Fixing Word Order in English – One Step at a Time:

If English isn’t your first language, you’ve probably found its word order confusing at times. You may have asked yourself:

“Why do I keep saying things in the wrong order?”
“Will I ever speak like a native speaker?”

Word order mistakes are not uncommon.

Why Word Order Feels Strange:

Languages arrange words differently. In English, the standard sentence structure is:
Subject + Verb + Object

She (subject) ate (verb) the apple (object).

But in many other languages, the verb might come last, or the subject might be left out completely.
So if you speak Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, or German, your brain might still be following your first language’s grammar rules — and that’s completely normal.

Your Brain is Doing Its Best:
When you speak English, your brain is working quickly to find vocabulary, remember grammar, and say it all smoothly. Naturally, it may fall back on your native sentence structure, especially when you’re speaking fast.

This is why a student might say:

“She the apple ate.”
instead of:
“She ate the apple.”

At first, it’s nothing to worry about. What matters more is that you’re communicating. But with time, it helps to guide your brain gently toward the correct pattern.

How Do You Guide Your Brain to the Right Word Order?

Think of your brain as a GPS — it needs time and repetition to learn the route. You guide it by:

1. Thinking in English (even simple thoughts)

Start with very short, everyday ideas in English:

• “I am tired.”
• “I like tea.”
• “The cat is sleeping.”

Even saying these silently in your head trains your brain to follow English sentence patterns naturally.

2. Asking Yourself Questions in English

Questions follow a different structure in English. Practice asking:

• “What is she doing?”
• “Where are my keys?”
• “Do you like music?”

Repeating question forms helps you get used to auxiliary verbs (do/does/is/are) and how English structures questions.

3. Reading and Repeating Out Loud

Reading short dialogues, subtitles, or even children's books out loud helps you hear and feel the correct rhythm of English. Repeating short lines builds strong mental pathways.

4. Not Translating in Your Head

It’s tempting to think in your first language and translate — but translation often causes word order mistakes. When you think directly in English, the sentence builds correctly from the start.

5. Chunking Sentences (Learning Phrases)

Instead of learning single words, learn phrases:

• “I’m going to the store.”
• “She doesn’t like it.”
• “Can you help me?”

Your brain remembers the whole pattern — not just the vocabulary.