What is direct indirect word order

In English, the word order is strict. That means we can’t place parts of the sentence wherever we want, but we should follow some certain rules when making sentences. These rules apply not only to formal language but also to everyday spoken English. So, we should learn and always follow them.

Direct word order and inversion

When the sentence is positive (affirmative), the word order is direct. That means the verb follows the subject.

Examples

Caroline is a local celebrity. Caroline = subject, is = verb

We work remotely. We = subject, work = verb

You have been learning Spanish for two years. You= subject, have been learning = verb

In questions (interrogative sentences) the subject and the verb swap places. We call it indirect word order, or inversion.

Examples

Am I right? WRONG I am right?

How old are they? WRONG How old they are?

What day is it today? WRONG What day it is today?

If there is an auxiliary verb, its first word will precede the subject.

Examples

Are you sleeping?

Have you read my message?

Will you help me, please?

Has anyone been looking for me?

Will he have finished the job by 5 o’clock?

Direct and indirect objects

The object normally goes right after the verb. We don’t put any other words between them.

I like my job very much. WRONG like very much my job

He meets his friends every Friday. WRONG meets every Friday his friends

In the examples above, the object is direct. A direct object answers the question «whom» or «what» and there is no preposition after the verb. If we can’t put the object without a preposition (talk to smb, agree with smb, rely on smb), the object is indirect.

I’m not satisfied with my test score.

Let’s talk about the new project.

Now, if we have two objects, one is indirect and the other is direct, then the direct object has the priority to go first.

The professor explained the concept to the students. WRONG to the student the concept

He said nothing about those errors. WRONG about those errors nothing

If there are two direct objects and one of them is a pronoun, the pronoun goes behind the verb.

Could you show me the way, please? WRONG the way me

They wished her luck. WRONG luck her

Place and time

Expressions of time and place usually go together after the verb and the object (if there is one). We first indicate the place (where, where to) and then the time (when, how often, how long).

Examples

We go {to the theatre} {every month}. where=to the theatre, how often=every month

There were lots of people {in the park} {on Sunday}. where=in the park, when=on Sunday

Jim will give me a lift {to the station} {after the meeting}. where to=to the station, when=after the meeting

lt is often possible to put time at the beginning of the sentence.

At this time tomorrow, we’ll be going to the airport.

Sometimes I want to be alone.

Summary

Let’s briefly sum up the rules:

  1. Positive sentence: subject + verb. Question sentence: verb + subject
  2. Do not split the verb and the object
  3. Direct objects go before the indirect objects
  4. If one of two direct objects is a pronoun, it goes first
  5. Place goes before time

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

Word order typically refers to the way the words in a sentence are arranged. In the English language, the order of words is important if you wish 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. Also, the article provides the rules for the ordering of adverbs and adjectives in English sentences.

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 usually referred to as the SVO word order, and then most sentences must conform 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

He loves food

She killed the rat

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

The following is an explanation and example of the most commonly used clause patterns in the English language.

check markInversion

The English word order is inverted in questions. The subject changes its place in a question. Also, English questions usually begin with a verb or a helping verb if the verb is complex.

For example

Verb + Subject + object

Can you finish the assignment?

Did you go to work?

SVOMPT word order

SVOMPT word order

check markIntransitive Verbs

Some sentences use verbs that require no object or nothing else to follow them. These verbs are generally referred to as intransitive verbs. With intransitive verbs, you can form the most basic sentences since all that is required is a subject (made of one noun) and a predicate (made of one verb).

For example

Subject + verb

John eats

Christine fights

check markLinking Verbs

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

For example

Subject + verb + Subject complement/Predicate adjective

The dress was beautiful

Her voice was amazing

check markTransitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are verbs that tell 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

The father slapped his son

The teacher questioned his students

check markIndirect 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 + IndirectObject + DirectObject

He gave the man a good job.

The singer gave the crowd a spectacular concert.

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

For example

Subject + Verb + DirectObject + Preposition + IndirectObject

He gave a lot of money to the man

The singer gave a spectacular concert to the crowd.

check markAdverbials

Adverbs are phrases or words that modify or qualify a verb, adjective, or other adverbs. They typically provide information on the when, where, how, and why of an action. Adverbs are usually very difficult to place as they can be in different positions in a sentence. Changing the placement 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, generally before the verbs.

For example

He hastily went to work.

He hurriedly ate his food.

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

For example

John sat uncomfortably in the examination exam.

She spoke quietly in the class

The adverb of place is usually placed before the adverb of time

For example

John goes to work every morning

They arrived at school very late

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

For example

On Sunday he is traveling home

Every evening James jogs around the block

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

She has always loved eating rice.

check markAdjectives

Adjectives commonly refer to words that are 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

She is big

Adjectives can also appear before a noun.

For example

A big house

A fat boy

However, some sentences can 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 it should follow this order. This order feels intuitive for native English speakers. However, it can be a little difficult to unpack for non-native English speakers.

For example

The ugly old woman is back

The dirty red car parked outside your house

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

For example

The room is dark and cold

Having said that, Susan is tall and big

Get an expert to perfect your paper

scientific editing and proofreading

Порядок слов в английском меняется редко: каждый член предложения находится на своём месте. Если переставить слова местами, носитель языка может тебя не понять. Рассказываем, как запомнить порядок слов в английском, что такое инверсия и зачем её использовать. А также дарим промокод на интенсив по лексике и разговорному английскому.

Чтобы понять, как устроен порядок слов в английском, вспомним, из чего состоит предложение. 

Члены предложения в английском

Как и в русском языке, предложение в английском состоит из главных и второстепенных членов.

Главные члены предложения

  • Subject (Подлежащее

Субъект, который выполняет действие. Отвечает на вопрос Who? (Кто?) или What? (Что?).

The dog barks. — Собака лает. (the dog — подлежащее)

  • Predicate (Сказуемое

Обозначает действие, которое выполняет субъект. Выражено глаголом или глагольными конструкциями. 

The dog barks. — Собака лает. (barks — сказуемое)

Второстепенные члены предложения

  • Object (Дополнение

Объект, на который направлено действие. Дополнение в английском бывает direct (прямым), indirect (косвенным беспредложным) и prepositional (косвенным предложным)

Direct object (Прямое дополнение) Indirect object  (Непрямое дополнение) Prepositional Object (Косвенное дополнение)
Whom? (Кого?) What? (Что?) To whom? (Кому?) About whom? (О ком?) About what? (О чём?) With whom? (С кем?) For whom? (Для кого?).

The dog barks at me. — Собака лает на меня. (at me — косвенное дополнение)

  • Attribute (Определение

Характеристика подлежащего или дополнения. Отвечает на вопросы What? (Какой?), What kind? (Какого типа?), Which one? (Который?). 

The small dog barks. — Маленькая собака лает. (small — определение)

  • Adverbial modifier (Обстоятельство)

Указывает на признак, причину, время и место действия. Отвечает на вопросы When? (Когда?), How? (Как?), Where? (Где?), Why? (Почему?)

The dog barks outside. — Собака лает снаружи. (outside — обстоятельство)

В отличие от русского языка, где нет строго закреплённой позиции у того или иного слова, в английском каждому члену предложения отведено своё место. Переставлять их нельзя, потому что изменится смысл. Сравни:

Mary likes John very much. Мэри очень нравится Джон.

John likes Mary very much. Джону очень нравится Мэри

Мы поменяли местами подлежащее Mary и дополнение John, и смысл предложения кардинально изменился. Поэтому запомни:   

Порядок слов в английских предложениях строгий и фиксированный.  

Ниже найдёшь правила и таблицы, по которым легко сможешь правильно построить предложение в английском.

Типичный порядок слов

Порядок слов в утвердительных предложениях

Обычный порядок слов в английском языке выглядит так: 

Subject Predicate (Verb) Object

Сначала идёт подлежащее, потом сказуемое, затем дополнение. Это называется direct word order (прямой порядок слов).

The girl got the flowers. — Девушка получила цветы.

При этом, если к подлежащему относится определение, оно ставится перед ним. 

The beautiful girl got the flowers. — Красивая девушка получила цветы.

Всё усложняется, если в предложении есть несколько дополнений и обстоятельств. В этом случае нужно чётко определить их вид и расположить согласно таблице:

I gave my mother the flowers with pleasure at home yesterday. —  Вчера дома я с удовольствием подарил маме цветы.

I gave the flowers to my mother. — Я подарил цветы маме.

Five minutes ago I gave the flowers to my mother with pleasure at home. — Пять минут назад дома я с удовольствием подарил цветы маме. 

*  Порядок слов при переводе на русский может отличаться от английского. 

Обрати внимание, что обстоятельства времени или места могут стоять как в начале, так и в конце предложения.

Yesterday, he wrote a poem. — Вчера он написал стихотворение.

He wrote a poem yesterday. — Он написал стихотворение вчера.

Место прилагательных в предложении

По правилам английского, прилагательное ставится перед существительным, к которому относится. Если прилагательных больше, чем одно, их порядок определяется следующим образом: 

Порядок прилагательных в предложении: мнение/оценка — размер — возраст — форма — цвет — происхождение — материал — применение

These are cool big new square purple Italian silk pillow cases. — Это классные большие новые квадратные фиолетовые итальянские шёлковые наволочки для подушек. (pillow cases дословно подушечные наволочки)

Место наречий в предложении

Общее правило: наречие в английском идёт после глагола, но перед прилагательным или другим наречием. 

Mike acts quickly when I ask him to help. Mike is a very brave man. — Майк  быстро реагирует, когда я прошу помощи. Майк очень смелый человек.

Существуют также особые правила для конкретного типа наречий.

  • Наречия частоты идут перед глаголами.

My sister sometimes has her nails done by herself. — Моя сестра иногда сама делает себе маникюр.

  • Наречия степени ставятся перед главными глаголами, но после вспомогательных.

I totally get what you mean. — Я точно понял, что ты имел в виду. 

I don’t really get what you mean. — Я не совсем понял, что ты имел в виду.

  • Наречия места и времени обычно идут в конце предложения.

Mike will be here at 6 pm. — Майк будет здесь в шесть вечера.

  • Наречия, которые относятся ко всему предложению, идут в начале. 

Unfortunately I cannot come to you party. — К сожалению, я не смогу прийти на твою вечеринку. 

Если в предложении несколько наречий, они расставляются по правилу: 

наречие образа действия наречие места наречие времени

She looked prettily in her new dress that day. — Она выглядела мило в новом платье в тот день.

Если в предложении есть глагол движения (to go, to come, to leave), наречия идут так: 

наречие места наречие образа действия наречие времени. 

He left for Paris suddenly yesterday. — Вчера он внезапно уехал в Париж. 

Порядок слов в отрицательных предложениях

В отрицательных предложениях сохраняется прямой порядок слов Subject Predicate (Verb) Object, а частица not ставится после вспомогательного глагола. 

The girl did not get the flowers. — Девушка не получила цветы. 

At the moment, I do not have my phone. — Сейчас у меня нет с собой телефона.

Порядок слов в вопросительных предложениях

Вопросительные предложения в английском строятся по следующим правилам: 

  • В общих вопросах вспомогательный (to have, to be, to do) или модальный глагол ставится перед подлежащим, далее сохраняется прямой порядок слов. 

Can I take your book? — Могу я взять твою книгу?

Do you have a book? — У тебя есть книга?

Is it your book? — Это твоя книга?

  • Вопросительное слово всегда ставится в начале.

Why do you have that book? — Почему у тебя есть та книга?

  • В вопросах к определению любого члена предложения за вопросительным словом ставится существительное.

What book do you have? — Какая у тебя есть книга?

  • Если вопросительное слово идёт с предлогом, тот ставится после сказуемого. Если в вопросе есть дополнение, предлог ставится после него. 

What are you reading about? — О чём читаешь? 

Если ты уже очумел от непонятных правил и грамматических конструкций, набил шишек на временах и предлогах, пришло время разобраться с английской грамматикой раз и навсегда. Наши пособия «Grammar Is All You Need» и «12-in-1 Tenses Handbook» тебе в этом помогут. В них нет никаких занудных правил и сложных примеров, всё чётко и по фану!

Нетипичный порядок слов в английском

Когда мы хотим сделать акцент в предложении на определённой идее или добавить ей эмоциональности, можно нарушить прямой порядок слов и применить инверсию (Inversion). Это значит — поменять местами подлежащее и сказуемое. 

Самый простой пример инверсии в английском — это вопросительные предложения. О них мы рассказали выше. Но существуют и более сложные случаи её употребления. 

Тему инверсии обычно проходят на уровне Upper-Intermediate. Чтобы определить свой уровень английского, пройди наш короткий тест.

Наречия отрицания

Если в предложении есть наречия never (никогда), seldom (изредка), rarely (редко), scarcely (вряд ли), hardly (едва), in vain (напрасно), no sooner (не раньше), можно применить инверсию, чтобы эмоционально усилить отрицание.

Сравни:

They had never been to New York. — Они никогда не были в Нью-Йорке.

Never had they been to New York. — Никогда они не были в Нью-Йорке.

У этих двух предложений один и тот же смысл, только второй вариант на английском звучит выразительнее. Образуется такая инверсия по схеме:

AdverbAuxiliary VerbSubject  — Verb

Seldom can he visit his grandparents. Изредка он может навещать своих дедушку и бабушку.

Rarely does it snow in Africa. — Редко бывает, что снег идёт в Африке.

Это же правило относится и к наречию little с отрицательным значением. 

Little did they know what to do. — Они совсем не знали, что делать.

Наречия с not

Если предложение начинается с not since (с тех пор как, ни разу), not till/until (пока не), инверсия происходит в главном предложении.

Not till I called him did I calm down. Пока я ему не позвонил, я не успокоился.

Устойчивые выражения с no

В английском инверсию можно применять в предложениях с выражениями on no account (ни в коем случае), under no circumstances (ни при каких обстоятельствах), in no way (никоим образом), at no time (никогда).

Under no circumstances should you go outside. Ни при каких обстоятельствах не выходи на улицу.

In no way did he want to hurt you. Никоим образом он не хотел тебя обидеть.

Only 

Также инверсия в английском используется в предложениях после указателей времени со словом only (только). 

Only once before have I lost my keys. — Лишь однажды я терял свои ключи.

Only when he left did I remember about present to him. — Только когда он ушёл, я вспомнил про подарок для него.

Here и there

Инверсия может применяться после слов here (вот, здесь, тут) и there (там), когда они являются обстоятельством места, а подлежащее выражено существительным. 

Here comes the sun! — Вот выходит солнце! 

I looked back and there stood Benjamin, all covered in paint. — Я оглянулся, и там стоял Бенджамин, весь перемазанный в краске. 

Если подлежащее выражено местоимением, это правило не работает.

Here are we. Here we are. — Вот и мы.

So.. that, such… that

Подчеркнуть чьё-либо качество можно также с помощью инверсии.

She was so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off. — Она была настолько красивой, что я не мог отвести глаз.

Инверсия: So beautiful was she that I couldn’t take my eyes off. 

Условные предложения

Инверсию можно использовать во всех типах условных предложений, кроме нулевого. Для этого следует убрать if (если) и вынести в начало предложения вспомогательный глагол. Как образуются условные наклонения, сколько их и чем они отличаются, объяснили на примерах из фильма «Джокер». 

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me. — Если у вас будут вопросы, свяжитесь со мной.

Хочешь научиться свободно использовать инверсию в своей речи, а также научиться увлекательно излагать свои мысли и рассказывать истории? Записывайся на интенсив «Думай и говори как носитель» с Веней Паком и Тикеей Дей. По промокоду HERECOMES тебя ждёт скидка в 10 $ на любой тариф курса.

Что почитать: 

Современные учебники английского для самостоятельного изучения языка

Таблица неправильных глаголов в английском и советы по их изучению

Словообразование в английском: таблица английских суффиксов и префиксов

Как выучить все английские времена

План по совершенствованию английского: пять простых шагов

Тайм-менеджмент в изучении английского языка

Published on
20 October 2022
by

Shane Bryson.

Revised on
6 February 2023.

In theory, English sentences take a simple form much of the time. The basic rules for which words appear in a sentence can help you with most of the sentences you’ll need in academic writing.

If we push on these rules, we’ll find many exceptions, but the point here is only to provide a kind of template that can be followed much of the time.

Table of contents

  1. Basic sentence structure
  2. Intransitive verb
  3. Linking verb
  4. Transitive verb
  5. Indirect object
  6. Reversed direct and indirect object
  7. Continue reading: Word order rules for

This article outlines some basic sentence structures that can be used as templates and provides rules for the ordering of adverbs and adjectives in English sentences.

Basic sentence structure

Sentences are made of clauses, and the simplest sentence has only one clause. In fact, sentences with only one clause are called “simple sentences”. We’re going to look at variations of only this kind of sentence, since these patterns are simply repeated in the additional clauses added to more complicated sentences (“compound sentences,” “complex sentences,” and “compound-complex sentences”).

The following is an explanation of the most common and easily used clause patterns you’ll use or find used in English.

A clause is a string of words with a subject (the thing doing the action) and a predicate (the action itself). A subject must contain a noun, and a predicate must contain a verb. That said, the subject is usually made up of not only that noun but all of the words that come along with it (e.g. “The large book…”), and the predicate is made up of not only that verb, but all of the words that come along with it (e.g. “…sits on the table).

In the example sentences below, the verb position and all that follows it are part of the predicate.

Intransitive verb

Some sentences use verbs that require nothing to follow them, and these are called intransitive verbs. With these we can form our most basic sentences, since all that’s necessary is a subject made of one noun and predicate made of one verb.

Example: Intransitive verb
subject + verb

Smaug sleeps.

Linking verb

When a sentence uses a different kind of verb, that verb can be either a transitive verb or a linking verb. A linking verb connects a subject to a quality of that subject. This quality is called a “subject complement” or a “predicate adjective.”

Example: Linking verb
subject + verb + subject complement

The sun was bright.

Transitive verb

A transitive verb tells what the subject did to something else. This “something else” we call the direct object.

Example: Transitive verb
subject + verb + direct object

The big man kicked the round ball.

Indirect object

We can add another position to a sentence like the last one, though. A sentence with a transitive verb can add to the mix an indirect object, the audience of the action or the thing that receives the direct object.

Example: Indirect object
subject + verb + indirect object + direct object

The generous man fed the dog a bone.

She sang the crowd a quiet song.

Reversed direct and indirect object

This ordering of the direct object and indirect object can also be reversed. Notice the necessary addition of the preposition “to” when the order is reversed (and notice also that the addition of the preposition technically transforms the indirect object into what’s called a prepositional phrase).

We could add “to” in the examples above (e.g. “She sang to the crowd a quiet song”), but it’s not necessary. When “to” is necessary, you know the ordering is as below.

Example: Reversed direct and indirect object (i.e. now a prepositional phrase)
subject + verb + direct object + indirect object (i.e. now a prepositional phrase)

The generous man fed a bone to the dog.

She sang a quiet song to the crowd.

Continue reading: Word order rules for

Adverbials or Adjectives

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Bryson, S.
(2023, February 06). Word Order Rules in English. Scribbr.
Retrieved 12 April 2023,
from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/syntax/english-word-order-rules/

Is this article helpful?

You have already voted. Thanks :-)
Your vote is saved :-)
Processing your vote…

The main
function of word order is to
express grammati­cal relations and determine the grammatical
status of a word by
fixing its position in the sentence. There exist two ways of
arranging words — direct
word order

and inverted
word order.

6.2 Direct word order

The most
common pattern for the arrangement of the main parts in a declarative
sentence is
Subject — Predicate — (Object),

which is called direct
word order. Direct word order is also employed in pronominal
questions to the subject or to its attribute.

Direct word
order
allows of only few variations

in the fixed pattern, and then only for the secondary parts. Thus if
there are two objects, the indirect one precedes the direct one, or
the prepositional follows the direct one. Thus
the pattern has the following form:

Subject
— Predicate —

Indirect
object — Direct object

Direct
object — Prepositional object

The birds have come.

Ann has seen this film.

As to other
secondary parts of the sentence, such as attributes and adverbial
modifiers, their position is less fixed. Usually those words that are
closely connected tend to be placed together. Accordingly secondary
parts referring to their headwords are placed close to them, or are
incorporated into, or else frame them up. Thus attributes either
premodify or postmodify or frame up their headwords: a bright
morning, the problems involved,
the
scene familiar
to us, the happiest
man alive,
the best
skier in
the world.

Adverbials and different form
words seem to be the most movable parts in the sentence. Their
mobility is partly accounted for by their varied reference to
different parts of the sentence.

6.3 Inverted word order

Another
common pattern of word order is the inverted one (or inversion). We
distinguish full
inversion
(when the predicate precedes the subject, as in Here
comes the lady of the house)

and partial
inversion (when
only part of the predicate precedes the subject, as in Happy
may you be!).

Some grammarians also distinguish double
inversion
(when parts of the predicate are placed separately before the
subject, as in Hanging
on the wall was a picture).

In some cases inversion may be
taken as a normal order of words in constructions with special
communicative value, and is thus devoid of any special colouring. In
other cases inversion is a sort of reordering for stylistic effect or
for emphasis. First we enumerate those cases where inversion is a
normal word order.

Inversion
is used
to distinguish between the communicative types of sentences.

6.4 The emphatic and communicative functions of word order

The second
function of word order is to
make prominent or emphatic
that part of the sentence which is more important or informative in
the speaker’s opinion. These two functions (to express prominence
or information focus, and emphasis) are different in their purpose,
but in many cases they go together or overlap, and are difficult to
differentiate.

Prominence
and emphasis are achieved by placing the word
in an unusual position
:
words normally placed at the beginning of the sentence (such as the
subject) are placed towards the end, whereas words usually occupying
positions closer to the end of the sentence (such as objects and
predicatives) are shifted to the beginning.

End
position is always emphatic
for the subject.

Very often this reor­dering results in the detachment of the
subject.

Must have
cost a pretty penny, this
dress of yours!

Соседние файлы в предмете [НЕСОРТИРОВАННОЕ]

  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #

Понравилась статья? Поделить с друзьями:
  • What is dim in vba excel
  • What is dialogue box in word
  • What is dialogue box in excel
  • What is desktop publishing and word processing
  • What is design the word design means different