Your First Sentences: Subject + Verb + Object
A1 · Writing Lab · about 20 minutes
1 · Learn
Almost every English sentence answers three questions: Who or what does it? (the subject), What happens? (the verb), and Who or what receives it? (the object). Put them in that order — Subject + Verb + Object — and your sentence is clear.
English word order is strict. In many languages you can move words around, but in English 'The dog bites the man' and 'The man bites the dog' mean opposite things. Keep the order, and readers always understand you.
2 · See an Example
Meet Ethan
Ethan lives in Chicago. He works in a small office near the lake. He likes his job a lot.
Every morning, Ethan drinks coffee and reads the news. He takes the train to work. The train stops near his office.
3 · Analyze the Example
- Subject + Verb + Object. “Ethan drinks coffee.” Ethan = subject, drinks = verb, coffee = object. The pattern repeats in almost every sentence.
- Short, clear sentences. Each sentence has one main idea. At A1, short and correct beats long and confusing.
- He / his. After the first sentence names Ethan, the writer uses “he” and “his” so the name is not repeated.
- Every sentence ends with a period. A period (.) closes each statement and gives the reader a place to breathe.
Useful Vocabulary
In “Emma reads books,” Emma is the subject.
Reads, works, and lives are verbs.
In “Emma reads books,” books is the object.
This is a sentence.
Put a period at the end of every statement.
Useful Expressions
- I live in …
- I work in / at …
- I like … a lot.
- Every morning, I …
- near my home / office
Common Mistakes
✗ I very like coffee.
✓ I like coffee a lot.
“Very” cannot go before a verb like this. Use “a lot” after the object.
✗ Drinks Ethan coffee.
✓ Ethan drinks coffee.
English starts with the subject, not the verb.
✗ She work in a bank.
✓ She works in a bank.
With he/she/it, the verb takes -s: works, lives, likes.
4 · Guided Practice
Put the words in order: coffee / drinks / every morning / Tom
See a model answer
Tom drinks coffee every morning.
Make one sentence with: Sophia — reads — the newspaper
See a model answer
Sophia reads the newspaper.
Fix the sentence: “In a hospital works my mother.”
See a model answer
My mother works in a hospital.
5 · Write — Your Task
✍️ Write 5–6 sentences about a person you know: where they live, where they work or study, and two things they do every day.
Goal: 5–6 sentences · Length: 35–55 words
- Use the pattern Subject + Verb + Object in every sentence.
- Start each sentence with a capital letter.
- Use he/she after the first sentence — do not repeat the name every time.
6 · Check — Self-Check
Work through your checklist honestly, then run the Self-Check. It counts words and sentences and spots mechanical points — it does not grade your English. You are the editor.
Read a model answer for the task
My brother David lives in Austin. He works in a hospital. He helps sick people every day.
Every morning, David drinks tea and walks to work. He likes his job. He plays soccer on Saturdays.
7 · Improve & Rewrite
Weak version — rewrite it in your notebook first, then compare:
my sister live in Miami. she a nurse. she very likes the beach.
See an improved version
My sister lives in Miami. She is a nurse. She likes the beach a lot.
Quick Quiz
Keep going
📘 Grammar deep-dive: Present Simple: Habits & Facts🌱 Vocabulary Builder: the A1 Core Verbs 1 set🎤 Speaking Studio: say this lesson out loudA1 — all lessons · Next: Writing About Me: Personal Information →
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