Level: A1-A2

Basic English Word Order — Practice

English sentences follow one fixed pattern: subject + verb + object. Adjectives go before the noun, and extra information (place, time) goes at the end. Build the pattern with 32 click-to-hear examples and unscramble quizzes.

📝 Sentences unit · lesson 2 of 6 ⏱ about 8 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on Find the verb — then build around it Next in unit Place & Time →

Quick guide

The pattern: subject (who or what) → verb (the action) → object (what receives the action). The dog chased the ball.
The smallest sentence needs only a subject and a verb. The baby sleeps.
Adjectives come before the noun — never after it. She has a red car. (NOT: a car red)
Extra information goes at the end: place and time follow the verb or object. We eat dinner at seven.

How to find the object: say the verb and ask "what?" or "whom?" — the direct answer is the object. If the extra words start with a small word like in, on, or at, or name a time, they are place or time information, not an object.

📖 Want the full explanation? See Building Sentences → Basic word order on the main guide page.

How to use this page

🔊 Listen: click the speaker icon to hear the whole line read aloud.
Word audio: click any word to hear it spoken on its own.
🌐 Translate: choose a language then click the globe icon to open Google Translate.
☑️ Select & practice: tick the checkboxes to choose items, then print them, make a worksheet or flashcards, or start a quiz.

The smallest sentence: subject + verb
The baby sleeps. – Subject + Verb
My father works. – Subject + Verb
Birds fly. – Subject + Verb
The phone rang. – Subject + Verb
Everyone laughed. – Subject + Verb
The children played. – Subject + Verb
Who does what: subject + verb + object
She reads books. – Subject + Verb + Object
I like coffee. – Subject + Verb + Object
The dog chased the ball. – Subject + Verb + Object
We watched a movie. – Subject + Verb + Object
He plays soccer. – Subject + Verb + Object
My mother makes bread. – Subject + Verb + Object
The students asked questions. – Subject + Verb + Object
I lost my keys. – Subject + Verb + Object
Adjectives come before the noun
She has a red car. – Subject + Verb + Object
He told a funny story. – Subject + Verb + Object
We visited an old castle. – Subject + Verb + Object
I need a big bag. – Subject + Verb + Object
They bought a new house. – Subject + Verb + Object
She wore a beautiful dress. – Subject + Verb + Object
Place or time goes at the end
She works at a hospital. – Subject + Verb + Place or Time
They live in a small house. – Subject + Verb + Place or Time
My sister lives in Dallas. – Subject + Verb + Place or Time
The train leaves at noon. – Subject + Verb + Place or Time
They arrived yesterday. – Subject + Verb + Place or Time
He swims on Saturdays. – Subject + Verb + Place or Time
Object first, then place or time
We eat dinner at seven. – Subject + Verb + Object + Place or Time
I saw a movie on Friday. – Subject + Verb + Object + Place or Time
She calls her grandmother every Sunday. – Subject + Verb + Object + Place or Time
He does his homework in the evening. – Subject + Verb + Object + Place or Time
They play basketball at the park. – Subject + Verb + Object + Place or Time
She drinks tea in the morning. – Subject + Verb + Object + Place or Time

Where to go from here