What the question looks like
A sentence is broken into four or five words or phrases (labelled P, Q, R, S, or A-E), placed out of order. You choose the order that forms a meaningful, grammatically correct sentence. Some Mains versions give six or seven single words and ask which word comes third or last.
Step-by-step approach
- Find the subject. The part that names who or what the sentence is about, often with a capital-letter feel to it: the central bank, more people in villages.
- Attach the verb to the subject. The central bank + decided to raise.
- Attach objects and complements. decided to raise + the repo rate.
- Place modifiers last: purpose (in order to), time (today, by the time), place and comparison (than ever before).
- Check with the options. Often only one option starts with the subject and keeps the verb next to it.
Useful patterns
- encourage / ask / allow + person + to + verb: encourages every adult to open an account.
- not only ... but also must join parallel parts: is not only fast and easy to use but also secure.
- A relative clause sits right after the noun it describes: workers who had lost their jobs.
- Comparatives end with the than phrase: more ... today than ever before.
- Time clauses (by the time, every time, when) can come first with a comma, or at the end.
Worked example
(P) a bank account (Q) the scheme encourages (R) every adult (S) to open. Subject and verb: Q. Encourages + person: R. Then to open: S, and its object: P. Order: QRSP: "The scheme encourages every adult to open a bank account."
Common traps
- Two orders may both seem grammatical; only one will appear among the options. Do not waste time hunting for a "better" order that is not listed.
- Separating a verb from its object with a long modifier usually produces an awkward or wrong sentence.
- Misplaced relative clauses: a relief package who had lost their jobs is wrong because who must follow workers.
Time target: 30-40 seconds. Fix the subject-verb pair first, then check only the options that begin correctly.