Word Order

Word Order

Word Order

The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence is called Word Order. The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence is the logic of the English Language—because the inappropriate (ungrammatical) placing of words in a sentence either upturns the sense or distorts the meaning of the sentence. So grammatical arrangement of words in an English sentence is of the first importance. But the task of making accurate word order in a sentence is not easy. For this, a thorough knowledge of the basic rules of English Grammar is required.

However, the general rules of word order in an English Sentence may be summarised as follows:

1. In an English sentence, the subject usually comes before the verbs, as

Tapan drinks apple juice.

We work in the field.

2. The object usually comes after the verbs; as,

The girl writes a letter.

Farhad sings a song.

3. When a sentence contains an indirect object and also a direct object then the indirect object precedes the direct object, as-

Please give me your dictionary.

Father bought me a new shirt.

4. When the adjective is used attributively it comes before the noun which it qualifies, as-

The honest boy was he who pointed out the error.

Few books were selected for studies.

5. When the adjective is used predicatively it comes after the noun, as – 

The girl was dishonest.

He was very attentive to the lecture.

6. The adjective phrase comes immediately after the noun, as-

Napoleon was a man of good luck.

The art of the finest class is always praiseworthy.

7. The adverb in a sentence is usually placed close to the word which it modifies, as–

Ram never tells a lie.

He works fast. 

8. If an adverb is used to modify the sentence as a whole, it is placed at the beginning of a sentence, as-

Truly, his mother is a woman of a kind heart.

Certainly, Ram was the boy who helped us.

9. All qualifying clauses are placed as close as possible to the words which they qualify, as-

He was educated in the school where his father had been a teacher.

Ram, who is my friend, often visits me.

10.  Sometimes the usual order of words is altered for emphasis, as-

Much have I travelled in the realms of gold.

A Patriot is one who works for the welfare of his motherland.

11. In an Interrogative sentence, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject, as –

Does Ram read the Illiad?

Have you known him? 0 0 0 

(Word Order)

N.B.  The article ‘Word Order’ originally belongs to the book ‘School English Grammar Part- II‘ by Menonim Menonimus.

Books of Composition by M. Menonimus:

1. Advertisement Writing
2. Amplification Writing
3. Note Making
4. Paragraph Writing
5. Notice Writing
6. Passage Comprehension
7. The Art of Poster Writing
8. The Art of Letter Writing
9. Report Writing
10. Story Writing
11. Substance Writing
12. School Essays Part-I
13. School Essays Part-II
14. School English Grammar Part-I
15. School English Grammar Part-II..

Books on Linguistics by M. Menonimus:

1. A Brief History of the English Language
2. Essays on Linguistics
3. My Imageries
4. Felicitous Expression: Some Examples
5. Learners’ English Dictionary

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