179 Word order In English, the focus and sometimes even the meaning of a sentence can change depending on where the different sentence parts are. This is why you need to follow a specific order when putting the parts of a sentence together to make it correct and meaningful. Subject verb object extra information Blind runners have a running buddy attached to their wrist. 1 Direct and indirect objects Some verbs can take more than one object. In sentences with two objects (direct: ‘what?’ and indirect: ‘who?’), both objects come right after the verb. You can choose which one comes first. If you put the direct object first, the indirect object needs a preposition. Subject verb direct object indirect object Emma sent a postcard to her friends. She bought a present for her mum. Subject verb indirect object direct object Emma sent her friends a postcard. She bought her mum a present. 2 Extra information You need to put extra information into the following sequence if there is more than one piece of extra information: manner (e.g. happily) – place (e.g. in town) – time (e.g. last week). Subject verb object manner place time The player threw the ball straight into the net during her first game. If you want to stress time or place, you can put it at the beginning of the sentence. Time subject verb object manner place During her first game, the player threw the ball straight into the net. In English, unlike in German, you cannot put extra information between the verb and its object(s) in a sentence. Subject verb extra information object Subject verb object extra information Er verlässt leise das Haus. He leaves the house quietly. 3 Adverbs of frequency Adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, …) go: between the subject and the verb: Blind runners always have a running buddy. between the first and second verb, if there is more than one: Disabled people have often been treated unfairly on the job market. after the verb to be: People’s disabilities are sometimes invisible. 4 Complex sentences In English, unlike in German, the word order remains the same even in more complex sentences with subordinate clauses (Nebensätze). You add the linking word to the beginning of the subordinate clause, but don’t change the word order in either part of the sentence: Weil er ohne Hilfe nicht gehen kann, benutzt er einen Rollstuhl. Because he can’t walk without help, he uses a wheelchair. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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