This problem can be solved by preschool children in five to ten minutes, by programmers in an hour and by people with higher education…well, check it yourself.
These are names given to groups of creatures or things, but they have been scrambled. What is the correct arrangement?
Colony of Birds Horde of Spiders Den of Wild Pigs Clutter of Crows Nest of Snakes Park of Elks Doylt of Ferrets Gang of Machine Guns Business of Swine Volery of Artillery Hover of Gnats Drift of Frogs
Colony of Frogs Horde of Gnats Den of Snakes Clutter of Spiders Nest of Machine Guns Park of Artillery Doylt of Swine Gang of Elks Business of Ferrets Volery of Birds Hover of Crows Drift of Wild Pigs
The typical answer to this is “I am,” but some argue that it’s not a complete sentence. However, if someone asked a man named Rupert if he was Rupert, he could reply, “I am” and it would make a complete sentence in my book.
But that’s not the whole answer. There is an even shorter sentence using an imperative with an implied subject (how’s that for an English terminology-filled sentence?) With “Go,” the “you” is implied. For example, if your wife wanted you to go with her to pick up some donuts and you were busy, she might say, “I really want to get some donuts, I’m starving!” and you might reply, “Go!” The implication being you never wanted to get donuts in the first place because you like ice cream more anyway and if you’re busy you’re probably doing something worthwhile and important and can’t be disturbed for such trivial matters as acquiring sweet pastries with holes in them, no matter how much of a waste of time your wife says your pursuits are. In short, “Go” is the shortest sentence in the English language that also has the longest implied meaning. Do you want to get get some ice cream? Go!
Ava pointed out in the comments that No is another viable alternative.
I lack much reason, but often rhyme, And require logic to pass the time, To get the words to tell your kin, Look for clues that lie within, Though all are different, they act the same, The answer is practically in the name.
