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A2sentence structure258 questions

Basic word order

Apprentissage rapide

Once a sentence carries more than a subject, a verb and an object, English has a settled order for the extra parts.

À retenir

  • Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb and after be.
  • Adjectives go before the noun, in a set order when there are several.
  • Place comes before time: she works in Ankara on Mondays.

Exemples

  1. 1My uncle is repairing the fence in the back garden.
  2. 2We were having lunch when the phone rang.

Piège courant à éviter

The place-before-time order is not optional. On Mondays she works in Ankara is fine at the front, but not wedged between the verb and the place.

Approfondir

La règle

  1. More parts, same core

    At A2 a sentence carries more than a subject, a verb and an object: a tense with two parts, an adverb, a comparison, a second clause. The core stays Subject + Verb + Object, and each new part has a fixed place around it.

  2. Multi-word verbs

    Multi-word verbs stay together in the verb slot: the helper goes first and the main verb follows, with nothing between them except a frequency adverb or not.

    • The children are playing in the yard
    • We were watching the news
    • I am going to phone the bank
    • You should wear a coat
    • My grandfather used to keep bees.

  3. Manner, place, time

    Extra information follows a settled order after the object: manner, then place, then time.

    • She packed the glasses carefully in the box last night.

    A place phrase comes before a time phrase: "We met our friends at the café yesterday", not "yesterday at the café". A time phrase can move to the front instead:

    • Last summer we stayed with our cousins.

    Adverbs of manner such as well, carefully and quickly go after the object, never between the verb and the object:

    • He plays the guitar well.

  4. Comparisons and quantities

    Comparatives and superlatives build their own order. A comparative adjective is followed by than:

    • The new flat is bigger than the old one.

    A superlative takes the and often a place phrase:

    • It is the oldest bridge in the city.

    Enough goes after an adjective but before a noun:

    • The bag is big enough
    • We have enough chairs.

    Too goes before the adjective:

    • The tea is too sweet.

    Quantifiers stand in front of their noun:

    • There is not much sugar
    • There are not many tickets.

  5. Second clauses

    Second clauses keep ordinary statement order. After because, when, while and before, the subject and verb come in the usual order:

    • We took a taxi because the bus was late.

    A time clause about the future uses the present tense, and the main clause carries will:

    • I will text you when the parcel arrives.

    If the time clause comes first, a comma follows it:

    • When the parcel arrives, I will text you.

Anatomie de la phrase

Des phrases de cette leçon, découpées dans l'ordre qu'exige l'anglais.

  1. SujetMy uncleAuxiliaireisVerberepairingObjetthe fenceLieuin the back garden.

  2. SujetHeVerbeansweredObjetthe questionsManièrequickly and politely.

  3. SujetMy grandmotherVerbeused to bakeObjetbreadTempsevery morning.

  4. SujetWeAuxiliairewereVerbehavingObjetlunchPropositionwhen the phone rang.

Guide visuel

How to read this A2 topic

At A2, the challenge is choosing between similar time frames, pronouns, and quantity patterns.

1. Look for the time clue

Yesterday, now, every day, already, and since often decide the tense.

I watched it yesterday.

2. Choose the pattern first

Pick the whole grammar structure before choosing the final word.

I am going to study.

3. Check word position

Adverbs, objects, and pronouns must sit in natural English order.

I know him well.

English word-order check

Use this path when a sentence feels grammatical but awkward.

  1. 1Find the subject and the finite verb.
  2. 2Keep the verb close to its direct object.
  3. 3Put manner before place before time when several adverbials come at the end.
  4. 4Move time to the front only when it helps the sentence flow.

Contrasts that often decide the answer

Event or background

Simple forms move events forward; continuous forms show an action in progress.

I left while she was talking.

Fact or stance

Modals, hedges, and reporting structures show how certain or responsible the speaker sounds.

This may indicate a problem.

Clause or compressed phrase

Advanced writing often compresses full clauses into participle, noun, or prepositional phrases.

Having reviewed the data, we revised the plan.

Exemples

  1. 1My uncle is repairing the fence in the back garden.
  2. 2We were having lunch when the phone rang.
  3. 3She is going to start a new job in May.
  4. 4You should keep your passport in a safe place.
  5. 5My grandmother used to bake bread every morning.
  6. 6He answered the questions quickly and politely.
  7. 7This street is quieter than the main road.
  8. 8That was the funniest film of the year.
  9. 9The coat is not warm enough for winter.
  10. 10I will call you back when I get home.

Exceptions

Some short adverbs of manner can come before the verb in writing: "She quickly closed the door." This is a style choice; the safe position is still after the object. Well never moves before the verb. A long object does not change the rule: "We visited last week a friend from school" is still wrong. When the end of the sentence feels crowded, move the time phrase to the front instead: "Last week we visited a friend from school." Enough goes after an adjective but before a noun: compare "old enough" with "enough money".

Erreurs fréquentes

  • Adverb between verb and object

    Erreur

    She speaks very well French.

    Correct

    She speaks French very well.

    The object stays next to the verb.

  • Time before place

    Erreur

    We arrived yesterday at the hotel.

    Correct

    We arrived at the hotel yesterday.

    Place comes before time.

  • Will in a time clause

    Erreur

    I will call you when I will arrive.

    Correct

    I will call you when I arrive.

    Time clauses about the future use the present.

  • Enough before the adjective

    Erreur

    The room is enough big.

    Correct

    The room is big enough.

  • Missing than

    Erreur

    My sister is taller me.

    Correct

    My sister is taller than me.

Récap

L'essentiel de la leçon sur une carte, avant de te tester.

À retenir

  1. Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb and after be.
  2. Adjectives go before the noun, in a set order when there are several.
  3. Place comes before time: she works in Ankara on Mondays.

Erreurs fréquentes

  • Erreur: She speaks very well French.

    Correct: She speaks French very well.

  • Erreur: We arrived yesterday at the hotel.

    Correct: We arrived at the hotel yesterday.

  • Erreur: I will call you when I will arrive.

    Correct: I will call you when I arrive.

Teste-toi

Expand three short sentences with an adverb and a time phrase, then practise.

Points de grammaire associés

Poursuivez votre apprentissage avec d'autres notions de ce niveau.

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