Pariksha SaathiEnglish
Fill in the Blanks: Practice Questions with Answers
56 practice questions on Fill in the Blanks, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.
Read the lesson on this topic →
Page 1 / 2 Next →
-
Q.1
Despite ___ hard, he failed the exam. (A) study (B) studying (C) studied (D) to study
Show answer
Answer: studying
Solution:
- After "despite," a verb must take its -ing (gerund) form — "studying," not the plain or infinitive form.
-
Q.2
He has been living in Mumbai ___ ten years. (A) since (B) for (C) from (D) at
Show answer
Answer: for
Solution:
- "Ten years" is a DURATION, not a specific point in time, so it needs "for", not "since".
-
Q.3
The teacher asked the students to pay ___ attention during the lecture. (A) close (B) closely (C) closer (D) closest
Show answer
Answer: close
Solution:
- "Pay close attention" is the fixed phrase — "close" here is an adjective describing "attention", not an adverb modifying a verb, so "closely" doesn’t fit.
-
Q.4
The train arrived ___ time, exactly as scheduled. (A) in (B) on (C) at (D) by
Show answer
Answer: on
Solution:
- "On time" is the fixed phrase meaning punctual, neither early nor late.
-
Q.5
He prides himself ___ his honesty. (A) in (B) on (C) at (D) for
Show answer
Answer: on
Solution:
- "Pride oneself on" is a fixed phrasal expression meaning to feel proud of a particular quality.
-
Q.6
She is good ___ mathematics. (A) in (B) at (C) on (D) with
Show answer
Answer: at
Solution:
- "Good at" is a fixed collocation for describing skill in a subject or activity.
-
Q.7
He is capable ___ solving this problem on his own. (A) in (B) at (C) of (D) for
-
Q.8
I am not interested ___ politics. (A) in (B) at (C) on (D) with
-
Q.9
She has a strong interest ___ classical music. (A) on (B) in (C) at (D) for
-
Q.10
She apologized ___ being late to the meeting. (A) of (B) for (C) at (D) with
-
Q.11
He was accused ___ stealing the documents. (A) of (B) for (C) with (D) about
-
Q.12
She speaks English as well ___ French.
- A as
- B than
- C like
- D so
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) as
The fixed phrase "as well as" is used to add a second item in a comparison of this kind.
-
Q.13
He is ___ to criticism and rarely changes his mind.
- A impervious
- B vulnerable
- C prone
- D subject
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) impervious
"Impervious to" means not affected by something, matching someone who rarely changes his mind.
-
Q.14
There ___ many students in the hall yesterday.
- A were
- B was
- C are
- D is
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) were
"Students" is plural, and the sentence is in the past ("yesterday"), so the verb must be the plural past form "were."
-
Q.15
The shop ___ shut by the time we got there.
- A had
- B have
- C has
- D was
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) had
An action completed before another past action ("got there") needs the past perfect: "had shut".
-
Q.16
The man ___ car was stolen reported it to the police.
- A whose
- B who
- C which
- D that
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) whose
'Whose' shows possession (the man's car), which 'who/which/that' cannot express here.
-
Q.17
She went to the market ___ buy some vegetables.
- A to
- B for
- C so
- D that
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) to
An infinitive of purpose ('in order to') is expressed simply with 'to' before the base verb.
-
Q.18
You ___ finish your homework before watching TV.
- A must
- B can
- C might
- D would
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) must
"Must" expresses a firm obligation or requirement, which fits the sense of the sentence (homework has to be done first).
-
Q.19
He is too tired ___ continue working.
- A to
- B for
- C that
- D so
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) to
The fixed construction "too + adjective + to + verb" expresses that something is not possible because of an excess (too tired to continue).
-
Q.20
The letter ___ posted yesterday.
- A was
- B is
- C has been
- D had
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) was
A completed past action in the passive voice uses the simple past passive: 'was posted.'
-
Q.21
He was ___ tired that he fell asleep instantly.
- A so
- B such
- C too
- D very
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) so
'So + adjective + that' introduces a result clause; 'such' would need a noun phrase instead.
-
Q.22
Had the weather been better, the trek ___ completed on schedule.
- A would have been
- B will have been
- C had been
- D would be
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) would have been
"Had + past participle" in the if-clause (an inverted third conditional) pairs with "would have + past participle" in the main clause.
-
Q.23
___ you practice, the better you become.
- A The more
- B More
- C The most
- D As more
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) The more
The parallel comparative structure is 'The more...the better,' not a bare 'More.'
-
Q.24
She ___ to the market every Sunday.
- A goes
- B go
- C is going
- D gone
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) goes
For a habitual action in the simple present with "she" (third person singular), the verb takes "-s": "goes."
-
Q.25
The letter ___ by her yesterday.
- A was written
- B is written
- C has written
- D writes
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) was written
A completed past action in the passive voice uses the simple past passive: 'was written.'
-
Q.26
If he ___ harder, he would have passed the exam.
- A had studied
- B studied
- C has studied
- D would study
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) had studied
The third conditional (an unreal past situation) uses 'if + had + past participle' in the if-clause.
-
Q.27
She is ___ honest person and always tells the truth.
- A an
- B a
- C the
- D some
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) an
'Honest' begins with a vowel sound (silent h), so the article 'an' is used, not 'a.'
-
Q.28
By this time next year, the new metro line ___ fully operational.
- A will be
- B is
- C was
- D has been
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) will be
A future state marked by "by this time next year" needs the simple future: "will be".
-
Q.29
They ___ to live in Delhi before moving to Mumbai.
- A used
- B use
- C were used
- D had used
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) used
'Used to' (expressing a past habit or state) takes the form 'used' before 'to': 'used to live.'
-
Q.30
Neither of the answers ___ correct.
- A is
- B are
- C were
- D have been
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) is
"Neither of" takes a singular verb, even though it refers to two items: "is correct," not "are correct."
-
Q.31
Rarely ___ such a talented young musician performed on this stage.
- A has
- B have
- C did
- D does
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) has
A negative adverb ("Rarely") at the start of a sentence triggers inversion, and the singular subject "musician" takes "has performed".
-
Q.32
They ___ working on this project since morning.
- A have been
- B are
- C had been
- D were
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) have been
An action continuing from the past up to now uses the present perfect continuous: 'have been working.'
-
Q.33
He explained that the delay ___ caused by a technical fault.
- A had been
- B is
- C was
- D has been
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) had been
In reported speech about an earlier event, the simple past shifts back to the past perfect: "had been caused".
-
Q.34
This year's harvest was far ___ than last year's.
- A larger
- B large
- C largest
- D more large
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) larger
A comparison between two things uses the comparative form: "larger", not the superlative or the base form.
-
Q.35
If she ___ here, she would help us.
- A were
- B was
- C is
- D be
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) were
The subjunctive mood in an unreal conditional uses 'were' for all subjects, not 'was.'
-
Q.36
He is one of the ___ players in the team.
- A best
- B better
- C goodest
- D most good
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) best
"One of the ___" is always followed by a superlative form; "good" has the irregular superlative "best."
-
Q.37
I would ___ stayed home if I had known it would rain.
- A have
- B of
- C had
- D has
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) have
The correct form after "would" is "have" (not "of", a common misspelling of the contraction "'ve"): "would have stayed".
-
Q.38
By next year, she ___ her degree.
- A will have completed
- B will complete
- C has completed
- D completes
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) will have completed
A future event completed before another future point in time ("by next year") needs the future perfect: "will have completed".
-
Q.39
By the time we arrived, the movie ___ already started.
- A had
- B has
- C was
- D have
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) had
The movie starting happened BEFORE another past action (our arriving), so the earlier event uses the past perfect: "had started."
-
Q.40
The committee ___ divided on the issue.
- A is
- B are
- C were
- D have
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) is
"Committee" acting as a single unit is a singular collective noun, so it takes "is".
-
Q.41
I ___ that movie already, so I don't want to watch it again.
- A have seen
- B saw
- C see
- D was seeing
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) have seen
An action completed at an unspecified past time, relevant to the present, uses the present perfect: 'have seen.'
-
Q.42
If I ___ rich, I would travel the world.
- A were
- B was
- C am
- D will be
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) were
In a hypothetical (unreal) conditional, the subjunctive "were" is used for all subjects, even "I," not "was."
-
Q.43
She ___ have forgotten her keys at home; she seems to be searching for something.
- A may
- B must
- C can
- D should
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) may
'May have' expresses a possibility about a past action, fitting the uncertain tone here.
-
Q.44
She ___ her car repaired at the garage yesterday.
- A had
- B has
- C did
- D was
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) had
The causative construction 'have something done' uses 'had' for a completed past action: 'had her car repaired.'
-
Q.45
Neither the manager nor the employees ___ aware of the policy change.
- A were
- B was
- C is
- D has been
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) were
With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject; since 'employees' is plural, the verb is 'were.'
-
Q.46
No sooner ___ he arrived than the meeting started.
- A had
- B did
- C has
- D was
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) had
'No sooner' at the start of a sentence requires inversion with the past perfect: 'No sooner had he arrived.'
-
Q.47
I have been working here ___ 2015.
- A since
- B for
- C from
- D during
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) since
"Since" is used with a specific starting point in time (a year, date, or event); "for" would be used with a duration instead (e.g., "for nine years").
-
Q.48
This problem is ___ difficult than the last one.
- A more
- B much
- C very
- D too
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) more
A comparison between two things requires the comparative form 'more difficult than.'
-
Q.49
___ working hard all year, he failed to get the promotion.
- A Despite
- B Although
- C Because
- D Since
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Despite
'Despite' is followed by a gerund or noun phrase, not a full clause: 'Despite working hard.'
-
Q.50
She ___ have misunderstood the instructions, because she is usually very careful.
- A must
- B should
- C can
- D need
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) must
"Must have + past participle" expresses a confident deduction about a past event.
Page 1 / 2 Next →
How these questions were made
Written by Mahesh Srivastava, Founder of Pariksha Saathi. Published: 2026-10-03.
Authored by an AI assistant (Claude) - not reviewed by a subject-matter expert.