English Word Order: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. Which sentence has the correct word order? → I like this book very much.

Nothing may sit between a verb and its object, so very much has to move to the end of the clause.

2. She ___ every morning before work. → usually swims

A frequency adverb goes before the main verb: she usually swims.

3. Which sentence puts the adjective in the right place? → I bought a new jacket.

English adjectives go in front of the noun they describe, unlike Spanish, French or Italian.

4. We arrived ___. → at the airport at ten

Place normally comes before time at the end of an English sentence.

5. ___ my keys this morning. → I lost

The subject comes first and takes the subject form: I lost.

6. He ___ to work by bike. → always goes

Always goes before the main verb, not after it.

7. She ___ for meetings. → is never late

With be, the frequency adverb comes after the verb: she is never late.

8. Which sentence is in the correct order? → She gave me the tickets.

With two objects and no to, the person comes before the thing: gave me the tickets.

9. They ___ pizza on Fridays. → often eat

Frequency adverbs sit between the subject and the main verb.

10. Which order of adjectives is natural in English? → a big old wooden table

English stacks adjectives in a fixed sequence: size, then age, then material.

11. ___ we went to the museum. → Yesterday

A time expression may be fronted for emphasis, but it can never sit between the subject and the verb.

12. I ___ my homework in the evening. → usually do

Usually belongs immediately before the main verb.

13. Which sentence is correct? → He speaks English well.

An adverb of manner goes after the object, never between the verb and the object.

14. She gave the report ___. → to her manager yesterday

With to, the thing comes first, then the person, then the time.

15. ___ does your sister live? → Where

A question word comes before the auxiliary, which comes before the subject.

16. My parents ___ a house in the countryside. → have a small

The article and adjective both go in front of the noun, in that order.

17. Which sentence has the object in the right place? → I read the newspaper every day.

The object stays glued to the verb; the time expression goes at the end.

18. He ___ eats meat. → never

Never is itself the negative, and it goes before the main verb. Adding not would make it a double negative.

19. We ___ in the garden all afternoon. → sat quietly

An adverb of manner follows the verb when there is no object to separate them.

20. Which sentence is correct? → Where do you live?

Question word, then auxiliary, then subject, then the base verb. The main verb itself never moves.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. "___ do your parents live?" — "In a small town near Porto." → Where

A question word fills the first slot, before the auxiliary and the subject. The answer names a place, so the word is where.

2. "___ does the concert start?" — "At eight o'clock." → When

The reply gives a time, so the first slot takes when. What time is equally natural here.

3. "___ are you learning English?" — "Because I want to study abroad." → Why

The reply gives a reason, so the question opens with why.

4. "___ do you get to work?" — "By bike, usually." → How

The reply gives a method, which is what how asks for.

5. "___ is that woman in the red coat?" — "She's my aunt." → Who

The reply identifies a person, so the question word is who.

6. "___ you speak any Portuguese?" — "Yes, a little." → Do

In a present simple question the auxiliary comes before the subject. With you it is do.

7. "___ she working from home today?" — "No, she's in the office." → Is

Be makes its own question by moving in front of the subject — no auxiliary is added.

8. "___ your brother drive?" — "No, he hasn't got a licence." → Does

A singular third-person subject takes does at the front, and the main verb stays bare.

9. "___ many people came to the meeting?" — "About twenty." → How

How many asks for a number, and the pair sits together in the first slot.

10. She gave the tickets ___ her colleague on Friday. → to

When the thing comes before the person, the person needs to in front of it.

11. We met at the café ___ Saturday afternoon. → on

Place comes before time at the end of a sentence, and an afternoon of a named day takes on.

12. He left his umbrella ___ the train this morning. → on

Place before time. A train, a bus and a plane all take on rather than in.

13. The children played in the park ___ two hours. → for

Place first, then how long — and a length of time takes for.

14. I finish work ___ half past five every day. → at

Clock times take at, and the time expression closes the sentence.

15. My grandmother was born ___ 1938 in a village near Cork. → in

Years take in. Note that the place follows here because it is extra information rather than the main location.

16. They walked from the hotel ___ the beach before breakfast. → to

From marks the starting point and to marks the destination — the pair works together.

17. The library is open ___ Monday to Saturday. → from

From pairs with to in a range, and the whole phrase sits at the end of the sentence.

18. Put the plates ___ the top shelf, please. → on

A flat surface takes on, and the place phrase follows the object rather than splitting it from the verb.

19. We are meeting the new manager ___ nine tomorrow. → at

A clock time takes at, and tomorrow follows it as the wider time frame.

20. I usually listen to music ___ the train home. → on

On the train is the fixed phrase, and the place expression closes the clause.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe a daily habit, ending with the time expression. → I read the newspaper every morning.

Describe a daily habit, ending with the time expression.

2. Describe a purchase using two adjectives in the natural order. → She bought a beautiful blue dress.

Describe a purchase using two adjectives in the natural order.

3. Say when your group eats, using a frequency adverb. → We always have lunch at one.

Say when your group eats, using a frequency adverb.

4. Say where and when two people met — place before time. → They met at the airport on Sunday.

Say where and when two people met — place before time.

5. Praise a man's ability in a language. → He speaks French very well.

Praise a man's ability in a language.

6. Complain about punctuality, using be with a frequency adverb. → My sister is never on time.

Complain about punctuality, using be with a frequency adverb.

7. Ask about the university a relative attends. → Where does your brother study?

Ask about the university a relative attends.

8. Say what you handed to a man — person before thing. → I gave him the car keys.

Say what you handed to a man — person before thing.

9. Describe your household's evening routine. → We usually eat dinner at eight.

Describe your household's evening routine.

10. Describe something a woman wrote, ending with the time. → She wrote a long letter yesterday.

Describe something a woman wrote, ending with the time.

11. Say how and where some children played. → The children played quietly in the garden.

Say how and where some children played.

12. Describe a family member's vehicle with an adjective. → My father drives an old van.

Describe a family member's vehicle with an adjective.

13. Ask whether some people are your neighbours. → Do they live near you?

Ask whether some people are your neighbours.

14. Say what a man sent and to whom, putting the thing first. → He sent the photos to his mother.

Say what a man sent and to whom, putting the thing first.

15. Describe how you travel home, with a frequency adverb. → I often walk home after work.

Describe how you travel home, with a frequency adverb.

16. Describe last night's entertainment with one adjective. → We watched a funny film last night.

Describe last night's entertainment with one adjective.

17. Describe a woman's job, saying who she teaches and where. → She teaches young children at a primary school.

Describe a woman's job, saying who she teaches and where.

18. Say where and when some travellers landed. → They arrived in Madrid on Tuesday.

Say where and when some travellers landed.

19. Complain about a relative, using a negative adverb. → My brother never answers my messages.

Complain about a relative, using a negative adverb.

20. Make a polite request about a window. → Can you close the window, please?

Make a polite request about a window.