🧩 Sentence Structure
English sentences usually follow a clear word order, making them easier to understand. Most sentences begin with a subject, followed by a verb, and often include an object or additional information such as time or place. Learning these basic patterns will help you build clear, natural English sentences for everyday conversations. Each English phrase includes translations in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
🟢 Basic Sentence Patterns
👤 Subject + Verb
Birds fly.
The baby slept.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Los pájaros vuelan. / El bebé durmió.
🇫🇷 French: Les oiseaux volent. / Le bébé a dormi.
🇩🇪 German: Vögel fliegen. / Das Baby schlief.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gli uccelli volano. / Il bambino ha dormito.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os pássaros voam. / O bebê dormiu.
Some complete sentences only need a subject and a verb.
Birds fly.
The baby slept.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Los pájaros vuelan. / El bebé durmió.
🇫🇷 French: Les oiseaux volent. / Le bébé a dormi.
🇩🇪 German: Vögel fliegen. / Das Baby schlief.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gli uccelli volano. / Il bambino ha dormito.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os pássaros voam. / O bebê dormiu.
Some complete sentences only need a subject and a verb.
📚 Subject + Verb + Object
The chef cooked dinner.
She found her keys.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El chef cocinó la cena. / Ella encontró sus llaves.
🇫🇷 French: Le chef a préparé le dîner. / Elle a trouvé ses clés.
🇩🇪 German: Der Koch hat das Abendessen zubereitet. / Sie hat ihre Schlüssel gefunden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lo chef ha cucinato la cena. / Lei ha trovato le sue chiavi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O chef preparou o jantar. / Ela encontrou as chaves.
Many everyday English sentences follow this pattern.
The chef cooked dinner.
She found her keys.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El chef cocinó la cena. / Ella encontró sus llaves.
🇫🇷 French: Le chef a préparé le dîner. / Elle a trouvé ses clés.
🇩🇪 German: Der Koch hat das Abendessen zubereitet. / Sie hat ihre Schlüssel gefunden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lo chef ha cucinato la cena. / Lei ha trovato le sue chiavi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O chef preparou o jantar. / Ela encontrou as chaves.
Many everyday English sentences follow this pattern.
📍 Add Time or Place
We met yesterday.
My parents live in Canada.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nos encontramos ayer. / Mis padres viven en Canadá.
🇫🇷 French: Nous nous sommes rencontrés hier. / Mes parents vivent au Canada.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben uns gestern getroffen. / Meine Eltern leben in Kanada.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ci siamo incontrati ieri. / I miei genitori vivono in Canada.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nós nos encontramos ontem. / Meus pais moram no Canadá.
Time and place often come near the end of the sentence.
We met yesterday.
My parents live in Canada.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nos encontramos ayer. / Mis padres viven en Canadá.
🇫🇷 French: Nous nous sommes rencontrés hier. / Mes parents vivent au Canada.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben uns gestern getroffen. / Meine Eltern leben in Kanada.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ci siamo incontrati ieri. / I miei genitori vivono in Canada.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nós nos encontramos ontem. / Meus pais moram no Canadá.
Time and place often come near the end of the sentence.
🟡 Building Better Sentences
Add an Adjective
The dog barked.
➡️ The small dog barked.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El perro pequeño ladró.
🇫🇷 French: Le petit chien a aboyé.
🇩🇪 German: Der kleine Hund hat gebellt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il cane piccolo ha abbaiato.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O cachorro pequeno latiu.
The dog barked.
➡️ The small dog barked.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El perro pequeño ladró.
🇫🇷 French: Le petit chien a aboyé.
🇩🇪 German: Der kleine Hund hat gebellt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il cane piccolo ha abbaiato.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O cachorro pequeno latiu.
Add More Details
She studies English.
➡️ She studies English every evening.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ella estudia inglés todas las tardes.
🇫🇷 French: Elle étudie l'anglais tous les soirs.
🇩🇪 German: Sie lernt jeden Abend Englisch.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lei studia inglese ogni sera.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela estuda inglês todas as noites.
She studies English.
➡️ She studies English every evening.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ella estudia inglés todas las tardes.
🇫🇷 French: Elle étudie l'anglais tous les soirs.
🇩🇪 German: Sie lernt jeden Abend Englisch.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lei studia inglese ogni sera.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela estuda inglês todas as noites.
Give a Reason
We stayed home because it was raining.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nos quedamos en casa porque estaba lloviendo.
🇫🇷 French: Nous sommes restés à la maison parce qu'il pleuvait.
🇩🇪 German: Wir sind zu Hause geblieben, weil es geregnet hat.
🇮🇹 Italian: Siamo rimasti a casa perché pioveva.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ficamos em casa porque estava chovendo.
We stayed home because it was raining.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nos quedamos en casa porque estaba lloviendo.
🇫🇷 French: Nous sommes restés à la maison parce qu'il pleuvait.
🇩🇪 German: Wir sind zu Hause geblieben, weil es geregnet hat.
🇮🇹 Italian: Siamo rimasti a casa perché pioveva.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ficamos em casa porque estava chovendo.
🔵 Word Order
English Word Order
English usually follows this pattern:
Subject → Verb → Object
Emma reads books.
English usually follows this pattern:
Subject → Verb → Object
Emma reads books.
Keep Words in Order
✅ The cat chased the mouse.
❌ Chased the mouse the cat.
✅ The cat chased the mouse.
❌ Chased the mouse the cat.
Questions Change the Order
Statement: You like pizza.
Question: Do you like pizza?
Statement: You like pizza.
Question: Do you like pizza?
🧠 Useful Grammar
Every Sentence Needs a Subject
Most English sentences begin with a subject.
✅ The bus is late.
✅ They arrived early.
❌ Is late.
Most English sentences begin with a subject.
✅ The bus is late.
✅ They arrived early.
❌ Is late.
Every Sentence Needs a Verb
The verb tells what happens or describes a state of being.
✅ The lights shine.
✅ My coffee is cold.
❌ My coffee cold.
The verb tells what happens or describes a state of being.
✅ The lights shine.
✅ My coffee is cold.
❌ My coffee cold.
Keep Ideas Together
Place related words close together for a natural sentence.
✅ We watched a movie after dinner.
✅ She finished her homework before bed.
Place related words close together for a natural sentence.
✅ We watched a movie after dinner.
✅ She finished her homework before bed.
⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes
❌ Is raining today.
✅ It is raining today.
✅ It is raining today.
❌ Likes coffee Maria.
✅ Maria likes coffee.
✅ Maria likes coffee.
❌ Beautiful the garden is.
✅ The garden is beautiful.
✅ The garden is beautiful.
❌ Every morning walks he.
✅ He walks every morning.
✅ He walks every morning.
❓ Useful Questions
📍 Where do you work?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde trabajas?
🇫🇷 French: Où travaillez-vous ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo arbeiten Sie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove lavori?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde você trabalha?
Ask about someone's job or workplace.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde trabajas?
🇫🇷 French: Où travaillez-vous ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo arbeiten Sie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove lavori?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde você trabalha?
Ask about someone's job or workplace.
🕒 When does the movie start?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora empieza la película?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure commence le film ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann beginnt der Film?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora inizia il film?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas começa o filme?
Ask about time.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora empieza la película?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure commence le film ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann beginnt der Film?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora inizia il film?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas começa o filme?
Ask about time.
👤 Who made this?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién hizo esto?
🇫🇷 French: Qui a fait ça ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer hat das gemacht?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi ha fatto questo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem fez isso?
Ask who did something.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién hizo esto?
🇫🇷 French: Qui a fait ça ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer hat das gemacht?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi ha fatto questo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem fez isso?
Ask who did something.
❓ Why are you laughing?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Por qué te ríes?
🇫🇷 French: Pourquoi riez-vous ?
🇩🇪 German: Warum lachen Sie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Perché ridi?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por que você está rindo?
Ask for a reason.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Por qué te ríes?
🇫🇷 French: Pourquoi riez-vous ?
🇩🇪 German: Warum lachen Sie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Perché ridi?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por que você está rindo?
Ask for a reason.
💬 Everyday Conversation
Planning the Weekend
A: What are you doing this Saturday?
B: I'm visiting my grandparents.
A: Are you staying there all day?
B: No, we're coming home after dinner.
🇪🇸 Spanish:
A: ¿Qué vas a hacer este sábado?
B: Voy a visitar a mis abuelos.
A: ¿Te vas a quedar allí todo el día?
B: No, volvemos a casa después de cenar.
🇫🇷 French:
A: Que faites-vous samedi ?
B: Je vais rendre visite à mes grands-parents.
A: Restez-vous là toute la journée ?
B: Non, nous rentrons après le dîner.
🇩🇪 German:
A: Was machen Sie diesen Samstag?
B: Ich besuche meine Großeltern.
A: Bleiben Sie den ganzen Tag dort?
B: Nein, wir kommen nach dem Abendessen nach Hause.
🇮🇹 Italian:
A: Cosa fai questo sabato?
B: Vado a trovare i miei nonni.
A: Resti lì tutto il giorno?
B: No, torniamo a casa dopo cena.
🇵🇹 Portuguese:
A: O que você vai fazer neste sábado?
B: Vou visitar meus avós.
A: Você vai ficar lá o dia todo?
B: Não, voltamos para casa depois do jantar.
A: What are you doing this Saturday?
B: I'm visiting my grandparents.
A: Are you staying there all day?
B: No, we're coming home after dinner.
🇪🇸 Spanish:
A: ¿Qué vas a hacer este sábado?
B: Voy a visitar a mis abuelos.
A: ¿Te vas a quedar allí todo el día?
B: No, volvemos a casa después de cenar.
🇫🇷 French:
A: Que faites-vous samedi ?
B: Je vais rendre visite à mes grands-parents.
A: Restez-vous là toute la journée ?
B: Non, nous rentrons après le dîner.
🇩🇪 German:
A: Was machen Sie diesen Samstag?
B: Ich besuche meine Großeltern.
A: Bleiben Sie den ganzen Tag dort?
B: Nein, wir kommen nach dem Abendessen nach Hause.
🇮🇹 Italian:
A: Cosa fai questo sabato?
B: Vado a trovare i miei nonni.
A: Resti lì tutto il giorno?
B: No, torniamo a casa dopo cena.
🇵🇹 Portuguese:
A: O que você vai fazer neste sábado?
B: Vou visitar meus avós.
A: Você vai ficar lá o dia todo?
B: Não, voltamos para casa depois do jantar.
📝 Example Sentences
🚆 The train arrives at noon.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El tren llega al mediodía.
🇫🇷 French: Le train arrive à midi.
🇩🇪 German: Der Zug kommt mittags an.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il treno arriva a mezzogiorno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O trem chega ao meio-dia.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El tren llega al mediodía.
🇫🇷 French: Le train arrive à midi.
🇩🇪 German: Der Zug kommt mittags an.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il treno arriva a mezzogiorno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O trem chega ao meio-dia.
🍅 My neighbor grows tomatoes.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi vecino cultiva tomates.
🇫🇷 French: Mon voisin cultive des tomates.
🇩🇪 German: Mein Nachbar baut Tomaten an.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il mio vicino coltiva pomodori.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Meu vizinho cultiva tomates.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi vecino cultiva tomates.
🇫🇷 French: Mon voisin cultive des tomates.
🇩🇪 German: Mein Nachbar baut Tomaten an.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il mio vicino coltiva pomodori.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Meu vizinho cultiva tomates.
🕶️ We found your sunglasses.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Encontramos tus gafas de sol.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons trouvé vos lunettes de soleil.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben Ihre Sonnenbrille gefunden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo trovato i tuoi occhiali da sole.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Encontramos seus óculos de sol.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Encontramos tus gafas de sol.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons trouvé vos lunettes de soleil.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben Ihre Sonnenbrille gefunden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo trovato i tuoi occhiali da sole.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Encontramos seus óculos de sol.
☕ The coffee smells amazing.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El café huele increíble.
🇫🇷 French: Le café sent délicieux.
🇩🇪 German: Der Kaffee riecht fantastisch.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il caffè ha un odore meraviglioso.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O café cheira incrível.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El café huele increíble.
🇫🇷 French: Le café sent délicieux.
🇩🇪 German: Der Kaffee riecht fantastisch.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il caffè ha un odore meraviglioso.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O café cheira incrível.
✈️ Our flight leaves tomorrow morning.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nuestro vuelo sale mañana por la mañana.
🇫🇷 French: Notre vol part demain matin.
🇩🇪 German: Unser Flug geht morgen früh.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il nostro volo parte domani mattina.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nosso voo sai amanhã de manhã.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nuestro vuelo sale mañana por la mañana.
🇫🇷 French: Notre vol part demain matin.
🇩🇪 German: Unser Flug geht morgen früh.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il nostro volo parte domani mattina.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nosso voo sai amanhã de manhã.
🎵 Everyone enjoyed the concert.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Todos disfrutaron del concierto.
🇫🇷 French: Tout le monde a apprécié le concert.
🇩🇪 German: Alle haben das Konzert genossen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tutti hanno apprezzato il concerto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Todos gostaram do show.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Todos disfrutaron del concierto.
🇫🇷 French: Tout le monde a apprécié le concert.
🇩🇪 German: Alle haben das Konzert genossen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tutti hanno apprezzato il concerto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Todos gostaram do show.
🏆 Final Practice
Arrange the words into a correct English sentence before pressing play.
- coffee / drinks / she → She drinks coffee.
- children / outside / are / playing → The children are playing outside.
- finished / homework / my / I → I finished my homework.
- beautiful / sunset / the / was → The sunset was beautiful.
- library / closes / the / at six → The library closes at six.