word order

In English, the order of the words shows who does what. The subject (the person or thing that does the action) comes first, then the verb, then the object (the person or thing that gets the action).

The two sentences have the same words, but they don't mean the same thing.

Always a subject

A sentence needs a subject, even when it's clear who you mean. For weather, time and distance, the subject is it.

Instructions like Sit down. have no subject.

Adjectives before the noun

An adjective goes before its noun. After be, it stands on its own.

Place, then time

Words for place usually come before words for time, at the end of the sentence.

Nothing between the verb and the object

Words like very much, well and often don't go between the verb and its object.

Questions

In a question, be, or do/does, comes before the subject.

Common mistakes

• × Is cold today. → It's cold today.
• × I tea like. → I like tea.
• × a car red → a red car
• × I like very much tea. → I like tea very much.
• × She speaks well English. → She speaks English well.