Build your own Spanish sentences: Word order
The subject of word order in Spanish can be quite complex, so this lesson should be considered merely an introduction. As you study Spanish, you will encounter a wide variety of ways of ordering words in a sentence, many of them ways that are impossible or awkward in English.
In general, Spanish is more flexible with its word order than English is. In both languages, a typical statement consists of a noun followed by a verb followed by an object (if the verb has an object). In English, variations from that norm are used mostly for literary effect. But in Spanish, changes in the word order can be heard in everyday conversation or seen frequently in everyday writing such as that found in newspapers and magazines.
The chart below shows examples of some common ways of ordering words. Note that in many sentences the subject can be omitted if it can be understood from the context. As a beginning student, you don't need to memorize these word-order possibilities, but you should be familiar with these common schemes so you don't trip over them when you come across them.
1. Statement (Subject, verb): Example, Roberto estudia. (Robert is studying.) This word order is extremely common and can be considered the norm.
2. Statement (Subject, verb, object): Example, Roberto compró el libro. (Robert bought the book.) This word order is extremely common and can be considered the norm.
3. Statement (Subject, object pronoun, verb): Example, Roberto lo compró. (Robert bought it.) This word order is extremely common and can be considered the norm. Object pronouns precede conjugated verbs; they can be attached at the end of infinitives and present participles.
4. Question (Question word, verb, subject): Example, ¿dónde está el libro? (where is the book?) This word order is extremely common and can be considered the norm.
5. Exclamation (Exclamatory word, adjective, verb, subject): Example, ¡qué linda es Roberta! (how beautiful Roberta is!) This word order is extremely common and can be considered the norm. Many exclamations omit one or more of these sentence parts.
6. Statement (Verb, noun): Example, sufren los niños. (the children are suffering.) Placing the verb ahead of the noun can have the effect of placing more emphasis on the verb. In the sample sentence, the emphasis is more on the suffering than who is suffering.
7. Statement (Object, verb, noun): Example, el libro escribió Juan. (John wrote the book.) Placing the object at the beginning of the sentence can have the effect of placing more emphasis on the object. In the sample sentence, the emphasis is on what was written, not who wrote it.
8. Statement (Adverb, verb, noun): Example, siempre hablan los niños. (the children are always talking.) In general, Spanish adverbs are kept close to the verbs they modify. If an adverb starts a sentence, the verb frequently follows.
9. Phrase (Noun, adjective): Example, la casa azul y cara (the expensive blue house) Descriptive adjectives, especially ones that describe something objectively, usually are placed after the nouns they modify.
10. Phrase (Adjective, noun): Example, otras casas (other houses); mi querida amiga (my dear friend) Adjectives of number and other nondescriptive adjectives usually precede the noun. Often, so do adjectives being used to describe something subjectively, such as to impart an emotional quality to it.
11. Phrase (Preposition, noun): Example, en la caja (in the box) Note that Spanish sentences can never end in a preposition, as is commonly done in English.
12. Command (Verb, subject pronoun): Example, estudia tú. (study.) Pronouns are often unnecessary in commands; when used, they nearly always immediately follow the verb.
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normal Spanish sentence ends on a low inflection, as in "maRIsa esTUdia", ... It is also possible to change the word order when asking a question. ... Notice the similarity between English and Spanish? Try making your own questions by ...
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Until the last two decades, the study of Bulgarian sentential word order had been restricted to the traditional descriptions of the makeup of various simple sentence structures commonly and grammatically found in Bulgarian speech or writing.
Object pronouns precede conjugated verbs; they can be attached at the end of infinitives and present participles.
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Spanish, changes in the word order can be heard in everyday conversation or seen frequently in everyday writing such as that found in newspapers and magazines.
I would like to make a reservation. So there you have it. .... This is a very intense phrase and is typically used for your own thoughts about someone. ... I love you – a simple 3 word sentence. In English you say the 'subject' first. ... Your first 10 Spanish phrases will help you order a nice refreshing beverage。
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