Order of Words (Class 8)

Order of Words (Class 8)

The order of words in a sentence is usually in the following order:

a. The subject usually comes before the verb.

Example:

· Sam takes coffee.

· The teacher comes and teaches in the class.

Some important points:

1. The subject comes after the helping verb in interrogative sentences.

Example:

· Will you have a cup of coffee?

· Is it a good movie?

2. Sometimes exclamatory and Optative sentences, the subject comes after the verb.

Example:

· What a beautiful sunset!

· May you live long!

3. In Imperative Sentences, the subject is usually understood.

Example:

· Help the poor. (You)

· Thank you (I)

4. In conditional clauses, without “if”, the subject comes after the helping verb.

· Had you worked hard, you would have gotten the promotion.

· Should you go to Bangalore, do not forget to meet my sister.

5. In sentences, beginning with “here”, “there”, “no sooner”, “hardly” etc, the subject comes after the verb.

Example:

· There comes the doctor.

· Here comes my brother.

· No sooner did I reach the hotel than I ordered a drink.

· Hardly had I reached home when it started raining.

b. The object usually comes after the verb

Example:

· I am learning to ride a bicycle.

· Their class is making a noise.

Some important points:

1. When the object is a relative or an interrogative pronoun, it comes before the verb.

Example: This is the girl whose sister got the first prize.

2. The indirect object precedes the direct object

Example: She gave me(indirect) a gift(direct).

3. The complement usually comes after the verb.

Example: We call our dog ‘tommy’.

4. The adjective usually comes before its noun.

Example: A strange disease has attacked them.

5. In case the adjective is used predicatively, it comes after the noun.

Example: All men are mortal.

6. The adverb is usually placed close to the word it modifies.

Example: She always speaks the truth. You have solved only one problem.