Last reviewed 30 Sept 2026 · 7 min read
What the question tests
A fill-in-the-blank question tests vocabulary, grammar and logic at once. The correct word must fit the meaning, the grammar (part of speech, tense, number) and the natural combination of words (collocation). A wrong option usually breaks one of these.
Method
- Read the sentence fully and predict the missing word before looking at the options: is it positive or negative? a noun, verb, adjective or adverb?
- Underline clue words: contrast (but, however, although, yet, despite, whereas, unlike), cause (because, since, so, therefore, thus, hence), addition (and, also, moreover), example (such as, for instance).
- Test each option in the sentence — read the whole sentence again with the word in place.
- Eliminate options that are grammatically wrong, change the tone (positive vs negative) or do not form a natural combination.
Reading the logic of the sentence
Contrast
A contrast word tells you the blank has the opposite sense of another part. Although the plan looked ______ on paper, it failed in practice. → a positive word: impressive / perfect / sound.
Cause and effect
Because the road was ______, the vehicles moved very slowly. → a negative condition: congested / damaged.
Comparison and parallel meaning
He was as ______ as a lion in the battle. → brave / fearless. In and-sentences, the blank matches the other item: The staff was courteous and ______. → helpful.
Definition and example
A ______ is a person who studies the stars. → astronomer.
Tone and connotation
Words can be positive (frugal, determined, curious), negative (miserly, stubborn, nosy) or neutral. The tone of the surrounding sentence guides you: He is very ______ with money → frugal (praise) vs miserly (criticism).
Grammar clues
- Part of speech: He spoke ______ (fluent / fluently). — adverb needed for spoke: fluently.
- Tense: By the time she came, we ______ (finished / had finished). → had finished.
- Number: A number of ______ (is / are) missing. → are.
- Preposition: She is fond ______ music. → of.
- Article: He is ______ honest man. → an.
- Comparative or superlative: This is the ______ (better/best) of the three. → best.
- Gerund or infinitive: He avoided ______ (to answer / answering). → answering.
- Conjunction pairs: Not only ... but also; neither ... nor; hardly ... when; no sooner ... than.
Collocations — words that go together
| With | Common partners |
|---|---|
| make | a decision, a mistake, an effort, progress, a speech, money, friends |
| do | homework, a favour, business, harm, good, your best, research |
| take | a decision (or make), a chance, a break, care, a risk, place, part |
| pay | attention, a visit, respect, a compliment |
| draw | attention, a conclusion, a comparison, a line |
| heavy | rain, traffic, smoker, loss, burden |
| strong | tea, wind, argument, evidence |
| high | speed, price, hopes, temperature |
| fast / quick | food, train / glance, meal, reply |
| give | a lecture, advice, permission, a hand, a warning |
| lose | weight, heart, patience, track of, sight of |
| catch | a cold, a bus/train, a glimpse, sight of |
| break | a promise, a rule, a record, the news, a habit |
| keep | a promise, a secret, a diary, calm, quiet |
| run | a business, a risk, a fever, a race |