Chinese Word Order 101: Subject + Time + Place + Verb

In Mandarin (Taiwan), the most common “clean” sentence order is: Subject + Time + Place + Verb. If there’s an object, it usually comes after the verb: Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object.

You’ll use this pattern for everyday stuff: working, studying, eating, meeting friends, doing errands—basically the whole “I’m a human with a schedule” package.

Yak Snark Box: English loves “where?” later. Chinese loves “where?” before the action. Tell the listener the time and location first—then do the thing. Your sentences will immediately feel less… scrambled eggs.

The Core Pattern

The most useful beginner template looks like this:

Model Sentence (the “default setting”):

我今天在家學中文。
Wǒ jīntiān zài jiā xué Zhōngwén.
I study Chinese at home today.

Micro-Vocab You’ll Actually Use

Here are the building blocks that make the core rule work. Each one includes a real sentence so your brain doesn’t float away.

Rule → Example: Put Time Before Place

Chinese usually sets the timeline first, then the location, then the action.

• 我今天在台北工作。
  Wǒ jīntiān zài Táiběi gōngzuò.
  I work in Taipei today.
• 她昨天在咖啡店喝咖啡。
  Tā zuótiān zài kāfēidiàn hē kāfēi.
  She drank coffee at a café yesterday.
• 我們週末在公園散步。
  Wǒmen zhōumò zài gōngyuán sànbù.
  We take a walk in the park on weekends.
• 我早上在家做早餐。
  Wǒ zǎoshàng zài jiā zuò zǎocān.
  I make breakfast at home in the morning.

Rule → Example: Use 在 zài For “Where The Action Happens”

If you mean “at/in a place,” you’ll often use 在 zài before the place.

• 我下午在公司開會。
  Wǒ xiàwǔ zài gōngsī kāihuì.
  I have a meeting at the office in the afternoon.
• 他晚上在健身房運動。
  Tā wǎnshàng zài jiànshēnfáng yùndòng.
  He works out at the gym at night.
• 我明天在學校考試。
  Wǒ míngtiān zài xuéxiào kǎoshì.
  I take an exam at school tomorrow.
• 我們今晚在餐廳吃飯。
  Wǒmen jīnwǎn zài cāntīng chīfàn.
  We’re eating at a restaurant tonight.

How To Add Objects (Yes, You Can Say What You’re Eating)

Once you’ve got S + Time + Place + Verb, just add the object after the verb:

Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object

Important Note: “Go/Come” Verbs Behave A Bit Differently

With movement verbs like 去 qù (go) / 來 lái (come), the destination often goes after the verb (because it’s basically the verb’s “object”). Time still happily goes early.

• 我今天去公司上班。
  Wǒ jīntiān qù gōngsī shàngbān.
  I’m going to the office to work today.
• 他明天來台北。
  Tā míngtiān lái Táiběi.
  He’s coming to Taipei tomorrow.
• 我們週末去夜市吃小吃。
  Wǒmen zhōumò qù yèshì chī xiǎochī.
  We’re going to the night market to eat snacks this weekend.

Useful Phrases You Can Plug In Immediately

These are plug-and-play pieces that keep your word order clean. Each one comes with a sentence so you can steal it guilt-free.

• 主語 zhǔyǔ — subject
  主語通常放在句子的最前面。
  Zhǔyǔ tōngcháng fàng zài jùzi de zuì qiánmiàn.
  The subject is usually placed at the beginning of the sentence.
• 時間 shíjiān — time
  時間放前面，聽起來更自然。
  Shíjiān fàng qiánmiàn, tīng qǐlái gèng zìrán.
  Putting time earlier sounds more natural.
• 地點 dìdiǎn — place/location
  我每天都會記得地點。
  Wǒ měitiān dōu huì jìde dìdiǎn.
  I remember the location every day.
• 動詞 dòngcí — verb/action word
  動詞後面常常接受詞。
  Dòngcí hòumiàn chángcháng jiē shòucí.
  Verbs are often followed by objects.
• 受詞 shòucí — object
  我想換一個受詞練習看看。
  Wǒ xiǎng huàn yí gè shòucí liànxí kànkan.
  I want to swap the object and practice.
• 在家 zài jiā — at home
  我今晚在家看電影。
  Wǒ jīnwǎn zài jiā kàn diànyǐng.
  I’m watching a movie at home tonight.
• 在公司 zài gōngsī — at the office/company
  他早上在公司回信。
  Tā zǎoshàng zài gōngsī huíxìn.
  He replies to messages at the office in the morning.
• 跟 gēn — with
  我週末跟朋友在咖啡店聊天。
  Wǒ zhōumò gēn péngyǒu zài kāfēidiàn liáotiān.
  I chat with friends at a café on weekends.
• 一起 yìqǐ — together
  我們今天在公園一起跑步。
  Wǒmen jīntiān zài gōngyuán yìqǐ pǎobù.
  We jog together in the park today.
• 常常 chángcháng — often
  她常常在家做飯。
  Tā chángcháng zài jiā zuòfàn.
  She often cooks at home.

Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes

Practice: Build Clean Sentences

Do these like LEGO: 我/你/他/她/我們 + 時間 + 在 + 地點 + 動詞 (+ 受詞).

Quick Reference Summary

• Core: 主語 + 時間 + 在 + 地點 + 動詞 (+ 受詞)
  Example: 我今天在家看電影。Wǒ jīntiān zài jiā kàn diànyǐng. I watch a movie at home today.
• No Time? 主語 + 在 + 地點 + 動詞 (+ 受詞)
  Example: 我在辦公室寫報告。Wǒ zài bàngōngshì xiě bàogào. I write reports in the office.
• Movement (去/來): 主語 + 時間 + 去/來 + 地點 (+ 做什麼)
  Example: 他明天去台中看朋友。Tā míngtiān qù Táizhōng kàn péngyǒu. He’s going to Taichung tomorrow to see a friend.

Keep it simple: time + place before the main verb. Once that clicks, you can layer in objects, “with whom,” and extra details without turning your sentence into a word-order Jenga tower.