Sentence Completion: Full-Length Notes

Topic: Completing Sentences with Appropriate Words/Phrases

1. What is Sentence Completion?

Sentence Completion is a common question type in English language exams and aptitude tests. You are given a sentence with one or more blanks, and you must choose the most suitable word(s) or phrase(s) from the options to complete the sentence meaningfully and grammatically.

2. Purpose of Sentence Completion Questions

Test vocabulary and grammar: Assess your knowledge of word meanings, collocations, and sentence structure.
Evaluate contextual understanding: Check your ability to infer meaning from context.
Check logical reasoning: Ensure you can select words/phrases that maintain coherence and logical flow.

3. Types of Sentence Completion Questions

A. Single Blank

Only one blank to fill.
Focuses on vocabulary, grammar, or logic.

B. Double/Multiple Blanks

Two or more blanks in a sentence.
Requires words/phrases that fit together logically and grammatically.

C. Phrase Completion

The blank may require a phrase, idiom, or collocation, not just a single word.

4. Skills Tested

Vocabulary: Understanding of word meanings and nuances.
Grammar: Correct tense, prepositions, articles, subject-verb agreement, etc.
Collocation: Words/phrases that commonly go together (e.g., “make a decision”).
Contextual Reasoning: Ability to infer the intended meaning from surrounding words.
Logic: Ensuring the completed sentence is coherent and meaningful.

5. Common Patterns and Traps

Synonyms/Antonyms: Sometimes, the answer depends on finding a word with the right positive or negative connotation.
Contrast/Comparison: Words like “although,” “but,” “however,” “yet,” etc., signal contrast.
Cause and Effect: Words/phrases like “because,” “therefore,” “as a result,” etc.
Idiomatic Usage: Some blanks require an idiom or a fixed phrase.
Redundancy: Avoid options that make the sentence repetitive or awkward.

6. How to Approach Sentence Completion Questions

Step 1: Read the Entire Sentence Carefully

Understand the overall meaning and tone.

Step 2: Predict the Answer

Try to guess the word/phrase before looking at the options.

Step 3: Check Each Option

Substitute each option into the blank(s) to see which fits best.

Step 4: Eliminate Wrong Answers

Remove options that are grammatically incorrect, illogical, or do not fit the context.

Step 5: Confirm Consistency

Ensure your choice maintains the sentence’s grammar, logic, and tone.

7. Examples and Explanations

Single Blank Example

She was so tired that she ___ asleep in class.
(A) fall (B) fell (C) feel (D) fill
Answer: (B) fell
Explanation: “fell asleep” is the correct phrase.
The teacher asked the students to ___ quietly.
(A) sit (B) sat (C) sitting (D) sits
Answer: (A) sit
Explanation: “to sit” is the correct infinitive form.

Double Blank Example

The weather was ___, so we ___ our picnic.
(A) rainy, postponed (B) sunny, canceled (C) windy, ignored (D) cold, celebrated
Answer: (A) rainy, postponed
Explanation: Rainy weather leads to postponing a picnic.

Phrase Completion Example

The new policy will come into ___ next month.
(A) effect (B) affect (C) effort (D) affectation
Answer: (A) effect
Explanation: The correct phrase is “come into effect.”

8. Tips and Tricks

Look for clues: Words like “despite,” “although,” “because,” etc., indicate the required relationship.
Check for collocations: Use the word/phrase that naturally fits with others in the sentence.
Beware of similar-sounding words: E.g., “affect” vs. “effect.”
Avoid answers that create grammatical errors.
Practice with a variety of sentence types: This builds intuition for correct choices.

9. Practice Strategies

Read widely: Exposure to well-written English improves your sense of what “sounds right.”
Expand vocabulary: Learn new words, idioms, and collocations.
Review grammar basics: Especially verb forms, prepositions, and articles.
Practice with mock tests: Simulate exam conditions for speed and accuracy.

10. Useful Resources

[Testbook: Sentence Completion Practice]
[BYJU’S: Sentence Completion Tips]
[Smartkeeda: Sentence Completion Sets]
[BankersAdda: Sentence Completion PDFs]

11. Summary Table: Sentence Completion Approach

Step	Action
1. Read	Understand the sentence context
2. Predict	Guess the word/phrase before seeing options
3. Substitute	Try each option in the blank(s)
4. Eliminate	Remove grammatically or logically wrong options
5. Confirm	Ensure the sentence is correct and meaningful

Summary:
Sentence Completion questions test your vocabulary, grammar, and contextual reasoning. Read carefully, use logic, and check for grammar and collocation to select the best answer. Regular practice and reading are key to mastering this section.

Single Blank Questions (1–30)

The scientist was ___ for her groundbreaking research.
(A) criticized (B) awarded (C) ignored (D) punished
The teacher asked the students to ___ quietly.
(A) sit (B) sat (C) sitting (D) sits
The manager will ___ the meeting at 10 a.m.
(A) conduct (B) conducting (C) conducted (D) conducts
The Internet has ___ the way we communicate.
(A) change (B) changing (C) changed (D) changes
He is ___ to arrive on time.
(A) likely (B) liking (C) liked (D) likes
The ___ of the medicine was immediate.
(A) affect (B) effect (C) effort (D) affectation
The old man walked with the ___ of a stick.
(A) help (B) helps (C) helping (D) helped
The ___ was so loud that everyone turned to look.
(A) noise (B) noisy (C) noisily (D) noises
The students ___ the teacher’s instructions carefully.
(A) follow (B) followed (C) follows (D) following
The ___ of the story is very interesting.
(A) end (B) ending (C) ended (D) ends
The ___ of the city is increasing rapidly.
(A) populate (B) population (C) populated (D) populating
She ___ her friend to the party.
(A) invite (B) invites (C) invited (D) inviting
The ___ of the mountain was covered in snow.
(A) top (B) tip (C) tap (D) tape
The ___ was awarded to the best player.
(A) prize (B) price (C) praise (D) pries
The ___ of the movie was unexpected.
(A) end (B) ending (C) ended (D) ends
The ___ of the cake was delicious.
(A) taste (B) test (C) toast (D) task
The ___ of the problem is not easy.
(A) solution (B) solve (C) solving (D) solved
The ___ of the road was slippery.
(A) surface (B) surf (C) surplus (D) suffer
The ___ of the team depends on hard work.
(A) success (B) successful (C) succeed (D) succession
The ___ of the exam was announced yesterday.
(A) result (B) results (C) resulting (D) resulted
The ___ of the machine is very simple.
(A) operation (B) operate (C) operator (D) operational
The ___ of the project is next week.
(A) complete (B) completion (C) completing (D) completed
The ___ of the event was a great success.
(A) organize (B) organizing (C) organization (D) organizer
The ___ of the painting attracted many visitors.
(A) beauty (B) beautiful (C) beautifully (D) beautify
The ___ of the garden was breathtaking.
(A) beauty (B) beast (C) beat (D) bat
The ___ of the festival was enjoyed by all.
(A) celebration (B) celebrity (C) celebrate (D) celebrated
The ___ of the river was high after the storm.
(A) level (B) lever (C) leave (D) love
The ___ of the meeting was set by the manager.
(A) agenda (B) agent (C) agency (D) agented
The ___ of the house was improved after renovation.
(A) appearance (B) appear (C) apparent (D) appearing
The ___ of the journey was memorable for everyone.
(A) end (B) ending (C) ended (D) ends

Double Blank Questions (31–40)

The weather was ___, so we ___ our picnic.
(A) rainy, postponed (B) sunny, canceled (C) windy, ignored (D) cold, celebrated
The manager was ___ by the team’s performance and ___ them for their effort.
(A) impressed, praised (B) annoyed, punished (C) bored, ignored (D) surprised, blamed
The ___ of the medicine was so ___ that it cured the patient in a day.
(A) effect, powerful (B) taste, bitter (C) color, bright (D) smell, strong
The ___ of the festival was ___ by all.
(A) celebration, enjoyed (B) party, ignored (C) end, missed (D) start, lost
The ___ was so ___ that everyone laughed.
(A) joke, funny (B) speech, boring (C) movie, sad (D) game, difficult
The ___ of the river was ___ after the storm.
(A) level, high (B) color, blue (C) fish, gone (D) water, dry
The ___ of the building was ___ due to the earthquake.
(A) structure, damaged (B) color, faded (C) roof, painted (D) door, closed
The ___ was ___ by the loud noise.
(A) baby, startled (B) dog, ignored (C) man, happy (D) cat, bored
The ___ of the book was so ___ that I finished it in one day.
(A) story, interesting (B) cover, torn (C) title, long (D) author, boring
The ___ of the exam was ___ for most students.
(A) result, disappointing (B) paper, easy (C) time, short (D) hall, crowded

Phrase/Context Completion (41–50)

The new policy will come into ___ next month.
(A) effect (B) affect (C) effort (D) affectation
The teacher asked the students to pay ___ to the instructions.
(A) attention (B) intention (C) attend (D) attendance
The team was ___ to finish the project on time.
(A) determined (B) determination (C) determine (D) determinate
The manager was known for his ___ to detail.
(A) attention (B) intention (C) attentive (D) attentively
The government has taken ___ to improve healthcare.
(A) measures (B) measure (C) measured (D) measuring
The ___ of the internet has changed communication.
(A) advent (B) adventurer (C) adventure (D) advance
The company is ___ for its quality products.
(A) renowned (B) renown (C) renounced (D) renewed
The athlete broke the world ___.
(A) record (B) records (C) recorder (D) recording
The ___ of the speech was appreciated by everyone.
(A) content (B) contest (C) context (D) contain
The ___ of the garden was enhanced by the new flowers.
(A) beauty (B) beast (C) beat (D) bat

Instructions:

For each blank, select the most appropriate word or phrase from the options.
For double blanks, both blanks must be filled with the pair from the same option.

If you need answers or explanations for any question, just ask!

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GOVERNMENT EXAMS 2025

Sentence Completion • Completing sentences with appropriate words/phrases