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

    Groups: Article · Preposition · Conjunction

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

  2. 2.Put the steps of filling a grammar gap in the right order.

    • Next, decide what kind of word each gap needs — a verb, an article, a preposition or a joining word.
    • First, read the whole passage through once without stopping at the gaps.
    • Finally, read the sentence back with your word in place, to hear whether it really fits.
    • Then look at the words on either side of the gap for the clue that fixes the form.

  3. 3.Fill the gap: "The results ____ announced on the school notice board tomorrow morning."

    • a) is
    • b) will be
    • c) were
    • d) have been

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

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

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

    Groups: Simple past · Present perfect

    • They ____ in this town since 2015.
    • 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.
    • She ____ the letter, so you can read it now.
    • She ____ the letter last Tuesday.

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

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

  7. 7.Which set fills all three gaps? "The garden ___(a)___ neglected for years. Weeds ___(b)___ grown through the path, and the gate ___(c)___ open in the wind."

    • a) was been / had / swung
    • b) has been / has / swings
    • c) had been / has / swings
    • d) had been / had / swung

  8. 8.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) may
    • b) might
    • c) must
    • d) could

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

  1. 1. 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
  2. 2. 1. First, read the whole passage through once without stopping at the gaps. 2. Next, decide what kind of word each gap needs — a verb, an article, a preposition or a joining word. 3. Then look at the words on either side of the gap for the clue that fixes the form. 4. Finally, read the sentence back with your word in place, to hear whether it really fits.
  3. 3. b) will be
  4. 4. d) Although
  5. 5. 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
  6. 6. a) from … to
  7. 7. d) had been / had / swung
  8. 8. c) must