UNIVERSIDAD METROPOLITANA VICERRECTORÍA ASOCIADA DE DESARROLLO Y RETENCIÓN
Programa de Tutorías
Word Order
Definition: • Word Order is the syntactic arrangement of words in a sentence.
Types of sentences: • Simple sentences: – A sentence that expresses a complete thought and has a subject and a verb. • Examples: – Some students like to study in the mornings. – Juan and Arturo play football.
Types of sentences: • Compound sentences: These contain two simple sentences joined by a coordinator such as: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Unless it’s a very short sentence, the coordinators are preceded with a comma.
• Examples: – I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.
Interesting fact: • Sometimes, this can help you remember: If you use the initial of each word it would spell FANBOYS; For-And-Nor-But-Or-Yet-So.
Compound sentences using semicolon: • Two simple sentences can be joined using a semicolon. These words are : Also
First
On the other hand
Furthermore
Second
Then
However
Indeed
Therefore
In addition
Instead
• Example: – Twelve workers started the project; however only five remain.
Basic word order: • Subject + Verb + Object (S-V-O) – Mary likes pizza. • Subject + Verb – This is only when using an intransitive verb. – Example: • John cried. • Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Object – Andy gives Bobby the ball.
Alternate Word order with an indirect object: • Subject + verb + object + indirect object – In this type of sentence, the indirect object must be part of prepositional phrase. • Example: – Andy gives the ball to Bobby.
Word order with an auxiliary: • Subject + auxiliary + verb + indirect object + direct object: – Andy will give Bobby the ball. (future) – Andy has given Bobby the ball. (present)
Word order with negation and auxiliary: • Subject + Auxiliary + Negative + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct object • Example: – Anne will not give Bobby the ball.
References: Benson, B., & Byrd, P. (1989). Improving the Grammar of Written English: The Editing Process (The Wadsworth English for Academic Purposes Series). Wadsworth Pub Co. Jennings, S. (n.d.). Basic English Sentence Structure. Retrieved from Speak Read Write: https://www.speakread-write.com/grammar1.html word order. (n.d.). Retrieved from The free dictionary: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/word+order
Revised by: • Prof. María Isaac –EnglishCoordinator • Giulianna Murati Amador –EnglishTutor
February 2010