Home » Verbal Ability » Ordering of Words

PQRS sentence ordering question — Arrange the parts to describe how, in the darkness, the doctor’s tall stooping figure with a long narrow beard and aquiline nose was clearly visible, ensuring proper modifier placement and natural flow.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: RQPS

Explanation:


Given data

  • P: ‘‘the long, narrow beard’’
  • Q: ‘‘was clearly visible with’’
  • R: ‘‘the tall stooping figure of the doctor’’
  • S: ‘‘and the aquiline nose’’


Concept/Approach
Lead with the head noun phrase, then the verb phrase ‘‘was clearly visible with’’, and finally the coordinated features.


Step-by-step construction
Begin with R: ‘‘the tall stooping figure of the doctor …’’Then Q: ‘‘… was clearly visible with …’’Then P: ‘‘… the long, narrow beard …’’Then S: ‘‘… and the aquiline nose.’’Full sentence: ‘‘In the darkness, the tall stooping figure of the doctor was clearly visible with the long, narrow beard and the aquiline nose.’’


Why other orders are wrong
Starting with modifiers (P/S) yields fragments. ‘‘Q’’ cannot start because it is a verb phrase needing a subject; RQPS supplies it.


Common pitfalls
Do not separate coordinated nouns (beard and nose) from the governing preposition ‘‘with’’.


Final Answer
RQPS

← Previous Question Next Question→

More Questions from Ordering of Words

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion