Question

Rearrange the words to make a meaningful sentence:
stood / first / term / first / who / the / in / class / ? / in.

• A. First who stood in the class in first term?
• B. Who stood first in class in the first term?
• C. Who in stood first in the first term class?
• D. In class in the first term who stood first?

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Who stood first in class in the first term?

The basic order of words in a sentence is: subject + verb + object.
In an interrogative sentence, the order is slightly altered. A question word (who, what, why, etc.) precedes the subject. If there is a helping verb along with the main verb, then it comes after the question word and before the subject.
To this basic structure, different elements can be added. For example, noun phrases, adjective phrases, subject complements, types of clauses and so on.
Option B: The structure in this sentence complies with the basic structure:
subject (Who) + main verb (stood) + verb complement (first) + prepositional phrases (in class, in the first term). 'Who' is an interrogative pronoun that also functions as the subject.
Hence B is correct.
Option A: The order does not create a meaningful sentence. 'First' precedes the subject and does not create a complete meaning.
Option C: The order is a jumble of words which do not form a coherent meaning.
Option D: The prepositional phrases have preceded the subject, which isn't the correct order.
Hence options A, C and D are incorrect.