Word order intermediate level

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 in English sentences is usually subject, verb, object. It is important to get this right, as having your words in the wrong order can completely change the meaning of the sentence. For example, ‘The dog chased the cat.’ has a completely different meaning to ‘The cat chased the dog.’ When you add more verbs, adjectives and adverbs to your sentences, there are simple rules to follow to get them in the correct position.

Word order: verb and object

Verbs and the objects of verbs go together in the sentence and we do not usually put words in between them. We keep the verb and the objects of the verb together.
Examples

I like apples very much. (not ‘I like very much apples.’)

Tom enjoys sports a lot. (not ‘Tom enjoys a lot sports.’)

The boy kicked the football hard. (not ‘The boy kicked hard the football.’)

I will not go to the shop. (not ‘I to the shop will not go’.)

Do you have this jumper in green? (not ‘Do you this jumper have in green?’)

Word order: place and time

A verb and the place usually go together. Examples

I go home on the bus. (not ‘I on the bus go home.’)

I live in a city. (not ‘I in a city live.’)

I walk to work. (not ‘I to work walk.’)

If the verb has an object, time and place come after the verb + object.

Examples

I like to eat breakfast in the garden. (not ‘I like in the garden to eat breakfast.’)

I can meet you tomorrow. (not ‘I can meet tomorrow you.’)

In a sentence with place and time, place usually comes first in the sentence, then time.

Examples

I bought the shirt in town last week.

The party is at Tom’s house this evening.

We can also put time at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples

The park is closed today.

or

Today the park is closed.

The train broke down yesterday.

or

Yesterday the train broke down.

Word order: adverbs with the verb

Some adverbs go with the verb in the middle of the sentence.

Example

Tom always goes to work by train. (not Tom goes to work by train always.’)

These are some general rules about where to place our adverb (but there are exceptions).

— If the verb is one word, the adverb usually goes before the verb.

Example

Tom always goes to work by car. (not Tom goes always to work by car.’)

— Adverbs go after am/is/are/was/were.

Example

We were also hungry. (not ‘We also were hungry.’)

— If the verb is two or more words, the adverb goes after the first verb.

Example

My parents have always lived in London. (not ‘My parents have lived always in London’)

— “Probably” goes before the negative.

Example

I probably won’t see you. (not ‘I won’t probably see you.’)

— We use ‘both’ and ‘all’ in these positions.

Examples

We all felt ill after the meal.

We are all going out this evening.

My parents are both teachers.

We have both applied for the job.

— Sometimes we use will/is/did etc. instead of repeating part of a sentence.

I’ve never done it and I never will (= I will never do it)

The word order is very rigid in English. The most important rule is Subject — Predicate — Object. We usually use this word order to form an English sentence.

Nick bought a pair of skis. He met his best friend.

In questions an auxiliary verb is put at the beginning of the question.

Did Nick buy a pair of skis? Could he meet his best friend?

Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of frequency (often, sometimes, always, usually, …) are usually put between the subject and the predicate, but they can also go in front position (except always, ever and never) or in end position.

Nick usually buys a pair of skis every year. He often meets his best friend. We don’t visit them very often. Sometimes they go to the movies on Sundays.

NOTE: A verb sometimes consists of two or more words. Then the adverb of frequency has to be put between them.

I can never remember his name. Ann doesn’t usually get up early. Your car has probably been stolen.

NOTE: Adverbs of frequency go before have to.

Example: We always have to wait a long time for the bus.

NOTE: Adverbs of frequency go after am, is, are, was or were. But in questions the adverb is put after the subject.

Example: You are never on time. Are they always on holidays in July?

Adverbs of manner, place and time

Adverbs of manner come before adverbs of place. Adverbs of places come before adverbs of time. We usually write these adverbs at the end of the sentence.

Nick bought a new pair of skis in Innsbruck yesterday. He practiced hard on the ski slope last week.

Adverbs can also be put at the front of the sentence when this information is important.

Last weekend he took some lessons on a ski slope. After dinner he met his friends.

If there are two adverbs of time, the more precise one comes first.

He is going to have a skiing lesson at 10 a.m. on Monday.

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EXERCISES

Word order with the adverbs of frequency — Exercise 1

Word order with the adverbs of frequency — Exercise 2

Word order with the adverbs of frequency — Exercise 3

Word order in the present simple and past simple — Exercise

Word order in the present, past and future — Exercise

Word order in the present and past simple — Exercise — short sentences

Word order — forming questions in the present simple — Exercise

Word order — Exercise 8 — intermediate exercise

Word order — Exercise 9 — intermediate exercise

Word order — Exercise 10 — intermediate exercise

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