It was originally designed to be done in a choral/antiphonal manner with 2 sides alternating in chant.
The main hours - morning prayer (lauds) and evening prayer (vespers) begin with a basic opening, a hymn, and then have 2 Psalms and an Old Testament Canticle for MP (mainly coming from the prophets like Jer 7, Dan 3, etc) and a New Testament Canticle for EP (such as Eph 1, Phil 2, Col 1). Each has an antiphon at the beginning and end, as well as a Glory Be. All but 3 of the Pslalms are used, and parts of others. These have been omitted due to their cursing nature. This is followed by a scripture reading with a short responsory. Then we pray the Benedictus (MP - Luke 1:67-79) and Magnificat (EP - Luke 1:46-55) with an antiphon. This is followed by intercessions, the Our Father, and a concluding prayer.
The other hours - which include mid-morning (terce), mid-day(sext), mid-afternoon (none), night prayer (compline), and the Office of Readings (matins) are variations of this. OR includes 2 longer readings for reflection, while the others are shortened versions.
Does that make sense?