Japanese Word Order

Japanese isn't English. As obvious as that sounds, it is important to keep it in mind. It is good to a certain extent to compare the languages to get a better feel for both, but a constant comparision can lead to disappointment and frustration. I don't know how many times I have caught myself saying something like, "Well, English doesn't do that! English... English... AGHH!!" Ok small point exaggerated--Sorry.

Word order: Japanese word order fun is.

English (subject)(verb)(object) Cats eat mice.

Japanese (subject)(object)(verb) (usually but not always!)

ねこはネズミをたべます。
neko wa nezumi o tabemasu.
cats - mice - eat

It isn't as hard as it seems. Constructing a Japanese sentence is like detective work. You collect the clues along the way and then at the end put it all together. For example:

わたしは みせ へ いきます。
watashi wa mise e ikimasu.
I'm going to the store.

(わたしは watashi wa ) means 'I' (は wa) is the particle that shows the topic (more on this later)) - Ah! you know who is doing the work, but what, where, why, when??
(みせ へ mise e ) means 'store' with the directional particle (へ e ) - Ok! you know where! But what???
And finally (いきます ikimasu) 'go' - Now putting it all together, we understand.

Sometimes it is good to start from the end of the sentence and work your way to the beginning. In that way you will learn the most important info first (the verb) and move to what is made to happen and who does it.

KEY POINT: The 'subject' comes first usually (like English) but the verb comes last (not like English). Everything else usually comes inbetween.