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You are here: Home / Learning / Order of words in a sentence

Order of words in a sentence

July 28, 2015 - pdf

English grammar supports very few inflexions. Therefore the order of words in a sentence is very important.

The following is the usual order of words in a sentence.

The subject usually goes before the verb.

  • The cat chased the mouse. (Here the subject ‘cat’ goes before the verb ‘chased’.)

The object usually goes after the verb.

  • The dog bit the man. (Here the object ‘man’ goes after the verb ‘bit’.)

If the verb has two objects, the indirect object usually goes before the direct object.

  • Will you lend me your pen? (Here the indirect object ‘me’ goes before the direct object ‘pen’.)

When the adjective is used attributively, it goes before the noun.

  • He was wearing a red cap. (Here the adjective red goes before the noun cap.)
  • Few cats like cold water. (Here the adjective ‘few’ goes before the noun ‘cats’.)

When the adjective is used predicatively, it goes after ‘be’ and other copular verbs.

  • The boy is asleep. (Here the adjective ‘asleep’ goes after the verb ‘is’.)
  • The horse became restive. (Here the adjective ‘restive’ goes after the copular verb ‘became’.)

The adverb should be placed close to the word which it modifies.

  • Nothing ever happens by chance.
  • He is rather lazy.
  • He solved two problems.
  • He never tells a lie.
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