Introduction

Sentences are not usually isolated: they mostly fit into longer pieces of communication, for example written texts or spoken exchanges. So the way we choose to organise the information in a clause or sentence will partly depend on things outside the sentence: for example what has been said before, or what is already known, or what the speaker or writer wants to emphasise. This is a complicated area of grammar in all languages. This Section looks at ways in which English allows speakers and writers to arrange information in sentences effectively, both by using normal sentence structure and by varying the normal order. The structure of longer texts and exchanges is looked at in Written text and Speech and spoken exchanges.

Do you know what’s wrong with these, and why?

He made that he was not interested clear. (see here)

It is not comfortable to sit on this chair. (see here)

It was given the impression that travel expenses would be paid. (see here)

I cannot bear it to see people crying. (see here)

I would appreciate if you would send me a receipt. (see here)

Under no circumstances we can accept late payment. (see here)

Hardly I had arrived when trouble started. (see here)

Here Freddy comes! (see here)

Here your keys are. (see here)

It were the students that were angry. (see here)

It’s Greek that her husband is. (see here)

She didn’t know where she was when woke up. (see here)

Poor little! (see here)

The most important is to keep calm. (see here)

‘Let’s go for a walk.’ ‘I don’t want.’ (see here)

There are more flowers here than there used to. (see here)