Word order: adverbs, adjectives, it and there
Put always, usually, often and never before the main verb but after be. Put opinion adjectives before size, age and colour. Every English sentence needs a subject: use it for weather, time and distance, and there is/are for 'có'.
How it works
- Frequency adverbs (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) go before the main verb: I often walk to work.
- They go after be and after the first auxiliary: I'm always late. She has never been to Sapa. You can usually find me here.
- Adjectives go before the noun, not after: a big house (not a house big).
- With two or more adjectives, opinion comes first, then size, age, shape, colour, origin and material: a nice little café, an old blue motorbike, a beautiful silk dress.
- Every English sentence needs a subject. For weather, time, distance and general situations, use it: It's very hot today. It's 5 km to the beach. It's difficult to park here.
- To say that something exists (Vietnamese 'có'), use there is/there are, not have: There are many people here. Have is for possession: I have a dog.
Examples
I always have breakfast at a street stall near my office.
My brother is never on time for anything.
It's really hot today, so let's stay inside.
There are a lot of people at the market this morning.
She bought a beautiful red áo dài for Tet.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the lake.
Common mistakes
Wrong: I
always amlate for class.Right: I am always late for class.
Wrong:
Isvery hot today.Right: It is very hot today.
Wrong:
Havemany people here.Right: There are many people here.
Wrong: I live in a
house smallnear the river.Right: I live in a small house near the river.
Practice
1 of 16Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Adverbs, Adjectives and Clauses: frequency-adverb position, there is/are and it as a subject are A1–A2 forms; kept at B1 because the topic drills them against Vietnamese interference (dropped subjects, 'có' = have) and adds the order of two or more adjectives. Written for Gloss.