Word order

The rule for word order mistakes

A question inside a sentence keeps normal order: I don't know where he lives. Words like often and always go before the main verb but after “be”: People often forget. She is always late.

Pattern: A question inside a sentence keeps normal order: subject, then verb. Often, always and rarely go before the main verb but after "be": People often forget. She is always late.

Used correctly: correct word order in a spot learners often get wrong (for example a question inside a sentence like "I don't know what the answer is", or an adverb before the main verb like "people often forget").

Use this when a question sits inside a sentence (I wonder what ...), and when you place words like often, always and rarely.

Word order mistakes: wrong and right examples

• Wrong I don't know what is his name.

  Right I don't know what his name is.

• Wrong Always I drink coffee in the morning.

  Right I always drink coffee in the morning.

More right sentences

• I don't know what the answer is.
• Can you tell me where the station is?
• Young people rarely read newspapers.

Traps to avoid with word order mistakes

• Not "I wonder why did he leave." Write "I wonder why he left."
• Not "Always I check my email." Write "I always check my email."

Skills that train word order mistakes

• Joining two ideas in one sentence: although, because, but B2
• Relative clauses: who, which, that and where B2
• Mentioning the other view and answering it B2
• How to write a B2 essay introduction B2
• Emphasis in writing: What ... is, It is ... that, Never ... C1
• Punctuation for long sentences: semicolons, colons and commas C1

Related mistakes

• Uncountable nouns: informations, advices and other mistakes
• Missing articles: when to use a, an and the
• Subject-verb agreement mistakes and how to fix them