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Ch 13

Word Order

S+V+O · place before time · adverb position

Basic English word order: S + V + O

English word order is fixed. Unlike many languages, you cannot move elements freely.

S + V
She works.
S + V + O
She likes coffee.
S + V + O + place
She drinks coffee at home.
S + V + O + place + time
She drinks coffee at home every morning.
Place comes before time. Never separate the verb from its object with an adverb.

Place before time

When giving both, place ALWAYS comes first

✓ Correct
I go to the gym every morning.
She works in London on Mondays.
✗ Wrong
I go every morning to the gym.
She works on Mondays in London.

Adverb position

Never between verb and object

Frequency: before main verb
She always drinks coffee. (NOT drinks always)
Frequency: after "be"
She is always late.
Manner: after object
She speaks English well. (NOT speaks well English)
Degree: before adjective
She is very tall.
NEVER: She speaks well English. The adverb cannot go between verb and object.

Questions: auxiliary before subject

Inverted word order

Statement: She works here. → Question: Does she work here? ✓
With do/does/did
Do you like it? · Did she come?
With be
Is she ready? · Are they coming?
With have
Have you finished? · Has she arrived?
Wh- questions
Where does she work? · When did he leave?

Common mistakes

I like very much this film.
→
I like this film very much.
very much goes AFTER the object
She drinks always coffee.
→
She always drinks coffee.
frequency adverb BEFORE main verb
I went yesterday to the shops.
→
I went to the shops yesterday.
place before time, both at end
Where you live?
→
Where do you live?
question: auxiliary before subject

Recap

Basic
Subject + Verb + Object
She likes coffee.
Extras
... + Place + Time
at home every morning
Adverb
before main verb / after object
always drinks / drinks well
Question
Aux + Subject + Verb?
Does she work here?
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