Complex Sentences in Clear Order

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Sentence reordering

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Although
   • remained
   • the final cost
   • the initial estimate was low,
   • within the revised budget.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Although the initial estimate was low, the final cost remained within the revised budget.

   The initial concessive clause ends at the comma before the main subject.

2. Question 2 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The manager
   • before publication.
   • insisted that
   • should be checked
   • the figures
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The manager insisted that the figures should be checked before publication.

   Insist that introduces the checking requirement and its deadline.

3. Question 3 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • We
   • cannot decide
   • to proceed
   • whether
   • without further information.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   We cannot decide whether to proceed without further information.

   Whether to proceed is an infinitive question after decide.

4. Question 4 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The more
   • carefully we plan,
   • likely we are
   • the less
   • to miss the deadline.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The more carefully we plan, the less likely we are to miss the deadline.

   The paired comparative correlates planning care with reduced likelihood.

5. Question 5 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Had
   • precautions.
   • we
   • we received the warning earlier,
   • would have taken
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Had we received the warning earlier, we would have taken precautions.

   Inverted had introduces the past condition; would have gives its result.

6. Question 6 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • It was
   • not until Monday
   • that
   • the missing file.
   • we discovered
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   It was not until Monday that we discovered the missing file.

   The not-until cleft uses it was...that before the discovery clause.

7. Question 7 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The proposal
   • it would increase
   • on the grounds that
   • operating costs.
   • was rejected
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The proposal was rejected on the grounds that it would increase operating costs.

   On the grounds that introduces a finite reason clause.

8. Question 8 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • We
   • affected delivery.
   • need to establish
   • the delay
   • to what extent
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   We need to establish to what extent the delay affected delivery.

   The embedded extent-question uses subject before verb.

9. Question 9 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • By the time
   • had completed
   • the inspectors arrived,
   • the repairs.
   • the team
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   By the time the inspectors arrived, the team had completed the repairs.

   The opening time clause is followed by a past-perfect main clause.

10. Question 10 · Sentence reordering

    Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

    Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

    Sentence parts

    • The new procedure
    • all complaints
    • are recorded.
    • is designed
    • to ensure that
    Check answers and explanations

    Correct order

    The new procedure is designed to ensure that all complaints are recorded.

    Designed to ensure introduces the that-clause containing the passive requirement.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.