“Llegó Ana”: the subject after the verb
CEFR B2 · part 1
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
“Se vende”: the passive that Spanish actually usesSaying things without naming who does them: “se vende piso”, “se venden pisos” —agreeing…“Llevo dos horas esperando”: two verbs working togetherThe everyday combinations: “acabar de” (just), “llevar” + gerund (have been), “ponerse…“Aunque llueve” or “aunque llueva”Choosing the mood after “aunque”, “a pesar de que” and “por mucho que” according to…“Lo que quiero”: the neuter “lo”Using “lo” with an adjective (“lo bueno”, “lo difícil”) and “lo que” for “what”: “lo que…“Depender de”, “soñar con”, “pensar en”The preposition each verb demands, which almost never matches the English one: “depender…“Ser” or “estar”: two verbs for one “to be”Choosing between “ser” and “estar” in everyday sentences: who you are and what you are…The rule, in three lines
Spanish puts the subject after the verb far more often than English can: with verbs of happening (llegó Ana, faltan tres, existe un problema), in questions (¿qué dijo tu hermano?) and whenever what matters most goes at the end.
The usual slip. Keeping the English order everywhere, which is never ungrammatical and regularly lands the emphasis in the wrong place.
Why it catches you out. English word order carries the grammar: move the subject and the sentence breaks. Spanish marks the grammar in the endings, so the order is free to carry something else — what is NEW goes at the end. Your language does that job with stress, and stress does not survive in writing.