Basic Word Order (SOV)
主語・目的語・動詞
Japanese follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. The verb always comes at the end of the sentence.
Pattern
Subject + (Time) + (Place) + Object + Verb
Explanation
Japanese sentences follow a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) pattern, meaning the verb always comes at the end. In English we say 'I eat bread' (SVO), but in Japanese it is '私はパンを食べます' — literally 'I bread eat.'
Time expressions and location phrases come between the subject and verb: '私は毎朝七時にパンを食べます' (I eat bread at 7 every morning). The general order is: Subject + Time + Place + Object + Verb.
The verb-final rule is the most important word order rule. Other elements (time, place, object) can be reordered for emphasis, but the verb must stay at the end.
Examples
私はパンを食べます。
わたしはぱんをたべます。
Watashi wa pan wo tabemasu.
I eat bread.
私は毎日学校に行きます。
わたしはまいにちがっこうにいきます。
Watashi wa mainichi gakkou ni ikimasu.
I go to school every day.
田中さんは図書館で本を読みます。
たなかさんはとしょかんでほんをよみます。
Tanaka-san wa toshokan de hon wo yomimasu.
Tanaka reads books at the library.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
私は食べますパンを。
Correct
私はパンを食べます。
The verb must come at the end of the sentence. The object comes before the verb.
Wrong
私は行きます学校に毎日。
Correct
私は毎日学校に行きます。
Time and place come between subject and verb, not after the verb.
Related Grammar Points
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