When and where?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Is there any rule governing the sequence of where and when in a sentence, like which one should come first?

Example:

She ran into her boyfriend [color=red]yesterday morning [color=blue]in Fair Avenue.
She ran into her boyfriend [color=blue]in Fair Avenue [color=red]yesterday morning.

Thanks a heap!

2

1…"…on Fair Avenue, not “in”.

2…There is no ‘time before/after place’ rule as such but I think it is better not to separate “ran into her boyfriend” and “on Fair Avenue”, so I prefer the second one.

You can also say Yesterday morning she ran into her boyfriend on Fair Avenue.

3

Hi planetypus

Most grammar books tell you that there is a basic word order rule for this.

If information about both where and when are at the end of a sentence, the standard order is to write when last:
subject - verb - object - where - when.

Information about when can also be placed at the very beginning of the sentence.

Make sure you don’t confuse 'when’ with ‘adverbs of frequency’. Adverbs of frequency (the word ‘always’, for example) are mainly used in mid-sentence.

It would be correct to say “on Fair Avenue” in American English.

Amy

4

Thanks a lot for the information. It really helps.