Gap filling of Tenses Prepositions Verbs Conjunctions Articles Modals Determiners : Gap filling questions are a common feature in English language exams including the MP Board Class 12. They test your understanding of grammar, vocabulary and context. These questions usually carry around 5 marks and present you with a sentence or paragraph containing blanks which you need to fill with the most appropriate word from given options or from your own knowledge.
How to Solve Gap Filling Questions
Solving gap-filling questions effectively requires a systematic approach:
- Read the Entire Sentence/Paragraph First: Don’t jump to fill the first blank immediately. Read the complete sentence or even the entire paragraph to grasp the overall meaning, context and tense. This provides crucial clues.
- Identify the Type of Word Needed: Look at the words around the blank. Do you need a verb, a noun, an adjective, a preposition, an article, a conjunction, a modal or a determiner?
- Example: She is looking ______ a job. (Needs a preposition)
- Consider the Context and Meaning: The chosen word must make logical sense in the sentence.
- Example: He ran fast, _______ he missed the train. (Needs a conjunction that shows contrast – “but”)
- Pay Attention to Grammar Rules:
- Tense: What is the time frame of the action?
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Does the verb match the subject (singular/plural)?
- Parts of Speech: Is the word you’re considering the correct part of speech for that position?
- Fixed Phrases/Collocations: Some words naturally go together (e.g., “fond of,” “depend on”).
- Check for Options (if provided): If options are given, eliminate the clearly incorrect ones first. Then, try fitting each remaining option into the blank to see which one fits best grammatically and meaningfully.
- Read the Completed Sentence/Paragraph: After filling the blanks, read the entire text again to ensure it flows smoothly, is grammatically correct, and makes perfect sense.
Grammar Rules for Gap Filling
Let’s break down the rules for the common categories tested in gap-filling:
1. Tenses
Tenses indicate the time an action takes place (past, present, future) and its completion or continuation (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).
- Simple Present: For habits, routines, facts, general truths.
- Rules: Base verb (for I/You/We/They), verb + -s/-es (for He/She/It).
- Example: The sun rises in the east. She goes to school every day.
- Present Continuous: For actions happening now, temporary actions, definite future plans.
- Rules: is/am/are + verb + -ing.
- Example: They are playing cricket now. I am reading a book.
- Present Perfect: For actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or completed actions with a present result. Often used with “for,” “since,” “yet,” “already.”
- Rules: has/have + past participle (V3).
- Example: She has lived here for ten years. I have finished my homework.
- Simple Past: For completed actions in the past. Often with specific past time indicators (yesterday, last week, in 2005).
- Rules: Verb + -ed (regular), irregular forms (saw, went).
- Example: We visited Agra last month. He ate dinner.
- Past Continuous: For actions ongoing in the past, often interrupted by another past action.
- Rules: was/were + verb + -ing.
- Example: She was sleeping when I called.
- Past Perfect: For an action completed before another past action.
- Rules: had + past participle (V3).
- Example: By the time I arrived, he had already left.
- Simple Future: For actions that will happen in the future.
- Rules: will/shall + base verb.
- Example: I will go to Delhi tomorrow.
2. Prepositions
Prepositions show the relationship between a noun/pronoun and other words in a sentence (e.g., location, direction, time).
- Place:
- in: for large areas, enclosed spaces (in the city, in the box).
- on: for surfaces, specific days (on the table, on Monday).
- at: for specific points, addresses (at the bus stop, at 24 Main St.).
- under, over, above, below, next to, between, among, beside, etc.
- Example: The book is on the table. She lives in Mumbai.
- Time:
- in: for months, years, seasons (in July, in 2023, in summer).
- on: for specific days, dates (on Sunday, on 15th August).
- at: for specific times (at 3 PM, at night).
- before, after, during, since, for, till/until, by.
- Example: I will meet you at 5 PM. We work during the day.
- Direction:
- to: movement towards something (go to school).
- into: movement inside something (jump into the water).
- onto: movement on top of something (jump onto the table).
- from, out of, through, across, along.
- Example: He walked to the park. The cat jumped onto the roof.
- Fixed Prepositions (Collocations): Many verbs, adjectives, and nouns are followed by specific prepositions.
- fond of, good at, dependent on, listen to, capable of, angry with/at, believe in, tired of, etc.
- Example: She is very fond of chocolates. He is good at maths.
3. Verbs
Verbs describe actions, states, or occurrences. In gap filling, focus on subject-verb agreement, verb forms, and types of verbs.
- Subject-Verb Agreement:
- Singular subject takes a singular verb (verb + -s/-es in Simple Present, ‘is’, ‘was’, ‘has’).
- Plural subject takes a plural verb (base verb in Simple Present, ‘are’, ‘were’, ‘have’).
- Example: He plays football. They play football.
- Verb Forms (V1, V2, V3, V-ing):
- Base Form (V1): Simple Present (plural), imperatives, after modals.
- Past Simple (V2): Simple Past tense.
- Past Participle (V3): Perfect tenses (has/have/had V3), passive voice.
- Present Participle (V-ing): Continuous tenses (is/am/are/was/were V-ing).
- Example: She wrote (V2) a letter. They have eaten (V3) lunch. I am writing (V-ing) a story.
- Transitive vs. Intransitive:
- Transitive: Requires a direct object (e.g., She wrote a letter).
- Intransitive: Does not require a direct object (e.g., He slept).
- Auxiliary/Helping Verbs: (do, does, did, is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, shall, can, could, may, might, must, should, would). They help the main verb form different tenses, moods, or voices.
- Example: They are going to the market. Did you finish your work?
4. Conjunctions
Conjunctions join words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
- Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS): Join grammatically equal parts.
- For (reason), And (addition), Nor (negative alternative), But (contrast), Or (choice), Yet (contrast), So (result).
- Example: He is rich, but he is not happy. She studied hard, so she passed the exam.
- Subordinating Conjunctions: Join a dependent clause to an independent clause.
- Time: when, while, as, before, after, until, since.
- Cause/Reason: because, since, as.
- Condition: if, unless, as long as.
- Purpose: so that, in order that.
- Contrast: although, though, even though, while, whereas.
- Result: so…that, such…that.
- Example: Although it was raining, we went out. I will wait until you return.
- Correlative Conjunctions: Pairs of conjunctions that work together.
- both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, whether…or.
- Example: Neither John nor Mary was present. She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
5. Articles
Articles (a, an, the) are determiners that specify whether a noun is definite or indefinite.
- Indefinite Articles (a/an): Used before singular countable nouns when the noun is general or not specific.
- a: Before words starting with a consonant sound.
- an: Before words starting with a vowel sound.
- Example: I saw a cat. He ate an apple.
- Definite Article (the): Used before specific or unique nouns or when the noun has already been mentioned.
- Example: Please pass me the book on the table. (Specific book) The sun rises in the east. (Unique)
- Zero Article (no article):
- Before plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns in a general sense (e.g., water is essential).
- Before proper nouns (names of people, cities, countries, unless plural or part of a specific phrase like “The United States”).
- Before abstract nouns (e.g., love, happiness).
- Before meals, languages, sports (e.g., eat dinner, speak English, play football).
- Example: Water is essential for life. India is a vast country.
6. Modals (Modal Verbs)
Modal verbs express possibility, ability, permission, obligation, suggestion etc. They are always followed by the base form of another verb (V1).
- Ability:can (present), could (past/possibility).
- Example: She can speak five languages. He could swim when he was five.
- Permission:can, could, may.
- Example: May I come in? Could you please help me?
- Obligation/Necessity:must, should, have to, ought to.
- Example: You must follow the rules. We should respect our elders.
- Possibility/Probability:may, might, could, must.
- Example: It may rain today. He must be tired after the long journey.
- Advice/Suggestion:should, ought to.
- Example: You should study harder for the exam.
7. Determiners
Determiners are words that come before a noun to clarify what the noun refers to. Articles (a, an, the) are a type of determiner.
- Quantifiers: Indicate quantity (some, any, much, many, few, a few, little, a little, all, every, both, half, no).
- Example: I have some books. There is little water left.
- Demonstratives: Point out specific nouns (this, that, these, those).
- Example: This book is mine. Those flowers are beautiful.
- Possessives: Show ownership (my, your, his, her, its, our, their).
- Example: Her car is new. Our team won the match.
- Distributives: Refer to individual members of a group (each, every, either, neither).
- Example: Each student received a prize. Every child needs care.
- Interrogatives: Used in questions (which, what, whose).
- Example: Which book do you want? Whose pen is this?
By understanding these rules and practicing consistently, you can significantly improve your accuracy in gap-filling questions. Always remember to consider the context first then apply the relevant grammar rules.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Gap Filling
Q1: What is the typical mark allocation for gap-filling questions in the MP Board Class 12 English exam?
A1: Gap-filling questions usually carry 5 marks, making them a small but significant part of the grammar section.
Q2: What is the very first step I should take when solving a gap-filling question?
A2: The absolute first and most crucial step is to read the entire sentence or paragraph where the blanks are located. Do not try to fill the first blank in isolation. Understanding the overall context, meaning and tense of the passage is vital for choosing the correct words.
Q3: Are options always provided for the blanks in gap-filling questions?
A3: No, not always. Sometimes, you might be given a set of options (multiple choice), making it an elimination-based task. Other times, you might need to fill in the blanks entirely from your own knowledge, which requires a stronger grasp of grammar and vocabulary.
Q4: What if I’m confused between two options that seem grammatically correct for a blank?
A4: If two options seem grammatically correct, the decision then comes down to meaning and context. Which word makes more logical sense in the sentence? Does it fit the overall tone and flow of the paragraph? Sometimes subtle nuances in meaning or fixed collocations (words that naturally go together) will be the deciding factor.
Q5: How can I improve my performance in gap-filling questions?
A5:
- Read extensively: Exposure to diverse English texts helps you intuitively understand grammar and common phrases.
- Practice regularly: Solve as many gap-filling exercises as possible.
- Review grammar rules: Regularly revisit rules for tenses, prepositions, articles, modals etc.
- Maintain a vocabulary notebook: Note down new words and their common usages or collocations.
- Learn fixed prepositions: Many verbs and adjectives have specific prepositions that follow them (e.g., “fond of“, “good at“).
Q6: What types of grammatical concepts are most frequently tested in gap filling?
A6: The most frequently tested concepts include:
- Tenses: Especially differentiating between similar past/present tenses.
- Prepositions: Fixed prepositions, prepositions of place and time.
- Articles (a, an, the, or zero article): Proper usage based on specificity and noun type.
- Modals: Choosing the correct modal verb for ability, permission, obligation etc.
- Conjunctions: Selecting the right conjunction to link ideas logically.
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensuring the verb matches the subject in number.
Q7: Is it necessary to read the entire passage even if the blanks are in separate sentences?
A7: Yes, it is still highly recommended. Even if the blanks are in different sentences, there might be an overarching theme, narrative or tense that connects them. Reading the whole passage first gives you a better sense of the complete picture and can prevent errors caused by isolated analysis.
Q8: Can the same word be used to fill multiple blanks in a single gap-filling question?
A8: Typically, in standard gap-filling exercises, each blank requires a unique word from the provided options or a unique word that makes sense. It’s rare for the same word to be the correct answer for multiple blanks in the same question set.