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What is the correct word order in English?

GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer

English typically follows Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order: "She (S) reads (V) books (O)." The basic pattern expands to: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object + Adverbials. Adjectives precede nouns (big house), adverbs typically follow verbs or precede adjectives (runs quickly, very tall). Questions invert subject-verb order (Is she reading?). Modifiers should be placed close to the words they modify to avoid ambiguity.

General · Class 12