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