Question

Choose the sentence with the right word order Patrick White received the Nobel Prize in 1973. Received Patrick White the Nobel Prize in 1973. English has a rigid word order that cannot be changed without changing the meaning of the sentence.In the test we are given a declarative sentence (statement). The standard word order in declarative sentences is SUBJECT + PREDICATE (Verb) + object + adverbial modifier. We are to find the subject, the predicate, the object and/or the adverbial modifier in the test sentence.The subject is placed at the beginning of the sentence and is usually expressed by a noun or a pronoun. In the test we are given the proper noun ‘Patrick White’ and the well-known word combination ‘the Nobel Prize’ that includes the proper name ‘Nobel’. When looking for the subject in a sentence, we need to look for the verb first. A verb is a word that helps a subject perform an action (ran, drank, fights, swims). In the test sentence there is only one verb ‘received’ that is in the past simple tense, thus, it is the predicate. The predicate stands after the subject and is usually represented by a main verb or by the combination of an auxiliary or modal verb with a main verb. As ‘the Nobel Prize’ cannot ‘receive’, we understand that in the test sentence ‘Patrick White’ (who?) is the subject and ‘the Nobel Prize’ is the object in the test sentence (Patrick White received what? → the Nobel Prize). Thus, we found the subject, the predicate and the object of the test sentence: ‘Patrick White received the Noble Prize…’. Then, we have the adverbial modifier of time ‘in1973’ that can be put at the beginning of the sentence or at the end. ANSWER 2 reflects the proper structure ‘SUBJECT + PREDICATE + object + adverbial modifier’.Therefore, we choose ANSWER 2.

Accepted Answer

Patrick White received in 1973 the Nobel Prize. In 1973 the Nobel Prize Patrick White received. b

Question	Choose the sentence with the right word order
A	Patrick White received in 1973 the Nobel Prize.
B	Patrick White received the Nobel Prize in 1973.
C	In 1973 the Nobel Prize Patrick White received.
D	Received Patrick White the Nobel Prize in 1973.
Answer	b
Remark	English has a rigid word order that cannot be changed without changing the meaning of the sentence.In the test we are given a declarative sentence (statement). The standard word order in declarative sentences is SUBJECT + PREDICATE (Verb) + object + adverbial modifier. We are to find the subject, the predicate, the object and/or the adverbial modifier in the test sentence.The subject is placed at the beginning of the sentence and is usually expressed by a noun or a pronoun. In the test we are given the proper noun ‘Patrick White’ and the well-known word combination ‘the Nobel Prize’ that includes the proper name ‘Nobel’. When looking for the subject in a sentence, we need to look for the verb first. A verb is a word that helps a subject perform an action (ran, drank, fights, swims). In the test sentence there is only one verb ‘received’ that is in the past simple tense, thus, it is the predicate. The predicate stands after the subject and is usually represented by a main verb or by the combination of an auxiliary or modal verb with a main verb. As ‘the Nobel Prize’ cannot ‘receive’, we understand that in the test sentence ‘Patrick White’ (who?) is the subject and ‘the Nobel Prize’ is the object in the test sentence (Patrick White received what? → the Nobel Prize). Thus, we found the subject, the predicate and the object of the test sentence: ‘Patrick White received the Noble Prize…’. Then, we have the adverbial modifier of time ‘in1973’ that can be put at the beginning of the sentence or at the end. ANSWER 2 reflects the proper structure ‘SUBJECT + PREDICATE + object + adverbial modifier’.Therefore, we choose ANSWER 2.

Nobel Sentence Test White Subject Word Received Object