WORD

ORDER IN
ENGLISH

I. English word order rules

Normally, sentences in the English language take a simple form. However,
there are times that it would be a bit complex. In these cases, the basic rules for
how words appear in a sentence can help you.

Word order generally refers to the way words are arranged in a sentence. In the
English language, word order is important if you want to accurately and
effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas.

Although there are some exceptions to these rules, this article aims to outline
some basic sentence structures that can be used as templates. In addition, the
article provides the rules for the order of adverbs and adjectives in English
sentences.

I.1. Basic sentence structure and word order rules in English

For English sentences, the simple rule of thumb is that the subject should
always come before the verb followed by the object. This rule is generally
known as the SVO word order, and then most sentences must adhere to this.
However, it is essential to know that this rule only applies to sentences that
have a subject, verb, and object.

For example:

Subject + Verb + Object

Sujeto + Verbo + Objeto

He loves food

Le encanta la comida.

She killed the rat

Ella mató a la rata.

Sentences are usually made up of at least one clause. A clause is a string of
words with a subject (noun) and a predicate (verb). A sentence with only one
clause is called a simple sentence, while sentences with more than one clause
are called compound sentences, complex sentences, or compound-complex
sentences.

I.2. Questions

English word order is reversed in questions. The subject changes places in a

question. Also, questions in English usually start with a verb or an auxiliary verb
if the verb is complex.

For example

Verb + Subject + Object

Verbo + sujeto + objeto

Can you finish the task?

Puedes terminar la tarea

You went to work?

Fuiste a trabajar?

I.3. Intransitive verbs

Some sentences use verbs that do not require any objects or anything else to
follow them. These verbs are generally known as intransitive verbs. With
intransitive verbs, you can form the most basic sentences since all that is
required is a subject (made up of a noun) and a predicate (made up of a verb).

For example

subject + verb

Sujeto + verbo
john eats

Juan come

christine fights

Cristina pelea

I.4. Connecting verbs

Linking verbs are verbs that connect a subject with the quality of the subject.
Sentences that use linking verbs usually contain a subject, the linking verb, and
a subject or predicate adjectival complement in this order.

For example

Subject + verb + Subject complement/Predicate adjective

Sujeto + verbo + Sujeto complemento/Predicado adjetivo

The dress was beautiful.

Sl vestido era hermoso.

Her voice was amazing.

Su voz era asombrosa.

I.5. Transitive verbs

Transitive verbs are verbs that say what the subject did to something else.
Sentences that use transitive verbs usually contain a subject, the transitive
verb, and a direct object, usually in this order.

For example
Subject + Verb + Direct Object

Sujeto + Verbo + Objeto directo

The father slapped his son.

El padre abofeteó a su hijo.

The teacher questioned his students.

El maestro interrogó a sus alumnos.

I.6. Indirect objects

Sentences with transitive verbs can have a mixture of direct and indirect
objects. Indirect objects are usually the receiver of the action or the audience of
the direct object.

For example

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Sujeto + Verbo + Objeto Indirecto + Objeto Directo

He gave the man a good job.

Le dio al hombre un buen trabajo.

The singer gave the public a spectacular concert.

La cantante regaló al público un espectacular concierto.

The order of direct and indirect objects can also be reversed. However, for the
reversal of the order, the inclusion of the preposition "a" before the indirect
object is needed. The addition of the preposition transforms the indirect object
into what is called a prepositional phrase.

For example

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Preposition + Indirect Object

Sujeto + Verbo + Objeto Directo + Preposición + Objeto Indirecto

He gave the man a lot of money.

Le dio mucho dinero al hombre.

The singer gave a spectacular concert before the crowd.

La cantante brindó un espectacular concierto ante la multitud.

I.7. Adverbials
Adverbs are phrases or words that modify or qualify a verb, adjective, or other
adverbs. They generally provide information about the when, where, how, and
why of an action. Adverbs are usually very difficult to place, since they can be in
different positions in a sentence. Changing the location of an adverb in a
sentence can change the meaning or emphasis of that sentence.

Therefore, adverbials should be placed as close as possible to the things they

modify, usually before verbs.

For example

He hurriedly went to work.

Se fue apresuradamente a trabajar.

He quickly ate his food.

Rápidamente comió su comida.

However, if the verb is transitive, then the adverb must come after the transitive
verb.

For example

John felt uncomfortable in the exam exam.

John se sentó incómodo en el examen de examen.

She spoke quietly in class.

Ella habló en voz baja en la clase.

For example

Juan goes to work every morning.

Juan va a trabajar todas las mañanas.

they came to school very late

Llegaron muy tarde a la escuela

The adverb of time can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence.

For example

On Sunday he travels home.

El domingo viaja a casa.

Every night, James jogs around the block.

Todas las noches, James trota alrededor de la cuadra.

When there is more than one verb in the sentence, the adverb should be placed
after the first verb.

For example

Peter will never forget his first dog.

Peter nunca olvidará a su primer perro.

He has always liked to eat rice.

Siempre le ha gustado comer arroz.

I.8. Adjectives

Adjectives commonly refer to words used to describe someone or something.

Adjectives can appear almost anywhere in the sentence.

 Adjectives can sometimes appear after the verb to be.

For example

He is fat

Él es gordo

She is big

Ella es grande
Adjectives can also appear before a noun.

For example

A big house

Una casa grande

A fat boy

Un chico gordo

However, some sentences may contain more than one adjective to describe
something or someone. These adjectives have an order in which they can
appear before a now. The order is:

 Opinion – size – physical quality – shape – condition – age – color –

pattern – origin – material – type – purpose

If more than one adjective is expected to come before a noun in a sentence,

then this order should be followed. This order feels intuitive to native English
speakers. However, it can be a bit difficult to unpack for non-native English
speakers.

For example

The ugly old woman returns

Vuelve la vieja fea

The dirty red car parked outside your house

El sucio auto rojo estacionado afuera de tu casa

When more than one adjective comes after a verb, it is usually connected by
and

For example
The room is dark and cold.

La habitación está oscura y fría.

Having said that, Susan is tall and big.

Habiendo dicho eso, Susan es alta y grande.