English vs Urdu Sentence Structure Explained Simply | ProEnglishGuide

English vs Urdu Sentence Structure Explained Simply

Grammar Comparison • Structure • Updated November 2025 • 28 min read

One of the biggest reasons Urdu speakers struggle with English speaking and writing is sentence structure. Most mistakes happen not because of vocabulary or tense, but because Urdu sentence structure is directly translated into English. This guide explains the difference between English and Urdu sentence structure in a very simple, practical way so you can stop translating and start speaking correctly.

Basic Difference: Sentence Order

Language Structure Example
English Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) I eat food
Urdu Subject + Object + Verb (SOV) میں کھانا کھاتا ہوں
Key Point: English verb comes early, Urdu verb comes at the end.

Example 1: Simple Present Sentences

Urdu Thinking Wrong English Correct English
میں اسکول جاتا ہوں I school go I go to school

Example 2: Negative Sentences

Urdu Wrong English Correct English
میں نہیں جانتا I not know I do not know
Rule: English needs helping verbs (do/does/did).

Example 3: Questions

Urdu Wrong English Correct English
کیا تم آ رہے ہو؟ You are coming? Are you coming?

Verb Placement Difference

Urdu Style English Style
میں نے کتاب پڑھ لی ہے I have read the book

In Urdu, auxiliary verbs come at the end. In English, they come before the main verb.

Use of Prepositions

Urdu Wrong English Correct English
مجھ سے بات کرو Talk me Talk to me

Adjective Position

Urdu English
ایک خوبصورت لڑکی A beautiful girl
Important: In English, adjectives come before nouns.

Time Expression Placement

Urdu English
میں کل آیا تھا I came yesterday

Common Translation Mistakes

Urdu Thinking Wrong English Correct English
میں آپ کو بتا دوں گا I will tell to you I will tell you
وہ مجھ سے ملا He met with me He met me

How to Stop Translating from Urdu

  • Learn English sentence patterns
  • Practice fixed structures
  • Think in English chunks
  • Speak without overthinking grammar
Truth: Fluency comes when structure becomes automatic.

Daily Practice Exercise

Task Time
Read English sentences aloud 5 minutes
Convert Urdu to English mentally 5 minutes
Speak without translation 5 minutes

Final Advice

Do not try to force Urdu structure into English. English has its own logic. Once you understand where the verb goes and how questions and negatives are formed, your English will automatically become clearer and more natural.

انگریزی بولنے کے لیے اردو کی ساخت چھوڑنا ضروری ہے۔

Master English Structure Step by Step