Word order

The point

A basic statement is subject, then verb, then object. She likes coffee. The verb does not come first, and the object does not sit between the subject and the verb.

Form and use

A basic statement follows subject, verb, object. Nia opened the window. Nia is the subject, the person the line is about. Opened is the verb. The window is the object, the thing that receives the action. Do not put the object first in a statement. Nia the window opened and Opened Nia the window are wrong.

After be, the complement follows the verb. It may be an adjective or a noun. The road is wet. Nia is a pilot. Wet and a pilot complete be. They stay after is. The road wet is and Nia a pilot is are wrong. The order is subject, a form of be, then the complement.

A frequency adverb stands before the main verb. She always starts at eight. They often write. I never drink milk. The set is always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never. With be, the same adverb follows be. She is always early. They are often out. For a plain line, do not put it before be.

Questions use a different order. This unit only points to it. In a yes-no question, a helper moves before the subject: Is she ready? Do they live here? The object still follows the main verb: Does she need the map? The answer returns to statement order: Yes, she needs the map. Do not invent a new place for the object.

Don't translate it like this

Subject, verb, object.

Short examples