Beginner · Sentence building
English word order: build a clear sentence
Use subject–verb–object order, place details naturally, and form straightforward questions and negatives.
What you will learn
English relies on word order to show who does an action and what the action affects. A common statement pattern is subject + verb + object: “Sara reads books.” Once the core sentence is clear, you can add details about place, time and manner.
The lesson
1. Start with the subject and verb
The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. The verb tells the action or state. In many everyday statements, the subject comes first, followed by the verb and then its object: “The student opened the book.”
Pattern: Subject + verb + object
2. Add place and time clearly
After the main idea, add details that answer questions such as where or when. “They play football in the park after school” has the subject they, the verb play, the object football, the place in the park and the time after school.
Pattern: Subject + verb + object + place + time (a common pattern)
3. Questions and negatives need the right helper
For many present-simple questions, put do or does before the subject. For a negative, use don't or doesn't before the base verb. Do not keep the -s on the main verb after does: “Does Sara read?” and “Sara doesn't read.”
Pattern: Do/Does + subject + base verb? · Subject + don't/doesn't + base verb
Examples with language support
Read the English sentence first, then compare its meaning in the language you know best. These translations aim to communicate the sentence naturally rather than repeat English word order.
Example 1
Sara reads books at night.
- Urdu
- سارہ رات کو کتابیں پڑھتی ہے۔
- Hindi
- सारा रात में किताबें पढ़ती है।
- Arabic
- تقرأ سارة الكتب ليلًا.
- Bengali
- সারা রাতে বই পড়ে।
Why it works: The sentence begins with the subject, then the verb, then the object and time.
Example 2
They play football in the park after school.
- Urdu
- وہ اسکول کے بعد پارک میں فٹ بال کھیلتے ہیں۔
- Hindi
- वे स्कूल के बाद पार्क में फुटबॉल खेलते हैं।
- Arabic
- يلعبون كرة القدم في الحديقة بعد المدرسة.
- Bengali
- তারা স্কুলের পরে পার্কে ফুটবল খেলে।
Why it works: The core statement comes first, followed by place and time details.
Example 3
Do you speak English?
- Urdu
- کیا آپ انگریزی بولتے ہیں؟
- Hindi
- क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?
- Arabic
- هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟
- Bengali
- আপনি কি ইংরেজি বলেন?
Why it works: Do comes before the subject you in this present-simple question.
Example 4
She does not like tea.
- Urdu
- وہ چائے پسند نہیں کرتی۔
- Hindi
- उसे चाय पसंद नहीं है।
- Arabic
- هي لا تحب الشاي.
- Bengali
- সে চা পছন্দ করে না।
Why it works: Does not comes before the base form like.
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoid: Reads Sara books.
Use: Sara reads books.
A normal statement usually places the subject before the verb.
Avoid: Does he speaks English?
Use: Does he speak English?
After does, use the base verb speak.
Check your understanding
Answer first without looking at the choices twice. Open the answer panel to see the correct response and the reason.
1. Choose the usual English statement order.
- Verb + object + subject
- Subject + verb + object
- Object + subject + verb
Reveal answer and explanation
Subject + verb + object
A common everyday statement begins with the subject, then the verb and object.
2. Choose the correct question.
- Does she works here?
- Do she work here?
- Does she work here?
Reveal answer and explanation
Does she work here?
Does agrees with she, and the main verb remains work.
Study tip
Write three sentences of your own using the pattern you learned. Say them aloud, check the verb form and read them again the next day. If you make a mistake, correct it and keep the corrected sentence as a revision note.