Word OrderA0–A1

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The order of subject, verb, object, adjectives and adverbs in an English sentence. The subject is always present and the adjective comes before the noun: It is cold. I have a red car.

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CheatsheetA0–A1

Point	Rule	Example
Order	subject + verb + object + place + time	My sister buys bread in the shop every day.
Subject	the subject is always present	It is cold.
Adjective	comes before the noun	I have a red car.
A1Time first	a time phrase can start the sentence, often with a comma	Last summer, we went to Italy.
A1Frequency adverb	before the main verb, after be	I always eat breakfast. / She is always late.
A1Trap	place comes before time	I went to London yesterday.

OverviewA0

The order is subject, verb, object (SVO), then place, then time.
Questions change the order. See Questions and negatives.

Form: statementsA0

Rule	Example
The subject is always present.	It is cold. / She lives in Madrid.
The verb comes right after the subject.	My friend came early.
The object comes right after the verb.	I drink tea at night.
An adjective comes before the noun.	I have a red car.

For two or more adjectives, see Adjective order.

Place and timeA1

Rule	Example
Place comes before time.	I went to London last year.
A time word can also start the sentence.	Last year I went to London.

A time phrase at the start often takes a comma: Last summer, we went to Italy.
A place or time word follows the object: I met Ana in the park.

AdverbsA1

Adverb	Position	Example
always	before the main verb, after be	I always eat breakfast. / She is always late.
really	before the main verb	I really like jazz.
very much / a lot	at the end, after the object	I like coffee very much.

More on frequency adverbs: Adverbs of frequency and manner.

Typical errorsA1

✗	✓	Rule
I went yesterday to London.	I went to London yesterday.	place before time
I eat always breakfast.	I always eat breakfast.	frequency adverbs go before the main verb
She always is late.	She is always late.	frequency adverbs go after be