The bird is singing.
The child is smiling => The child is smiling.
The pear will ripen => The pear will ripen.

On a note! Predicates allow you to understand what is happening, has happened or will happen to an object or object. Moreover, they can consist of two parts - the main and auxiliary verbs. It is the auxiliary verb that allows you to determine the time in which the action takes place, and this, in turn, allows you to correctly translate sentences from one language to another.

In addition to the main members of the proposal, there are also additional, so-called minor members, this includes => additions, definitions,. Additions are of two types - direct and indirect. Their sequence in the sentence - in the first place there is a direct object, and after it - an indirect one.

They saw a cat with her => They saw a cat with her.
The grandmother is baking a cake to the children => The grandmother bakes a cake for the children.

When we talk about a definition, we must remember that it stands next to subjects or objects and is used to describe their characteristics. Answers the questions “what?”, “whose?”.

I look at this marvelous picture => I look at this marvelous picture.
Her gray rabbit lies on the carpet =>

If we are talking about a circumstance, then the peculiarities of the context should be taken into account, since the circumstance can be placed both at the end and at the beginning of the sentence.

Her gray rabbit lies on the carpet => Her gray rabbit lies on the carpet.
Tomorrow she will be listening to the music => Tomorrow she will be listening to music.
I will come to you the next day => I will come to you the next day.
Her friend behaves indifferently => Her friend behaves indifferently.

Structure English suggestions

English offers direct and reverse word order. We observe the first option in an affirmative and negative sentence, the second - when you need to make a question.

Reference: sentences in English are different from sentences in Russian. In Russian, we observe a free word order => Galya took ''Gala'', ''Gala'' took Galya, took ''Gala'' Galya. Regardless of the order of words in a sentence, the meaning does not change, which cannot be said about the English language => Galya was taking Gala is the only correct translation in English.

Fixed word order in a sentence - a feature of the English language. Here one member of the sentence clearly follows the other. For children, this feature of the English language can be a kind of stick in the wheel, because in the Russian language everything is different.

Remember: English words cannot "jump" from one place to another. The conservatism of word order in a sentence explains the conservatism in the behavior of the English, their tendency to order and patterns.

Word order in an English sentence: affirmation, negation, question

Here the scheme is simple, subject + predicate + object. But! There are cases when a circumstance is taken to the first place as an addition (we have already considered examples). Also note that the main verb can be accompanied by an auxiliary verb. But in this case it is easier than in the case in addition, because the auxiliary verb is constituent part predicate. The result is direct word order. The following table makes it easier to understand the material.

Word order in an affirmative sentence

Circumstance	Subject	Predicate	Addition	Circumstance
Tomorrow	she	will learn	Spanish vocabulary.	———
Tomorrow she will learn Spanish vocabulary.
———	her elder brother	will visit	her	in five weeks.
Her older brother will visit her in five weeks.
next year	I	will come	here again.
V next year I will come here again.

Note that definitions can be added to subjects.

Word order in a negative sentence

Circumstance	Subject	Auxiliary verb + not	Basic verb	Addition	Circumstance
Last week	he	did not	study	English.
He didn't study English last week.
———	Her little friend	will not	come	to me	several days.
Her little friend won't come to me for a few days.
next month	I	will not	do	my exercises.	————
I won't be doing my exercises next month.

The sentences given are negative, but they also have standard word order. To express negation and make a negative sentence from an affirmative sentence, we use the particle not .

Reference: In sentences of a negative nature, the Auxiliary verb will always be present, since the particle is added to it not. To the main verb particle not cannot adjoin.

Word order in an interrogative sentence

Auxiliary verb always comes first. For comparison: in Russian, we can guess only by intonation that we have been asked a question. In English, there is no need to listen to intonation, because if you have not the offer will be negative in any case.

reference: the interrogative sentence is characterized by the reverse word order. What does it mean? Subjects and predicates change places. But ... since we have already talked about conservatism, remember that only, that is, only part of the predicate, should be taken out in the first place. Further, the formation of sentences will go in the standard way - theBasic verb should be placed only after Auxiliaryverb.

It is interesting! In interrogative sentences, the circumstance is never put in the first place. It will be at the end of the sentence. Those who build a question with a circumstance at the beginning of an interrogative sentence are making a mistake. Remember this!

Summing up

The construction of sentences in English has its own rules and nuances. First you need to remember that all English sentences have a standard word order. The reverse word order is inherent only in interrogative sentences. In this case, in the first place is not the main verb, but its auxiliary part. The main verb comes only after the subject.

Considerable attention should be paid to additions. If we are talking about circumstances, then they can stand both at the beginning and at the end of sentences. But! If we are talking about questions, then remember that in these cases the circumstance is the last member of the sentence, not the first.

Knowing the word order in an English sentence, you will quickly learn how to correctly compose correct affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences. Good luck and patience! Remember: patience, perseverance and hard work are the basis of ideal success! Good luck!