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Agnus Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Word order
In an exercise entitled word order with verb + object, I found the following sentence:
- "He always gets early to the office".
I am supposed to correct the position of the adverb since to the office is considered the object and it should come after the verb.
- "He always gets to the office early ".
However, it doesn't make sense that to the office should be considered the Object, but an Adverb Phrase (since it is a prepositional phrase), and in this case the word order is correct.
Am I wrong? Can anyone help me?
- "He always gets early to the office".
I am supposed to correct the position of the adverb since to the office is considered the object and it should come after the verb.
- "He always gets to the office early ".
However, it doesn't make sense that to the office should be considered the Object, but an Adverb Phrase (since it is a prepositional phrase), and in this case the word order is correct.
Am I wrong? Can anyone help me?
Top answer
Hi Agnus, Welcome to the Forum. - "He always gets early to the office". I wouldn't say it's wrong, but it sounds odd.
- Hi Agnus, Welcome to the Forum.
- - "He always gets early to the office".
- I wouldn't say it's wrong, but it sounds odd.
- A native speaker would say "He always gets to the office early ".
- However, you can say 'he comes to the office early' or 'he comes early to the office'.
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5 Answers
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Hi Agnus,
Welcome to the Forum.
- "He always gets early to the office". I wouldn't say it's wrong, but it sounds odd. A native speaker would say "He always gets to the office early ".
However, you can say 'he comes to the office early' or 'he comes early to the office'.
Welcome to the Forum.
- "He always gets early to the office". I wouldn't say it's wrong, but it sounds odd. A native speaker would say "He always gets to the office early ".
However, you can say 'he comes to the office early' or 'he comes early to the office'.
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I think get is used intransitively here, so it does not have a direct object. I agree that to the office is an adverbial prepositonal phrase. From Merriam-Webster Online:
get
intransitive senses
1 a : to succeed in coming or going : to bring or move oneself <get away to the country> <g
get
intransitive senses
1 a : to succeed in coming or going : to bring or move oneself <get away to the country> <g
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I am sorry. Not sure if I should ask my question here or start a new topic. But since you are talking about sentence order here.....
I was taught that we normally put the time phrase at the end of a sentence,
eg. "My mum goes swimming every day."
How about "Every day, my mum goes swimming."
Is the 2nd wrong? Or it is just not common.
thank you
I was taught that we normally put the time phrase at the end of a sentence,
eg. "My mum goes swimming every day."
How about "Every day, my mum goes swimming."
Is the 2nd wrong? Or it is just not common.
thank you
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Hi,
I was taught that we normally put the time phrase at the end of a sentence, eg. "My mum goes swimming every day."
How about "Every day, my mum goes swimming." Is the 2nd wrong? Or it is just not common. It's fine. Putting it at the end is certainly more common,
I was taught that we normally put the time phrase at the end of a sentence, eg. "My mum goes swimming every day."
How about "Every day, my mum goes swimming." Is the 2nd wrong? Or it is just not common. It's fine. Putting it at the end is certainly more common,
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rvw, you're right. The other day I saw get to as a phrasal verb as well.
The problem was the context in which the sentence was in. Although it was an exercise on word order, it asked for verb + object. It didn't make sense.
Speaking English as a second language, I can't rely completly on what sounds best. So thank you very much for your help!
The problem was the context in which the sentence was in. Although it was an exercise on word order, it asked for verb + object. It didn't make sense.
Speaking English as a second language, I can't rely completly on what sounds best. So thank you very much for your help!
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