Unit 92: He speaks English very well. (word order 1)

Master verb + object, place, and time order

A. verb + object

Sue reads

Sue reads a newspaper every day.

The verb (reads) and the object (a newspaper) are usually together. We say:

• Sue reads a newspaper every day.
(not 'Sue reads every day a newspaper')

B. place and time

Place (to a party) is usually before time (last night). We say: • We went to a party last night. (not 'We went last night to a party')
place
(where?)
time
(when? how long? how often?)
• Liz walks to work every day.
• Will you be at home this evening?
• We arrived at the airport early.
• They've lived in the same house for 20 years.
• Jim's father has been in hospital since June.

verb + object

He speaks English very well.
I like Italian food very much.
Did you watch television all evening?

place + time

We went to a party last night.
Liz walks to work every day.
I opened the door quietly.

92.1 Right or wrong? Correct the sentences that are wrong.

  1. Did you watch television all evening?
  2. Sue reads a newspaper every day.
  3. I like very much this picture.
  4. Tom started last week his new job.
  5. I want to speak English fluently.
  6. Jane bought for her friend a present.
  7. I drink every day three cups of coffee.
  8. Don't eat your dinner too quickly!
  9. I borrowed from my brother fifty pounds.

92.2 Put the words in order.

  1. (the door / opened / I / quietly) I opened the door quietly.
  2. (two letters / this morning / wrote) .
  3. (passed / Paul / easily / the exam) .
  4. (Ann / very well / French / doesn't speak) .
  5. (a lot of work / did / I / yesterday) .
  6. (London / do you know / well?)
  7. (we / enjoyed / very much / the party) .
  8. (the problem / carefully / I / explained) .
  9. (we / at the airport / some friends / met) .
  10. (did you buy / in England / that jacket?)
  11. (every day / do / the same thing / we) .
  12. (football / don't like / very much / I) .

92.3 Put the words in order.

  1. (to work / every day / walks / Liz) Liz walks to work every day.
  2. (at the hotel / I / early / arrived) .
  3. (goes / every year / to Italy / Julia) .
  4. (we / since 1988 / here / have lived) .
  5. (in London / Sue / in 1960 / was born) .
  6. (didn't go / yesterday / Paul / to work) .
  7. (to the bank / yesterday afternoon / went / Ann) .
  8. (I / in bed / this morning / my breakfast / had) .
  9. (in October / Barbara / to university / is going) .
  10. (a beautiful bird / this morning / in the garden / saw / Barbara) .
  11. (many times / have been / my parents / to the United States) .
  12. (my umbrella / I / last night / left / in the restaurant) .
  13. (to the cinema / tomorrow evening / are you going?)
  14. (the children / I / took / this morning / to school) .
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Interactive English Grammar • Unit 92 • Page 192-193