Chinese Sentence Structure:

Chinese is an "analytic" language. This means the order of words is everything. In English, we sometimes change word endings. In Chinese, words stay the same. 我 (I) is always 我. 吃 (eat) is always 吃. Because words don't change, their position tells the story. Think of it like a train. The engine is the Subject. The middle cars are the Verbs. The caboose is the Object. If you swap the cars, the train crashes! Most of the time, you just stack words in a line. It is very logical and consistent. Even native speakers rely on this strict order to understand each other.

1. 1Building a sentence is like following a recipe. Follow these steps for a perfect result:
2. 2Start with the Subject. This is the person or thing doing the action. Example: 我 (I).
3. 3Add the Time (optional). This goes right after the subject. Example: 今天 (today).
4. 4Add the Place (optional). This also goes before the verb. Example: 在学校 (at school).
5. 5Add the Verb. This is the action. Example: 看 (read/watch).
6. 6Finish with the Object. This is what the action happens to. Example: 书 (book).
7. 7Your full sentence looks like this: 我今天在学校看书 (I today at school read book).

Use this structure for almost every basic interaction. Are you ordering food at a restaurant? Use 我要这个 (I want this). Are you introducing yourself in a job interview? Use 我学习会计 (I study accounting). It works for daily habits and simple facts. It is the backbone of the entire language. Use it when you want to be direct and clear. Whether you are texting a friend or talking to a boss, SVO is your best friend. It is the "safe zone" of Chinese grammar. When in doubt, stick to this order. It is like a grammar traffic light that is always green for you.

Don't use this simple SVO if you are using the 把 (bǎ) construction. That is a bit more advanced. Also, avoid it if you are using the passive voice with 被 (bèi). If you want to emphasize the object, you might move it to the front. For example, "That book, I read it." But for A1 learners, these are rare. Stick to the basic order for now. Don't try to translate English "is/am/are" directly into every sentence. In Chinese, we don't use 是 (shì) with adjectives. You wouldn't say 我是快乐 (I am happy). You just say 我很快乐 (I very happy).

The biggest mistake is putting the time or place at the end. In English, we say "I eat at 7:00." In Chinese, that sounds like a broken radio. You must say "I 7:00 eat." Another mistake is adding 是 (shì) everywhere. You don't need it before every verb. Just say 我喝茶 (I drink tea), not 我是喝茶. Also, don't forget the order of Time and Place. Time usually comes before the Place. Think of it like zooming in on a map. First the day, then the building, then the action. Yes, even native speakers might understand you if you mess up, but you will sound much better if you get this right!

In English, we have a lot of flexibility. We can say "Today I go" or "I go today." Chinese is much stricter. The time belongs between the Subject and Verb. Compared to Japanese or Korean, Chinese is easier for English speakers. Japanese puts the verb at the very end. Chinese keeps the verb in the middle, just like English. This is why you can start speaking basic sentences very quickly. You don't have to wait until the end of the sentence to know what is happening. It is a very "active" way of speaking.