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CDS English · Sentence Rearrangement

Noun Phrases: Keep the Noun's Words Together

An article or an adjective at the end of a part (a, the, some of the, modern) points to a noun, and the part that starts with that noun must come next.

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Why this matters

Examiners often cut a sentence between a describing word and its noun: 'a successful' in one part, 'man' in another. The first part then ends on a word that cannot stand alone, so the part with its noun is forced to follow. It is one of the quickest pairs to lock.

Concept 1 of 1: An adjective or article needs its noun

a, the, some of the, light, modern: these words describe or point to a noun. On their own they mean nothing. If a part ends on one of them, the next part must begin with its noun.

Definition

The terms:

  • Article: a, an or the. It always comes before a noun.
  • Adjective: a word that describes a noun: modern, successful, brief.
  • Noun phrase: a noun with all its describing words: a successful man; some of the most spectacular gold coins.

The method:

  • Read the last word of each part. If it is a, an, the, some of the, or an adjective, the part ends in the middle of a noun phrase.
  • Find the part that begins with a noun that fits: the right meaning and the right number (a takes one thing, several takes many).
  • Lock the pair. Strike every option that separates them or puts the first part last.
  • A part ending on 'a brief and' or 'significant and' needs a second adjective and then the noun: a brief and pointed saying.

Worked example

Arrange the parts into one sentence. P: a brave / Q: soldier who saved / R: the young cadet was praised as / S: three lives in the flood. Options: (a) RPQS (b) RQPS (c) PQRS (d) RSPQ
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps

The same idea in a real exam question:

CDS · 2022 · CDS (I) 2022 — English · Q36Moderate

Example 1 · Sentence Rearrangement · Noun Phrases (PQRS)

Directions: re-arrange labelled parts P Q R S of the sentence
P: late sixties Q: he still enjoys vigorous R: he is in his S: health; although

Ending on an article or adjective

An option whose last part ends on 'a', 'the', 'some of the' or an adjective leaves the noun missing. Strike it at once.

The wrong number

a and an take one thing; several, many and some of the take more than one. If two parts both start with a noun, the number of the noun often shows which one belongs after the article.

Joining the adjective to the wrong noun

'the coarse' could take 'woollens' or 'weather'. Both are nouns, but only one lets every other part find a home. Check the whole sentence, not just the pair.
Drill 22 more on an adjective or article needs its noun

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.

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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.

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