Grammar Plus B2

Page 85

UNIT

32

Word order

• English has precise rules regarding syntax, so in most cases we cannot move a phrase or an adverb wherever we want to. As for the rules on the position of adjectives and adverbs see Units 10 and 11. • When deciding where to place a phrase in a sentence, remember you must never put anything between the main verb and the Direct or Indirect Object. For the position of the other phrases in a sentence look at the rules below this example. subject verb object rest of the sentence I

like

pizza

very much

(not: I like very much pizza)

Direct Object or Indirect Object • When there are both a direct and an indirect noun object you can choose between two structures: Verb + Indirect Object (IO) + Direct Object (DO)

Verb + Direct Object (DO) + TO + Indirect Object (IO)

I gave

I gave

John

an apple

an apple

to

John

• However, when the sentence has a noun and a pronoun, the pronoun always goes first. I gave

him

an apple

I gave

it

to

John

• When both the direct and indirect object are pronouns you must always use this order: verb + DO (Pronoun) + TO + IO (Pronoun) I gave it to him • After some verbs followed by Direct Object – like buy, get, find, book or make – we use the preposition FOR + Indirect Object Example: Mum will make us a cake. ➝ Mum will make a cake for us. Position of prepositional phrases after object • After the Object the very next prepositional phrase in a sentence usually refers to place. • Phrases and adverbs of time come at the end of the sentence, however (*) they can also be placed at the beginning when the sentence isn’t a question. prepositional phrases

subject

verb

Direct Object or Indirect Object

place and other phrases

time*

Tom

has

lunch

at school

every day.

My parents

often go

Did you

tell

He

wasn’t

The teacher

will give

We

went

to work by car Fred

about the plan

last night?

in the car with me. us a lot of homework

for tomorrow. to Greece for a holiday

in 2001.

• With more than one phrase related to place, time or other aspects, the order of the phrases is the following: I left my umbrella on a chair in the kitchen (both refer to place but the chair is smaller than the kitchen) What were you doing at 3 o’clock yesterday? (both refer to time but 3 o’clock is smaller than the whole day)

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