Sentences

The usual structure of a sentence is:

Subject + Verb + Object (SVO)

To make a sentence, you usually need:

1. a subject (S): the person, people or thing(s) doing the action

2. a verb (V): the action (can sometimes be separated into a main verb and an auxiliary verb)

3. an object (O): information that adds context to the subject’s action (when necessary)

*The object is not always necessary.

Sometimes, adverbs or transition words can be added to the sentence.

Many adverbs can be placed just before the verb in an affirmative sentence.

The adverbs can also be placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.

When a transition word is placed at the beginning of a sentence, before the subject, use a comma after it. 

As you can see, even when we add other parts in an affirmative sentence, the order always remains SVO.

To make a negative sentence in the simple present or simple past with to be, you usually need:

1. a subject: the person, people or thing(s)

2. the verb to be

3. the function word not

4. an object: information that adds context to the sentence

The verb to be is particular, because its negative form does not use an auxiliary verb in the simple present and the simple past unlike other verbs.

Verbs other than to be use an auxiliary verb to form a negative sentence.

In this case, the structure usually is: 

1. a subject: the person, people or thing(s) doing the action

2. the auxiliary verb: first part of the verb or helping verb.

3. the function word not

4. a verb: the action (in its base form)

5. an object*: information that adds context to the sentence (when necessary)

Full Form

Contracted Form

* The object is not always necessary.

Verbs that have two or more parts in their affirmative form already use an auxiliary verb. Simply add the word not after the auxiliary verb.