Sentence word order practice

The standard order of words in an English sentence is subject + verb + object. While this sounds simple, there are far more complicated sentences where placing the words in the right order may turn out quite challenging. 

Here we have prepared three types of interactive exercises created on Learning Apps and suitable for the Intermediate level.

Task 1. Choose the correct word order of the sentences

This exercise presents two options of sentences in which one sentence has the correct word order while the other does not. Here students get a general understanding of word order in English.

Task 2. Put the words in the correct order

Here students go deeper and have more practice with the word order in English. In the exercise, they will find examples with different types of adjectives, adverbs, indirect questions, etc.

Task 3. Complete the questions with the correct question tags

The last exercise aims to check how well your students know the rules of question tags.

Share with us in the comments below how effective the exercises were and how you usually practise word order with your Intermediate students.

Read as well:

WORD ORDER

1. Put the words in the right order.

1. like, he, his homework, in the evening, doesn’t, he, to do

2. usually, we, on weekends, meet, friends, our

3. is, table, sitting, he, the, at

4. didn’t, to, Peter, party, the, go

5. in, we, New Year, celebrate, December

6. used, children, computer, play, to, games.

7. school, on, weekends, we, don’t, to, go

8. can, help, cake, to, the, I, you, cook

9. are, they, to, next, going, visit, Paris, summer

10. Mike, the, is, Internet, now, surfing

1. Put the words in the right order in sentences.

1. to the park, go, I, won’t, I, have, if, much work

2. the weather, fine, is, if, tomorrow, will go, on, we, a picnic

3. if, save, enough, I, will, money, buy, car, a new

4.pass, my exams, I, if, will, to, I, the University, go

5. I, my work, when, finish, watch, I, TV, will

1. Find mistakes in the sentences and write down correct ones.

1. My mother me walk after 9 o’clock told not to in the evening.

_________________________________________________________________

2. Michael promised with homework to help me.

_________________________________________________________________

3. were reading a book for two hours they.

____________________________________________________________________________________

4. We at 7 o’clock in the morning get up.

__________________________________________________________________

5. I usually don’t go on weekdays to the shop.

__________________________________________________________________

Andy and Jane came home from shopping on Saturday to find their house had been burgled. A police officer has come to investigate the crime.

OFFICER:  You say you’re not sure how the thieves got in. Before I look round, can I ask you a few questions about the house?

ANDY:       Of course.

OFFICER:  (1) Do you lock the front door when you go out? (always)

                   …Do you always lock the front door when you go out?……

ANDY:       (2) Yes, and I locked it yesterday. (definitely)

                   …Yes, and I definitely locked it yesterday. ……

OFFICER:  OK. What about the windows?

ANDY:       (3) Well, the downstairs ones are locked. (always)

                   ……………………………………………………..

JANE:        (4) We have a lock on the little one in the hall. (even)

                   ……………………………………………………..

OFFICER:  And upstairs?

JANE:        (5) Well, I think most of the windows were locked. (probably)

                   ……………………………………………………..

ANDY:       (6) They were locked on Friday. (all)

                   ……………………………………………………..

JANE:        Are you sure?

ANDY:       (7) Yes, I knew we would be out all day, so I checked them all. (both)

                   ……………………………………………………..

OFFICER:  And you didn’t open any on Friday night?

ANDY:       (8) No, I didn’t. (certainly)

                   ……………………………………………………..

OFFICER:  Well, let’s have a look round.