English word order is stricter than in many languages. The subject comes first, then the verb, then the object, and small words like always and never have their own special spot. Get the order right and you sound natural right away.
The pattern
I usually take the bus.
She is always on time.
We play soccer at the park on Sundays.
01Subject, verb, object
The basic English sentence is subject + verb + object: I drink coffee. Keep the verb and its object together. Don't put an adverb or a time phrase between them.
Words like well, very much, a lot and every day go after the object, not before it.
- She speaks Spanish very well.
- I like my new job a lot.
- We watch the news every night.
02Always, usually, never: before the main verb
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often. They go before the main verb (I always walk to work) but after be (I'm always tired). If there is a helper like can, will or have, put the adverb after the helper: You can always call me.
Usually and sometimes can also start a sentence: Sometimes I work from home.
| Adverb | How often |
|---|---|
| always | 100% of the time |
| usually | about 90% |
| often | about 70% |
| sometimes | about 50% |
| rarely | about 10% |
| hardly ever | almost never |
| never | 0% |
03Place, then time
Words for place and time usually go at the end of the sentence. When you have both, the most natural order is place first, time second: at the gym after work, to Chicago in May. A time phrase can also move to the start of the sentence: On Fridays, we eat out.
- I'm meeting Dana at the coffee shop at noon.
- We moved to Phoenix last year.
- My parents are flying to Boston tomorrow.
- Every morning, I walk to the station.
04Questions and negatives
In a question, the adverb goes after the subject: Do you usually eat breakfast? Is he always this busy? Use ever to ask about frequency: Do you ever work late?
In negatives, the adverb usually comes after don't or doesn't: I don't usually drink soda. (I usually don't is also common in American speech.)
- Do you ever take the subway?
- Is the office always this cold?
- She doesn't often go out on weeknights.
05Common mistakes
She always is late.
She is always late.
Adverbs of frequency go after be.
I drink every morning coffee.
I drink coffee every morning.
Don't put a time phrase between the verb and its object.
He speaks very well English.
He speaks English very well.
Keep the verb and object together. Very well goes after the object.
I go on Mondays to the gym.
I go to the gym on Mondays.
Place usually comes before time at the end of the sentence.