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Unit 109 · Adjectives and adverbs

Word order 1: verb + object; place and time

Study

A

The verb and the object normally go together. We do not usually put other words between them:

verb object
I like my job very much. (not I like very much)
Our guide spoke English fluently. (not spoke fluently English)
I didn't use my phone yesterday.
Do you eat meat every day?

Two more examples:

›

I lost all my money and I also lost my passport. (not I lost also my passport)

›

At the end of this street you'll see a supermarket on your left. (not see on your left a supermarket)

B

The verb and place (where?) normally go together:

›

go home

›

live in a city

›

walk to work etc.

If the verb has an object, the order is:

verb object place
We took the children to the zoo. (not took to the zoo the children)
Don't put anything on the table.
Did you learn English at school?
C

Normally time (when? / how often? / how long?) goes after place:

place time
Ben walks to work every morning. (not every morning to work)
I'm going to Paris on Monday.
They've lived in the same house for a long time.
We need to be at the airport by 8 o'clock.
Sarah gave me a lift home after the party.
You really shouldn't go to bed so late.

Sometimes we put time at the beginning of the sentence:

›

On Monday I'm going to Paris.

›

After the party Sarah gave me a lift home.

Some time words (for example, always/never/usually) go with the verb in the middle of the sentence. See Unit 110.

→ Word order in questions → Units 49–50 · Adjective order → Unit 99 · Word order 2 → Unit 110

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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109.1

Is the word order OK or not? Correct the sentences where necessary.

  1. 1
    Did you see your friends yesterday? example
  2. 2
    Ben walks every morning to work. example
  3. 3
    Joe doesn't like very much football.
  4. 4
    Dan won easily the race.
  5. 5
    Tanya speaks German quite well.
  6. 6
    Have you seen recently Chris?
  7. 7
    I borrowed from a friend some money.
  8. 8
    Please don't ask that question again.
  9. 9
    I ate quickly my breakfast and went out.
  10. 10
    Did you invite to the party a lot of people?
  11. 11
    Sam watches all the time TV.
  12. 12
    Does Kevin play football every weekend?
109.2

Complete the sentences. Put the parts in the correct order.

  1. 1
    We (the children / to the zoo / took). We .example
  2. 2
    I (a friend of mine / on my way home / met). I .
  3. 3
    I (to put / on the envelope / a stamp / forgot). I .
  4. 4
    We (a lot of fruit / bought / in the market). We .
  5. 5
    They (opposite the park / a new hotel / built). They .
  6. 6
    Did you (at school / today / a lot of things / learn)? Did you ?
  7. 7
    We (some interesting books / found / in the library). We .
  8. 8
    Please (at the top / write / of the page / your name). Please .
109.3

Complete the sentences. Put the parts in the correct order.

  1. 1
    They (for a long time / have lived / in the same house). They .example
  2. 2
    I (to the supermarket / every Friday / go). I .
  3. 3
    Why (home / did you come / so late)? Why ?
  4. 4
    Sarah (her children / takes / every day / to school). Sarah .
  5. 5
    I haven't (been / recently / to the cinema). I haven't .
  6. 6
    I (her name / after a few minutes / remembered). I .
  7. 7
    We (around the town / all morning / walked). We .
  8. 8
    My brother (has been / since April / in Canada). My brother .
  9. 9
    I (on Saturday night / didn't see you / at the party). I .
  10. 10
    Lisa (her umbrella / last night / in a restaurant / left). Lisa .
  11. 11
    The moon (round the earth / every 27 days / goes). The moon .
  12. 12
    Anna (Italian / for the last three years / has been teaching / in London). Anna .