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Free SSC English lesson

SSC English Fill in the Blanks

Use grammar and meaning together.

A sentence-completion question leaves a gap for a word or phrase. The choice must fit the grammar on both sides and the message of the whole sentence. A familiar expression is useful only when it suits this context.

Foundation to intermediate12 original questions20–25 minutes suggested study time

Learn the methodGo to practice

Build the skill

What you will learn

  • Identify the grammatical role needed by a gap.
  • Use common word combinations without ignoring the sentence meaning.
  • Check the complete sentence after choosing an answer.

Read the whole sentence

Find the topic, action and any reason, contrast or time clue.

Identify the gap

Decide whether you need a verb form, preposition, article, adjective or other expression.

Try every option

Read each option with the words immediately before and after it.

Confirm the meaning

Make sure the complete sentence says something coherent in context.

Understand before you answer

The rules and clues to remember

Grammar and meaning are two checks

Some wrong options fail because of form; others are grammatical words that make the message wrong. Use both checks before deciding.

GrammarThe guide can explain the route.
MeaningA blocked path cannot be used for passage.

Remember: Do not stop after finding a word from the correct topic.

Learn prepositions in complete expressions

Many common combinations need a particular preposition in a particular meaning. Learn a sentence such as responsible for keeping records, rather than a bare preposition alone.

CombinationShe is responsible for the register.

Remember: A different meaning or construction can use a different combination.

A contrast needs the right structure

Although introduces a clause with a subject and verb. Despite can introduce a noun phrase or an -ing form; despite the fact that can introduce a full clause.

ClauseAlthough the road was busy, we crossed safely.
Noun phraseDespite the traffic, we arrived early.

Remember: Do not put although directly before a bare noun phrase in the pattern practised here.

Quantity depends on the noun

Many is used with plural countable nouns; much is used with uncountable nouns in the meanings taught here. Read the noun before choosing.

Countabletoo many boxes
Uncountabletoo much noise

Remember: Learn the noun’s sense in the actual sentence, not only its dictionary label.

See the reasoning

Two worked examples

Example 1

Complete: The speaker could ___ the instructions clearly. Options: explain / explains / explained / explaining.

Answerexplain

Could is followed directly by a base verb here. Explains is a finite present form; explained is a past form or participle; explaining is an -ing form. None of those fits after could in this construction.

Example 2

Complete: ___ the noise, the students continued reading. Options: Despite / Although / Even though / Because.

AnswerDespite

The noise is a noun phrase, so Despite fits the contrast. Although and Even though would need a clause in this pattern; Because would need a clause or the added preposition of.

Try it yourself

12 questions, with every choice explained

Choose the single option that completes the sentence in standard written English. Use the given context and leave all other wording unchanged.

Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.

Question 1 · Preposition of position

The porter placed the suitcase ___ the counter and then stepped back.

  1. A.during
  2. B.between
  3. C.among
  4. D.on
Show answer and explanations for question 1

Answer D: on

Completed textThe porter placed the suitcase on the counter and then stepped back.
  1. Not correct. During expresses time, not the suitcase’s position.
  2. Not correct. Between normally needs two boundaries or a plural group; the counter supplies neither here.
  3. Not correct. Among requires a group rather than this single counter.
  4. Correct. On places the suitcase on the counter’s surface.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 2 · Article by sound

It took us ___ hour to repair the latch.

  1. A.a
  2. B.an
  3. C.a few
  4. D.many
Show answer and explanations for question 2

Answer B: an

Completed textIt took us an hour to repair the latch.
  1. Not correct. A is used before a consonant sound; hour begins with a vowel sound.
  2. Correct. Hour begins with a vowel sound because its h is silent, so an fits.
  3. Not correct. A few needs a plural countable noun, but hour is singular.
  4. Not correct. Many needs a plural countable noun in this use.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 3 · Finite verb and agreement

The password printed on these cards ___ valid.

  1. A.is
  2. B.have
  3. C.be
  4. D.having
Show answer and explanations for question 3

Answer A: is

Completed textThe password printed on these cards is valid.
  1. Correct. Is is a finite verb agreeing with singular password.
  2. Not correct. Have does not agree with password and does not complete the intended description before valid.
  3. Not correct. Be is a base form and cannot serve as this clause’s finite verb without an auxiliary.
  4. Not correct. Having is an -ing form and does not supply the finite verb needed here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 4 · Contrast with a noun phrase

___ heavy rain, the match continued.

  1. A.Even though
  2. B.Although
  3. C.Despite
  4. D.Because
Show answer and explanations for question 4

Answer C: Despite

Completed textDespite heavy rain, the match continued.
  1. Not correct. Even though also needs a clause in this pattern.
  2. Not correct. Although needs a clause in this pattern; heavy rain has no finite verb.
  3. Correct. Despite can introduce the noun phrase heavy rain and expresses the contrast.
  4. Not correct. Because cannot directly introduce this noun phrase; because of would be a different option.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 5 · Common combination

She is responsible ___ keeping the attendance register.

  1. A.of
  2. B.for
  3. C.by
  4. D.from
Show answer and explanations for question 5

Answer B: for

Completed textShe is responsible for keeping the attendance register.
  1. Not correct. Responsible of does not form this task-responsibility expression.
  2. Correct. Responsible for identifies the task she has a duty to perform.
  3. Not correct. By does not connect responsible to the task in this meaning.
  4. Not correct. From does not complete this expression.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 6 · Base verb after a modal

You should ___ the form before submitting it.

  1. A.checks
  2. B.checked
  3. C.checking
  4. D.check
Show answer and explanations for question 6

Answer D: check

Completed textYou should check the form before submitting it.
  1. Not correct. Checks is a finite present form, not the required base form.
  2. Not correct. Checked is not the base form needed directly after should.
  3. Not correct. Checking cannot follow should directly in this construction.
  4. Correct. Should is followed by base form check in this construction.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 7 · Countable quantity

There are too ___ chairs for this narrow room.

  1. A.little
  2. B.much
  3. C.many
  4. D.less
Show answer and explanations for question 7

Answer C: many

Completed textThere are too many chairs for this narrow room.
  1. Not correct. Little does not quantify these separate countable chairs in this construction.
  2. Not correct. Much is used with uncountable nouns, not chairs in this use.
  3. Correct. Many modifies the plural countable noun chairs.
  4. Not correct. Too less is not the standard combination here; less also does not express the intended excess of countable chairs.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 8 · Starting point in time

We have lived in this street ___ 2018.

  1. A.since
  2. B.for
  3. C.during
  4. D.until
Show answer and explanations for question 8

Answer A: since

Completed textWe have lived in this street since 2018.
  1. Correct. Since marks the starting point of the situation continuing up to now.
  2. Not correct. For would introduce a duration, not the calendar starting year alone.
  3. Not correct. During 2018 names a finished past period and does not fit this present-perfect continuing situation.
  4. Not correct. Until 2018 gives a past endpoint rather than the starting point needed with this continuing present-perfect account.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 9 · Comparative form

This route is ___ than the coastal road.

  1. A.shortness
  2. B.shortest
  3. C.shorter
  4. D.shortly
Show answer and explanations for question 9

Answer C: shorter

Completed textThis route is shorter than the coastal road.
  1. Not correct. Shortness is a noun and cannot complete this adjective comparison.
  2. Not correct. Shortest is a superlative and does not fit the than comparison.
  3. Correct. Shorter is the comparative adjective used with than.
  4. Not correct. Shortly is an adverb, not the comparative adjective required here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 10 · Word choice in context

The narrow path was ___ by fallen branches, so nobody could pass.

  1. A.blocked
  2. B.polished
  3. C.translated
  4. D.invited
Show answer and explanations for question 10

Answer A: blocked

Completed textThe narrow path was blocked by fallen branches, so nobody could pass.
  1. Correct. Blocked means obstructed and explains why nobody could pass.
  2. Not correct. Polished means made smooth or shiny and does not express an obstruction by branches.
  3. Not correct. Translated concerns changing language and cannot explain this physical obstruction.
  4. Not correct. Invited concerns asking someone to attend or participate; it does not describe the obstructed path.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 11 · Infinitive with an expressed subject

The instructions were clear enough ___ everyone to follow.

  1. A.to
  2. B.for
  3. C.with
  4. D.of
Show answer and explanations for question 11

Answer B: for

Completed textThe instructions were clear enough for everyone to follow.
  1. Not correct. To everyone to follow does not form the required enough + for someone + to-infinitive pattern.
  2. Correct. For introduces everyone as the person-group that can follow the instructions.
  3. Not correct. With does not introduce the subject of the following infinitive in this construction.
  4. Not correct. Of does not complete this enough construction.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 12 · Past participle

The room was completely silent; not a sound was ___.

  1. A.hears
  2. B.hearing
  3. C.hear
  4. D.heard
Show answer and explanations for question 12

Answer D: heard

Completed textThe room was completely silent; not a sound was heard.
  1. Not correct. Hears is a finite present form and cannot complete was in this passive.
  2. Not correct. Hearing is an -ing form and does not form this passive with was.
  3. Not correct. Hear is the base form, not the past participle after was.
  4. Correct. Heard is the past participle needed in was heard.
Review the method ↑Review your learning ↓

Make the learning stick

Review what changed your answer

  1. Write each complete sentence and name the clue that settled your choice.
  2. Separate errors of grammar from choices that fail the meaning.
  3. Create a fresh sentence with three combinations you want to remember.

Keep a simple note: question number → your reason → the correct rule or evidence → one new example. A mistake is useful when you can explain the correction.

SSC English hub →SSC English Spelling →SSC English Sentence and Paragraph Ordering →Cloze tests →

Original ESS learning material. Not official SSC questions or a previous-year paper. ESS is independent of SSC. These are untimed skill lessons, not full exam simulations.

References and exam scope

Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.

Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.