Sentence Ordering and Jumbled Sentences: Rules, Tricks and Solved Examples for SSC Reasoning and English
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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PDF Notes: Sentence Ordering and Jumbled Sentences: Rules, Tricks and Solved Examples for SSC Reasoning and English
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In a sentence ordering (jumbled sentences or para jumble) question, a few sentences are given in a wrong order and you must arrange them into a logical paragraph. The skill is tested in the English section and in the verbal reasoning. This guide on sentence ordering for SSC gives a clear step-by-step method, the clues to use, and solved examples with practice questions and FAQs.
Method in Five Steps
- Find the opening sentence: it introduces the topic and is a general statement that does not depend on any previous sentence.
- Find the closing sentence: it usually gives a conclusion, a result, a summary or a final thought.
- Find the mandatory pairs: two sentences that must be together, shown by a pronoun, a connector or a reference.
- Arrange the other sentences by logic or time.
- Read the whole paragraph once to check the flow and then match with the options.
Clues to Use
| Clue | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Pronouns (he, she, it, they, this, that) | A pronoun comes after the sentence that names the noun; the sentence with the noun comes first |
| Articles (a, an and the) | “A/an” introduces a new noun (earlier); “the” refers to the known noun (later) |
| Connectors (however, but, therefore, thus, moreover, also, besides, finally) | Show the relation to the earlier sentence; a sentence starting with “However” or “Thus” cannot be the first |
| Chronological words (first, then, next, after that, later) | Give the time order |
| Cause and effect | The cause comes before the effect |
| General and specific | A general idea comes before the specific details and examples |
| Questions and answers | A question is followed by its answer |
| Definition | A term is defined before it is used; the example follows the definition |
Common Mistakes
- Choosing a sentence with a pronoun as the opening sentence.
- Ignoring the connectors, such as “but” or “also”.
- Not checking the whole paragraph after choosing a sequence.
- Treating the first option as correct without verifying the closing sentence.
Solved Examples
Example 1.
P. He walked to the market.
Q. Ram woke up early in the morning.
R. He bought some fruits.
S. Then he returned home.
Order: Q P R S. Q introduces Ram; P (he) follows; R and S continue in time order.
Example 2.
P. Thus, plants need sunlight.
Q. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their food.
R. It takes place in the leaves with the help of chlorophyll.
S. Without light, the process stops.
Order: Q R S P. Q introduces the topic, R (it) explains, S gives the condition and P (thus) concludes.
Example 3.
P. However, many of them do not use it properly.
Q. Mobile phones are now used by almost everyone.
R. They can cause problems like loss of sleep.
S. A phone is a very useful device.
Order: S Q P R. S gives the general idea, Q the spread, P (however) the contrast and R the effects.
Example 4.
P. The match was stopped due to rain.
Q. The two teams entered the ground on a cloudy day.
R. The umpires decided to continue the game the next day.
S. After two overs, it started to rain heavily.
Order: Q S P R.
Practice Strategy
- Practise 5 to 10 para jumbles daily with the sets of 4 to 6 sentences.
- Underline the pronouns and connectors in each sentence.
- Do not spend more than 60 seconds on a 4-sentence set.
- After solving, read the arranged paragraph aloud to check the sense.
Quick Tips
- Find the opening and the closing sentence first.
- Never begin with a sentence that has a pronoun without a noun before it.
- Match the mandatory pairs and eliminate the options.
- Read the final paragraph once.
Quick Revision Points
- The opening sentence is general and independent.
- The closing sentence concludes.
- A pronoun follows its noun.
- A cause comes before its effect.
- Connectors like however and thus cannot start the paragraph.
Practice Questions With Answers
- In which order should the sentences come: (P) She opened the door. (Q) Seema heard a knock. (R) A postman stood outside.
Answer: Q P R - Which of these cannot be the first sentence: Therefore, he left or He was late?
Answer: Therefore, he left - (P) The sun rose. (Q) The birds started singing. (R) The night was calm. Arrange.
Answer: R P Q - (P) He took the medicine. (Q) Rahul had a fever. (R) He felt better. Arrange.
Answer: Q P R - What comes first: the general idea or the example?
Answer: The general idea - What does the word “thus” show?
Answer: A conclusion or result - What comes first: a cause or an effect?
Answer: The cause - Which sentence is more likely to be the opening: “It is a big city.” or “Mumbai is a big city.”?
Answer: Mumbai is a big city. - What is a mandatory pair?
Answer: Two sentences that must stay together due to the reference between them - What do the words “but” and “however” show?
Answer: Contrast
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Verbal Reasoning notes page, read the previous topic Logical Order of Words and the next topic Substitution Coding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sentence ordering?
Arranging jumbled sentences into a logical paragraph.
How do I find the first sentence?
Look for the general statement that introduces the topic and has no reference to an earlier sentence.
How do I find the last sentence?
Look for the sentence that concludes or summarises.
What is a mandatory pair?
Two sentences that have to stay together because of a pronoun or a connector.
What do the pronouns show?
That the noun they refer to has come in an earlier sentence.
What do connectors like however and moreover show?
The relation with the earlier sentence; such sentences cannot be the first.
Is this topic asked in SSC?
Yes. It appears in the English and the verbal reasoning parts.
How can I improve at para jumbles?
By daily practice and by reading editorials and articles.
How much time should I spend on a set?
About 45 to 60 seconds.
Does the chronological order always work?
Yes, for narrative paragraphs; for the others use the logical flow from the general to the specific.
What if I cannot find the opening sentence?
Find the mandatory pairs first and use the options.
What is a jumbled sentence?
A group of words or sentences in the wrong order.
Previous chapter
Logical Order of Words: Meaningful Sequence, Hierarchy, Size, Time and Life Cycle Arrangement Questions for SSC Reasoning
Next chapter
Substitution Coding (Item Coding): Rules, Tricks and Solved Examples of Called As Questions for SSC Reasoning
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.