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Year 9 English — Integrated grammar: filling gaps in a passage

Work out what kind of word a gap needs from the words around it, and fill it in the right form.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.This is a rule on a notice, not a suggestion. Fill the gap: "Visitors ____ leave their bags at the counter before entering the reading room."

    • a) might
    • b) may
    • c) could
    • d) must

  2. 2.Fill the gap: "____ she had studied for weeks, she still felt nervous before the paper."

    • a) Because
    • b) So
    • c) Although
    • d) Unless

  3. 3.Which pair fills both gaps? "The library stays open ____ nine in the morning ____ six in the evening."

    • a) in … on
    • b) from … to
    • c) since … until
    • d) at … by

  4. 4.In each sentence one word has been removed. Sort each gap by the kind of word that belongs in it.

    Groups: Article · Preposition · Conjunction

    • He wanted to help, ____ he had no time.
    • The keys are ____ the top drawer.
    • We can walk, ____ we can take the bus.
    • I bought ____ umbrella on the way home.
    • This is ____ best book I have read.
    • She waited ____ the corner for ten minutes.

  5. 5.Fill the gap with one word: "There is very ____ water left in the tank, so use it carefully."

  6. 6.Fill the gap: "Anjali had never owned ____ umbrella before that rainy week."

    • a) the
    • b) an
    • c) any
    • d) a

  7. 7.Sort each gapped sentence by the tense its gap needs. The time expression is the clue.

    Groups: Simple past · Present perfect

    • She ____ the letter last Tuesday.
    • They ____ in this town for a year and then moved away.
    • I ____ that film twice, and I would gladly see it again.
    • I ____ that film on Sunday.
    • They ____ in this town since 2015.
    • She ____ the letter, so you can read it now.

  8. 8.Match each clue expression to the verb form it forces.

    • since last April
    • yesterday evening
    • at this very moment
    • every single day
    • tomorrow afternoon
    • present continuous
    • simple future
    • simple past
    • present perfect
    • simple present

Answer key — Year 9 English — Integrated grammar: filling gaps in a passage

  1. 1. d) must
  2. 2. c) Although
  3. 3. b) from … to
  4. 4. She waited ____ the corner for ten minutes. → Preposition; He wanted to help, ____ he had no time. → Conjunction; I bought ____ umbrella on the way home. → Article; The keys are ____ the top drawer. → Preposition; We can walk, ____ we can take the bus. → Conjunction; This is ____ best book I have read. → Article
  5. 5. little
  6. 6. b) an
  7. 7. She ____ the letter last Tuesday. → Simple past; She ____ the letter, so you can read it now. → Present perfect; They ____ in this town since 2015. → Present perfect; They ____ in this town for a year and then moved away. → Simple past; I ____ that film twice, and I would gladly see it again. → Present perfect; I ____ that film on Sunday. → Simple past
  8. 8. since last April → present perfect; yesterday evening → simple past; at this very moment → present continuous; every single day → simple present; tomorrow afternoon → simple future