CDS English · Sentence Rearrangement
Linking words decide the order
Joining words (and, or, but also, though) and pointer words (it, they, this) fix which parts come together and which part must come first.
Why this matters
Many parts begin or end with a small joining word: 'and die', 'but also during', 'though he was'. Each one tells you what must stand on its other side. A pointer word such as it or they tells you that its noun has already appeared. Read these words first and several options fall away.
Concept 1 of 4: And and or join like with like
And and or join two things of the same kind: two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives. A part that ends on and needs a matching second item after it. A part that starts with and must follow the first item.
Definition
The terms:
- Like with like: and, or and but join items of the same kind and form: rice and wheat; collects and tabulates; small and quiet.
- List: three or more items: A, B and C. The and comes before the last item.
The method:
- A part that ends on and or or needs the second item next. It can never end the sentence.
- A part that starts with and cannot open the sentence. Ask: and what? The first item comes right before it.
- Match the form. A verb joins a verb with the same subject and tense (appreciated ... and emphasised); a noun joins a noun.
- In a list, the item after and is the last one; the others come before it.
Worked example
Arrange the parts into one sentence. P: and the mountains / Q: the cadets trekked through / R: before reaching the base camp / S: the forests. Options: (a) QSPR (b) QPSR (c) SPQR (d) QRSP
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2023 · CDS (I) 2023 — English · Q26Moderate
Example 1 · Sentence Rearrangement · Joining Words, Pairs and Pointers (PQRS)
Directions: reorder the chunks P/Q/R/S into a sentence
Rearrange the following parts to form a coherent sentence.
P: the Aravalli hill ranges
Q: of the Yamuna river and
R: are spread out over the natural landscapes
S: the biodiversity parks
Ending on and
An option whose last part ends on 'and' or 'or' leaves the second item missing. Strike it without reading further.
Joining unlike things
'the forests and to climb' joins a noun to a verb. And needs the same kind on both sides: a noun with a noun, a verb with a verb in the same tense.
The wrong first item
When a part starts with and, more than one noun may seem to fit before it. Choose the one that is the same kind of thing and fits the verb: the rivers and the lakes were frozen, not the travellers and the lakes.
Concept 2 of 4: Pairs that travel together
Some joining words come in two halves: not only ... but also, so ... as, if ... then. When one half appears in a part, the other half must come later, and the two halves frame matching items.
Definition
The terms:
- Correlative pair: two linked words that work together across a sentence, the first half always before the second: not only ... but also; so ... as; more ... than.
How to use the table:
- If a part holds the first half, find the part that holds the second half. It must come later.
- Put matching items after each half: not only in the cities but also in the villages.
- A part that holds the second half (but also, than, then, nor) can never open the sentence.
- Do not mix pairs: as ... as, not as ... than.
| Pair | How it works | In the tested sentence | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| not only ... but also | the same kind of item follows each half | peace is always the only alternative not only during war and turbulent times but also during peaceful times | 2024 (I) |
| not only because ... but also because | two reasons, each a full clause | smallpox was a particularly dreaded disease ... not only because it was often fatal, but also because those who recovered were permanently disfigured | 2017 (I) |
| not merely ... but also | the second half adds a wider claim | capitalism is sometimes treated not merely as an economic system but also as an ideology in its own right | 2023 (II) |
| not merely ... nor | a second denial, with the verb before the subject after nor | the equality provisions ... are not merely anti-discriminatory ... nor are they confined to individuals as bearers of rights | 2023 (II) |
| so ... as | so + adjective, then as + the thing compared | nothing is so easy and inviting as the retort of abuse and sarcasm | 2022 (I) |
| as ... as | as + adjective (+ noun) + as: two equal things | a free press is as essential a limb of democracy as a parliament freely elected by the people | 2018 (II) |
| more ... than | more + quality, then than + the thing compared | you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do | 2019 (II), 2024 (II) |
| better than | better, then than + the other person or thing | she who has been in trouble would know the trouble better than the one who has been troubling | 2024 (I) |
| enough ... that | enough + that + the result | there must be something important enough that everyone should learn it | 2018 (II) |
| if ... then | the if-clause first, then the result | if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure don't deserve me at my best | 2019 (II) |
| it is not that ... it is that | rejects one reason, then gives the real one | it is not that he is a fool, it is that he does not think ... | 2022 (II) |
| because ... and not because | the true reason first, then the false one | it's because they do not come within my subject and not because they are lightly esteemed by me | 2022 (I) |
| one thing ... another | one thing, then another for its contrast | irony is a figure of speech where you say one thing while you mean another | 2022 (II) |
The first half always comes first. A part holding the second half cannot open the sentence.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2024 · CDS (I) 2024 — English · Q29Moderate
Example 2 · Sentence Rearrangement · Joining Words, Pairs and Pointers (PQRS)
Directions: rearrange jumbled parts P,Q,R,S of the sentence
P: turbulent times
Q: not only during war and
R: peace is always the only alternative
S: but also during peaceful times
The second half first
An option that puts 'but also', 'than' or 'nor' before its first half cannot be right. Strike it.
Mixing two pairs
as ... than and so ... than are not English. as goes with as, so (in a comparison) with as, more with than.
Unequal halves
The items after the two halves should match: not only in the city but also in the villages. If one half is followed by a phrase and the other by a full clause, look for a better order.
Concept 3 of 4: Though, as soon as, if: finish the clause the linker opens
Words like though, unless, if, because and whatever open a clause. The clause they open must be finished right after them. It then joins a main clause that could stand alone.
Definition
The terms:
- Clause: a group of words with its own subject and verb: the rain stopped.
- Linker: a word that joins one clause to another and shows how they relate: though (contrast), unless and if (condition), because (reason), when and as soon as (time), whatever (any thing at all).
The method:
- Find the part that holds the linker.
- The linker's own clause comes right after it: linker + subject + verb.
- The main clause goes before or after the linker's clause as a whole. Do not cut into either clause.
- Check the meaning the linker signals. though needs a contrast, because needs a reason. An order where the linker signals the wrong thing is wrong.
- 'and thus' near the end closes a chain of actions: it introduces the last step.
Worked example
Arrange the parts into one sentence. P: the weather was bad / Q: the patrol set out / R: though / S: on time. Options: (a) RPQS (b) RSQP (c) QRSP (d) PQRS
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2022 · CDS (I) 2022 — English · Q31Moderate
Example 3 · Sentence Rearrangement · Joining Words, Pairs and Pointers (PQRS)
Directions: re-arrange labelled parts P Q R S of the sentence
P: as soon as
Q: the government was pressed to do
R: something for the poor
S: the session commenced
A linker with the wrong signal
though joins two facts that pull against each other; because joins a cause to its result. If an order makes 'though' join a cause to its result, it is wrong even when it sounds smooth.
Cutting into the main clause
The linker's clause goes before or after the main clause as one block. An option that drops it into the middle of the main clause breaks both.
though ... but
'Though he was tired, but he kept marching' is a common error. A though-clause joins the main clause directly; do not add but.
Concept 4 of 4: It, they, the two, this: the noun comes first
it, they, them, this and such point back to something already named. The thing they point to must come first.
Definition
The terms:
- Pointer word: a word that refers back to something already mentioned: it, they, them, this, these, such.
- Antecedent: the noun that a pointer word refers back to: the soldiers ... they.
The method:
- Spot each pointer word in the parts.
- Ask what it points to, and find that noun in another part.
- That part must come earlier in the sentence than the pointer.
- Check the number: they and these need two or more things; it and this need one.
- A part that starts with a pointer word such as it or they cannot open the sentence.
Worked example
Arrange the parts into one sentence. P: and handed it over / Q: the boy found a wallet / R: to the police / S: on the road. Options: (a) QSPR (b) PRQS (c) QRPS (d) SPRQ
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2017 · CDS (II) 2017 — English · Q50Hard
Example 4 · Sentence Rearrangement · Joining Words, Pairs and Pointers (PQRS)
Directions: rearrange jumbled parts P,Q,R,S
P: The purpose is to advance knowledge
Q: the two have to work together
R: and disseminate it
S: a university is essentially a community of students and teachers
The pointer before its noun
An option that puts 'it' or 'they' before the noun it means leaves the reader asking 'what?'. Strike it.
The wrong number
they and these need a plural noun or two named things; it and this need one. Use this to choose between two possible nouns.
Two nouns, one pointer
When two nouns come before 'it', ask which one the sentence is about. In 'the captain gave the map to the guide and told him to keep it safe', him is the guide and it is the map: you keep a map safe, not a captain.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (1)
Pairs that travel together13 rows
| Pair | How it works | In the tested sentence | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| not only ... but also | the same kind of item follows each half | peace is always the only alternative not only during war and turbulent times but also during peaceful times | 2024 (I) |
| not only because ... but also because | two reasons, each a full clause | smallpox was a particularly dreaded disease ... not only because it was often fatal, but also because those who recovered were permanently disfigured | 2017 (I) |
| not merely ... but also | the second half adds a wider claim | capitalism is sometimes treated not merely as an economic system but also as an ideology in its own right | 2023 (II) |
| not merely ... nor | a second denial, with the verb before the subject after nor | the equality provisions ... are not merely anti-discriminatory ... nor are they confined to individuals as bearers of rights | 2023 (II) |
| so ... as | so + adjective, then as + the thing compared | nothing is so easy and inviting as the retort of abuse and sarcasm | 2022 (I) |
| as ... as | as + adjective (+ noun) + as: two equal things | a free press is as essential a limb of democracy as a parliament freely elected by the people | 2018 (II) |
| more ... than | more + quality, then than + the thing compared | you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do | 2019 (II), 2024 (II) |
| better than | better, then than + the other person or thing | she who has been in trouble would know the trouble better than the one who has been troubling | 2024 (I) |
| enough ... that | enough + that + the result | there must be something important enough that everyone should learn it | 2018 (II) |
| if ... then | the if-clause first, then the result | if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure don't deserve me at my best | 2019 (II) |
| it is not that ... it is that | rejects one reason, then gives the real one | it is not that he is a fool, it is that he does not think ... | 2022 (II) |
| because ... and not because | the true reason first, then the false one | it's because they do not come within my subject and not because they are lightly esteemed by me | 2022 (I) |
| one thing ... another | one thing, then another for its contrast | irony is a figure of speech where you say one thing while you mean another | 2022 (II) |
The first half always comes first. A part holding the second half cannot open the sentence.
Watch out for (12)
- Ending on and→ And and or join like with like
- Joining unlike things→ And and or join like with like
- The wrong first item→ And and or join like with like
- The second half first→ Pairs that travel together
- Mixing two pairs→ Pairs that travel together
- Unequal halves→ Pairs that travel together
- A linker with the wrong signal→ Though, as soon as, if: finish the clause the linker opens
- Cutting into the main clause→ Though, as soon as, if: finish the clause the linker opens
- though ... but→ Though, as soon as, if: finish the clause the linker opens
- The pointer before its noun→ It, they, the two, this: the noun comes first
- The wrong number→ It, they, the two, this: the noun comes first
- Two nouns, one pointer→ It, they, the two, this: the noun comes first
Test yourself on Sentence Rearrangement
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.