mean-past

Word Order Practice

Listen to each sentence and arrange the words in the correct order. Click on words to move them to your answer area.

Green checkmark (✓) means your current word order is correct so far. Red X (✗) means there's an error in the order.

Why Word Order Matters in English

Word order is crucial in English because it affects meaning. Unlike some languages that use case endings or particles to show word relationships, English relies heavily on word order to convey meaning.

This exercise helps you:

  • Internalize English sentence patterns
  • Recognize how grammar patterns fit into sentences
  • Develop a natural feel for correct English structure
  • Improve both listening and grammar simultaneously
1
0
/3
Randolph was upset
Randolph was upset
Listen
2
0
/11
help the tried to work to on a way He lady
He tried to help a lady on the way to work
Listen
3
0
/4
bad meant nothing He
He meant nothing bad
Listen
4
0
/16
they by help on his only giving to as He rode seat train her the wanted
He only wanted to help by giving her his seat on the train as they rode
Listen
5
0
/8
offered he upset But looked it she when
But she looked upset when he offered it
Listen
6
0
/9
a to He even have Please her said seat
He even said to her Please have a seat
Listen
7
0
/16
to do mean that am I tell old you Are She said trying What you me
She said What do you mean Are you trying to tell me that I am old
Listen
8
0
/6
No only help meant to I
No I only meant to help
Listen
9
0
/6
like might it I you thought
I thought you might like it
Listen
10
0
/6
good manners it thought was I
I thought it was good manners
Listen
11
0
/6
didn’t to mean you insult I
I didn’t mean to insult you
Listen
12
0
/6
help who needs Well someone help
Well help someone who needs help
Listen
13
0
/4
don’t help I need
I don’t need help
Listen
14
0
/13
moved train from another farther on him place to away she the And
And she moved to another place on the train farther away from him
Listen
15
0
/19
Randolph because the lady only to he to he was instead her upset insult meant meant and thought help
Randolph was upset because he only meant to help and instead the lady thought he meant to insult her
Listen
16
0
/9
really he is world The thought changing to himself
The world is really changing he thought to himself
Listen

Tips for Effective Practice

  1. Always listen to the audio first before attempting to order the words
  2. Pay attention to common patterns like subject-verb-object
  3. Notice how grammar patterns are positioned in sentences
  4. If you make a mistake, use it as a learning opportunity - try to understand why the correct order is different
  5. After completing each sentence, listen to the audio again while reading your correctly ordered sentence