A1 Spanish GrammarBasic Word Order
Learn Spanish sentence structure and the flexible SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) word order. Understand how Spanish allows more flexibility than English and when different orders are used.
1Basic SVO Structure
Spanish typically follows Subject-Verb-Object order like English. However, because verb endings show the subject, Spanish allows more flexibility. The basic structure is still SVO for simple declarative sentences.
SVO Structure
| Subject | Verb | Object |
|---|---|---|
| María | come | pizza |
| Yo | leo | libros |
| Los niños | juegan | fútbol |
| Ella | habla | español |
Examples
Juan come una manzana.
Juan eats an apple.
standard SVO order
Yo estudio español.
I study Spanish.
SVO with pronoun subject
Mi hermana trabaja en Madrid.
My sister works in Madrid.
SVO with prepositional phrase
Los estudiantes leen el libro.
The students read the book.
plural SVO
2Flexible Word Order
Spanish allows different word orders for emphasis or style. VSO (verb-subject-object) is common in questions and emphatic statements. Object-first order emphasizes the object. This flexibility is natural in Spanish.
Word Order Variations
| Order | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| SVO | Juan come pizza | neutral |
| VSO | Come Juan pizza | emphasis on action |
| OVS | Pizza come Juan | emphasis on object |
| VS | Llegó María | common with intransitive |
Examples
Llegó el tren.
The train arrived.
VS - common with 'arrive'
Ese libro lo tengo yo.
That book, I have it.
object first for emphasis
Vino mi padre ayer.
My father came yesterday.
VS order natural here
A María le gusta el café.
María likes coffee.
special order with gustar
3Adjective Placement
Unlike English, Spanish adjectives usually come AFTER the noun. Some common adjectives (bueno, malo, grande, pequeño) can go before, sometimes with changed meaning. Position affects nuance.
Adjective Position
| Position | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| after noun | un coche rojo | a red car |
| after noun | una mujer inteligente | an intelligent woman |
| before (common) | una buena idea | a good idea |
| before (emphasis) | un gran hombre | a great man |
Examples
Tengo un gato negro.
I have a black cat.
color after noun
Es una buena película.
It's a good movie.
bueno often before noun
Es un hombre grande. (big)
He is a big man.
after = literal size
Es un gran hombre. (great)
He is a great man.
before = figurative
4Questions and Negation
Questions in Spanish often use VS order or simply add ¿? marks with rising intonation. Negation uses no before the verb. Double negatives are correct and required in Spanish.
Question and Negation Patterns
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yes/no question | ¿Verb + Subject? | ¿Hablas español? |
| statement as question | ¿SVO? | ¿Tú hablas español? |
| negation | no + verb | No hablo español |
| double negative | no + verb + nada/nadie | No veo nada |
Examples
¿Tienes hambre?
Are you hungry?
VS order in question
¿María viene hoy?
Is María coming today?
SV with question marks
No tengo tiempo.
I don't have time.
no before verb
No hay nadie aquí.
There's nobody here.
double negative required