English Grammar

Order of Words in a Sentence Part II

Phrases and clauses

Phrases and clauses should be placed close to the words they modify.

• She left the bread that was too hard to eat on the counter. (Here the clause ‘that was too hard to eat’ modifies the noun bread.)
• I bought a clock with crooked hands from the shop. (Here the phrase ‘with crooked hands’ modifies the noun clock.)

Notes

For the sake of emphasis we sometimes alter the normal order of words in a sentence. For instance, words that need to be emphasized are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence.

Compare:

• Though he was intelligent, he couldn’t solve the problem.
• Intelligent though he was, he couldn’t solve the problem. (Here the emphasis is on the word intelligent.)

Another common practice is to begin sentences with adverbs or adverb phrases.

• The annual examination will start tomorrow.
• Tomorrow the annual examination will start.
• The strong wind howled outside.
• Outside, the strong wind howled.
• I visited Paris during the summer.
• During the summer, I visited Paris.

Note that adverbs sometimes need a comma after them.

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