English words go in a fixed order, and once you hear the order, sentences stop feeling like a puzzle. In these eight short conversations you will see where the verb goes, where the object goes, and where words like usually and every night belong.
1. The New Guy
Mia: We're getting someone new on Monday.
Ben: Does he know the job?
Mia: He drives the small van, so he knows the streets.
Ben: That helps. I hate training people.
Mia: You train them well, though.
Ben: Okay. I'll show him the office first.
2. A Big Black Bag
Nora: Someone left a big black bag by the door.
Sam: Whose is it?
Nora: There's no name on it. It's an old sports bag.
Sam: Ask the new receptionist.
Nora: I did. She says it isn't hers.
Sam: Then leave it in the lost property box.
3. Most Mornings
Priya: You're always here before me.
Tom: I usually start at seven.
Priya: I never wake up that early.
Tom: I hardly ever sleep past six now.
Priya: My alarm often rings twice.
Tom: Mine sometimes rings three times.
4. Do You, Does She
Ella: Do you work on Saturdays?
Jay: Not usually. Does Marta?
Ella: She does, but only in the morning.
Jay: Do we need someone here at lunch, then?
Ella: We do. I'll ask her to take the lunch shift.
Jay: Ask Sam too. He swaps shifts with anyone.
5. Not This Week
Kate: Are you coming to the class tonight?
Ravi: I'm not free this week.
Kate: You don't come any more.
Ravi: I do come. I just don't come on Wednesdays.
Kate: Sara doesn't come either now.
Ravi: She isn't well. She'll be back.
6. Where First, Then When
Luis: Where do you eat lunch?
Hana: At my desk, usually. Why?
Luis: I eat in the park on Fridays.
Hana: That sounds better than a desk.
Luis: Come with me tomorrow. I go at one.
Hana: I'll meet you there at one, then.
7. Short Answers
Nate: Do you drive?
Ivy: Yes, I do. Not often, though.
Nate: Does your brother drive too?
Ivy: No, he doesn't. He hates it.
Nate: Can you take the van tomorrow?
Ivy: Yes, I can. What time?
8. Say It Again, Clearly
Marco: I English study every night.
Zoe: Turn it around. I study English every night.
Marco: I study English every night.
Zoe: Better. Now try this one: she to work walks.
Marco: She walks to work.
Zoe: You've got it. The verb goes straight after the person.
Words to know
| van | a small covered truck for carrying things or people He drives the small van, so he knows the streets. |
| hers | the one that belongs to her She says it isn't hers. |
| hardly ever | almost never I hardly ever sleep past six now. |
| swap | to give one thing and take another in its place He swaps shifts with anyone. |
| shift | the hours you work in one day I'll ask her to take the lunch shift. |
| either | also, at the end of a negative sentence Sara doesn't come either now. |
| though | added at the end to soften or contrast what you just said Yes, I do. Not often, though. |
| straight | directly, with nothing in between The verb goes straight after the person. |
Quick practice
Rebuild each sentence the way you heard it in the conversations above.
1. Put the words in order: the streets / he / knows
_______________________________________
2. Put the words in order: bag / big / a / black
_______________________________________
3. Put usually in the right place: I start at seven.
_______________________________________
4. Make it a question: Marta works on Saturdays.
_______________________________________
5. Make it negative: I come on Wednesdays.
_______________________________________
6. Put the words in order: to work / she / walks
_______________________________________
Show the answers
1. He knows the streets. 2. a big black bag 3. I usually start at seven. 4. Does Marta work on Saturdays? 5. I don't come on Wednesdays. 6. She walks to work.
Common mistakes
Not: I English study every night.
Say: I study English every night.
The thing you study comes after the verb, never between you and the verb.
Not: Does she works on Saturdays?
Say: Does she work on Saturdays?
Does already carries the -s, so the main verb stays in its plain form.
Not: Do you drive? — Yes, I am.
Say: Do you drive? — Yes, I do.
A short answer copies the verb from the question. Do you...? gives I do.
Your turn
Say each one out loud. Build the sentence in your head first, then speak it. Slow and correct beats fast and scrambled.
- Say three things you do every day, using Subject + Verb + Object. For example: I drink coffee.
- Describe two things near you right now, putting the adjective first: a big black bag, an old sports bag.
- Say what you usually, never and hardly ever do in the morning.
- Ask a friend three questions with Do you...? and answer each one with a short answer: Yes, I do or No, I don't.
- Say where and when you eat lunch, place first and time second: I eat in the park on Fridays.
Quick review
English keeps a steady order: the person, then the verb, then the thing. Adjectives go in front of the noun, and words like usually, never and hardly ever go in front of the main verb. For questions and negatives with ordinary verbs, do and does do the work and the main verb stays plain. Short answers just borrow the verb from the question.