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English practice

Fill in the Blanks Questions with Answers

Fill in the blanks questions give one sentence with a missing word, and you choose the option that completes it correctly. SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS use them to test prepositions, articles, tenses and vocabulary, and bank prelims in IBPS and SBI use a similar format. Most are solved by grammar rules, a few by word meaning. Tip: read the sentence with each option inserted, then keep the one that is both grammatical and sensible.

Rules to remember

  • Prepositions are fixed with many words: good at, interested in, afraid of, married to, accused of, different from.
  • Use 'since' with a point in time and 'for' with a period, both with the present perfect: 'since 2015', 'for ten years'.
  • Conditionals: if + present gives 'will' (If it rains, we will stay); if + past gives 'would' (If I were you, I would go).
  • In unreal conditions, 'were' is used for all subjects: 'If I were you'.
  • Few and a few go with countable nouns, and little and a little with uncountable nouns; 'few/little' means almost none, 'a few/a little' means some.
  • Use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound; use 'the' for something specific or already mentioned.
  • Time markers fix tense: yesterday, ago, last year need the simple past; already, yet, ever suggest the present perfect.
  • Match the verb to the subject in number, ignoring phrases that come between them.

Worked examples

Q1. She is good ____ mathematics. (a) in (b) at (c) on (d) with

  1. The adjective 'good' takes 'at' when it refers to skill in a subject.
  2. 'Good at mathematics' is the correct collocation.

Answer: (b) at

Q2. If I ____ you, I would accept the offer. (a) am (b) was (c) were (d) will be

  1. The main clause has 'would', which signals an unreal or imaginary condition.
  2. For unreal conditions the 'if' clause takes the subjunctive 'were' for every subject.
  3. 'Am', 'was' and 'will be' do not fit this structure.

Answer: (c) were

Q3. She has ____ interest in politics, so she never reads the news. (a) little (b) a little (c) few (d) a few

  1. 'Interest' is uncountable, so few and a few are out.
  2. 'So she never reads the news' shows she has almost no interest, a negative meaning.
  3. 'Little' means almost none; 'a little' means some, which would not give the 'never' result.

Answer: (a) little

Shortcuts that save time

  • Check grammar clues (subject, tense marker, 'would' or 'will') before reading the options for meaning. This saves time and avoids picking a word that only sounds right.
  • Insert each option into the sentence and read it fully; do not choose from the first part of the sentence alone.
  • If two options remain after rule checks, guess only if the marks you stand to lose are acceptable; otherwise skip the question.

Where this appears

SSC CGL Tier-1English Comprehension section
SSC CHSL Tier-1English Language section
SSC MTSEnglish Language and Comprehension section
IBPS/SBI PO PrelimsEnglish Language section
IBPS/SBI Clerk PrelimsEnglish Language section

Fill in the Blanks

Practice Set
Attempted: 0Correct: 0Incorrect: 0
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Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: She has been living in this city ___ 2015.

English · stress-free practice · answers reveal instantly

Fill in the Blanks questions with answers

10 sample questions from this topic with the correct option and the solution.

  1. Q1. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: He is good ___ solving puzzles.

    1. for
    2. at
    3. on
    4. in

    Answer: (B) at

    Solution
    "Good at" is the correct fixed preposition phrase.

  2. Q2. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: They arrived ___ the airport two hours early.

    1. at
    2. in
    3. on
    4. to

    Answer: (A) at

    Solution
    "Arrive at" is used for smaller/specific locations like an airport.

  3. Q3. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: The train arrived ___ the station on time.

    1. on
    2. at
    3. in
    4. to

    Answer: (B) at

    Solution
    "Arrive at" is correct for a station (a specific point).

  4. Q4. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: She arrived ___ India last week.

    1. on
    2. to
    3. at
    4. in

    Answer: (D) in

    Solution
    "Arrive in" is used for larger locations like countries or cities.

  5. Q5. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: I have not seen him ___ Monday.

    1. for
    2. from
    3. in
    4. since

    Answer: (D) since

    Solution
    "Since" is used with a specific starting point in time.

  6. Q6. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: We have been waiting ___ two hours.

    1. at
    2. from
    3. since
    4. for

    Answer: (D) for

    Solution
    "For" is used with a duration of time.

  7. Q7. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: He is afraid ___ spiders.

    1. of
    2. for
    3. with
    4. from

    Answer: (A) of

    Solution
    "Afraid of" is the correct fixed preposition phrase.

  8. Q8. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: She is married ___ a doctor.

    1. at
    2. for
    3. to
    4. with

    Answer: (C) to

    Solution
    "Married to" is the correct fixed preposition phrase.

  9. Q9. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: The book consists ___ ten chapters.

    1. with
    2. of
    3. from
    4. in

    Answer: (B) of

    Solution
    "Consists of" is the correct fixed preposition phrase.

  10. Q10. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option: He apologised ___ his rude behaviour.

    1. with
    2. for
    3. about
    4. of

    Answer: (B) for

    Solution
    "Apologise for" is the correct fixed preposition phrase.