Word order

This page explains the difficulty of word order for English language learners.

Introduction

Before discussing the difficulties of word order for English language learners, it is helpful to talk about inflections. Inflections are the additions to words or changes in form that indicate a new grammatical function.

Inflections in English

A good example of an inflection in English is the -s that turns singular nouns into plurals. Other examples include the -er inflection in comparatives (hotter - older) and the past tense -ed (played - walked).

Nevertheless, @@ in comparison with German or Russian, for example, English is a largely uninflected language ~~. Indeed, it is probably because English is relatively uninflected that it has the reputation of being easy.

Inflections in German

German, in contrast, is a highly inflected language, which is probably the main reason that it is regarded as difficult. For example, the forms of articles and adjectives inflect (change) according to the grammatical function of the noun they precede. So, virtually every sentence contains inflected words.

To make this clearer, let's look at an example.

  • A big dog bit the old man.

In English, neither the articles (a / the) nor the adjective endings change, whatever the function of the noun they go with. In German, however, both article and adjective change according to the function and gender of the noun they precede. So the same sentence in German would look like this:

  • Ein großer Hund biss den alten Mann.

SVO word order

Now you may be wondering what has all this to do with word order, the title of this article. Well, @ the fact that English is an uninflected language means that the order of words in a sentence must follow a fairly rigid pattern in order to make the meaning clear. ~ The subject (S) comes first, followed by the verb (V) and then the object (O).

  • A big dog (S) bit (V) the old man (O).

If we reverse the position of the two nouns: The old man (S) bit (V) a big dog (O) then we also reverse the meaning of the sentence. It is now the man who is doing the biting.

Compare this with German: Den alten Mann (O) biss (V) ein großer Hund (S) . Although we have reversed the position of the two nouns, the meaning has not changed. In this sentence the dog is still doing the biting. German allows this change in word order because the endings of the articles and adjectives make it clear what is the subject and what is the object.

To have the man doing the biting, we would have to change the articles and adjectives as follows: Der alte Mann biss einen großen Hund. Or Einen großen Hund biss der alte Mann.

Exceptions to SVO

Now, this comparison of English and German would seem to prove that English is in fact easier (if less flexible), because the SVO word order is always the same. This would be true, were it not for certain exceptions that make the life of the poor learner of English more difficult. Look at the following examples:

  • This would be true, were (V) it (S) not for certain exceptions that ..
  • Rarely have (V) I (S) seen such an excellent piece of work (O)!
  • Had (V) I (S) seen him (O), I would have punched him on the nose.
  • I do not like Germany, nor do (V) I (S) like German food (O).
  • Did (V) I (S) see a strange thing (O) on the way to school!
  • Not until later did (V) I (S) find out the reason (O) why he was angry.
  • On the roof sat (V) a huge black bird (S).

In all the above sentences the verb comes before the subject. This change in word order from the normal is called inversion.

Quiz

Look at the following pairs of sentences. In each pair, one sentence contains normal SV word order, and the other the inverted VS word order. Decide which sentence is correct. (In one case, both sentences are correct!)

Example:

  • She was very angry, as her husband was late. - Correct!
  • She was very angry, as was her husband late.
  • She was very angry, as her husband was.
  • She was very angry, as was her husband.
  • Here comes Simon!
  • Here Simon comes!
  • Here comes he!
  • Here he comes!
  • Not far from here is the new hotel.
  • Not far from here the new hotel is.
  • Not far from here you can see the new hotel.
  • Not far from here can you see the new hotel.
  • Do you know where the new hotel is?
  • Do you know where is the new hotel?
  • I can't tell you - Neither I can.
  • I can't tell you - Neither can I.
  • "I don't know," said John.
  • "I don't know," John said.
  • "I don't know," said he.
  • "I don't know," he said.
  • Not until her father comes home does she start cooking.
  • Not until her father comes home she starts cooking.
  • She doesn't start until she has seen him.
  • She doesn't start until has she seen him.
  • Only after you helped me I was able to solve the problem.
  • Only after you helped me was I able to solve the problem.
  • Not a single present you gave me for my birthday!
  • Not a single present did you give me for my birthday!
  • She was very angry, as was her husband.
  • She was very angry, as her husband was.
  • Here comes Simon!
  • Here Simon comes!
  • Here comes he!
  • Here he comes!
  • Not far from here is the new hotel.
  • Not far from here the new hotel is.
  • Not far from here you can see the new hotel.
  • Not far from here can you see the new hotel.
  • Do you know where the new hotel is?
  • Do you know where is the new hotel?
  • I can't tell you - Neither I can.
  • I can't tell you - Neither can I.
  • "I don't know," said John. - Correct!
  • "I don't know," John said. - Correct!
  • "I don't know," said he .
  • "I don't know," he said.
  • Not until her father comes home does she start cooking.
  • Not until her father comes home she starts cooking.
  • She doesn't start until she has seen him.
  • She doesn't start until has she seen him.
  • Only after you helped me I was able to solve the problem.
  • Only after you helped me was I able to solve the problem.
  • Not a single present you gave me for my birthday!
  • Not a single present did you give me for my birthday!

For an explanation of the occasions when inversion is necessary, I suggest you consult a good grammar book such as: Practical English Usage Swan, M. Oxford 1997.