Sentence completion — SSC CGL English Notes

Concepts and rules

In a grammar-based blank, all four options usually make some sense; only one fits the structure of the sentence. The structure is fixed by signal words: time markers, the subject, a paired conjunction, a preposition or an article.

Tense signals: 'since' (point of time) or 'for' (period) with an action continuing to now ⇒ present perfect or present perfect continuous (has lived, has been living). 'Yesterday', 'ago', 'last week', 'in 2015' ⇒ simple past, never present perfect.

Of 2 past actions, the earlier one takes the past perfect: 'The train had left before we reached the station.' 'By the time + simple past' puts the other clause in past perfect; 'by the time + simple present' puts it in future perfect (will have finished).

Conditionals: Type 1 'If + simple present, will + V1' (real future). Type 2 'If + simple past, would + V1' (imaginary present), with 'were' for all persons: 'If I were rich'. Type 3 'If + had + V3, would have + V3' (unreal past). Do not put 'will' or 'would' in the if-clause.

Agreement: the verb agrees with the head noun, not the noun inside an 'of' phrase: 'The quality of the mangoes is poor.' 'Each', 'every', 'either', 'neither' (used alone) take a singular verb. 'One of the + plural noun' takes a singular verb: 'One of the boys is absent.'

'A number of' means 'many' and takes a plural verb; 'the number of' means 'the count' and takes a singular verb. With 'either…or', 'neither…nor', 'not only…but also' the verb agrees with the nearer subject. With 'as well as', 'along with', 'together with', 'with' the verb agrees with the first subject.

Fixed prepositions SSC repeats: prefer X to Y, senior/junior/superior/inferior/prior to (never 'than'), congratulate on, aware of, interested in, insist on, comply with, abide by, accused of, charged with, married to, angry with a person, angry at a thing, independent of, dependent on.

Verb patterns: 'look forward to', 'object to', 'be used to', 'with a view to' take verb + ing, because 'to' here is a preposition. 'Used to + V1' is a past habit. 'Let, make, help, see, hear + object + V1' take no 'to': 'She made him wait.' 'Suggest, insist, recommend that + subject + V1 or should + V1'.

Articles go by sound, not spelling: 'an hour', 'an MLA', 'an honest man', but 'a university', 'a European', 'a one-rupee coin'. 'The' comes before superlatives, unique things (the sun), rivers, oceans, mountain ranges and before an ordinal (the first).

Paired connectors are fixed: no sooner…than; hardly/scarcely…when; such…that; so…that; not only…but also; both…and; lest…should (lest is already negative, so never 'lest…not'). After 'no sooner', 'hardly', 'scarcely' at the start, the auxiliary comes before the subject: 'No sooner had he left than…'.

'It is time / It is high time + subject + simple past' says that something should already have happened: 'It is high time we left.' 'Wish' about the present takes the simple past or 'were': 'I wish I were taller.'

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: Read the whole sentence before the options. Many traps look right if you read only the words next to the blank.

Step 2: Mark the signals: a time phrase, the real head of the subject, the word right after the blank (often a preposition), and any half of a paired connector.

Step 3: Predict the form needed (past perfect, singular verb, gerund, 'to', 'than') and strike out options that break it. Step 4: Read the survivor back into the full sentence.

Shortcut: if the 4 options are forms of one verb (go, went, had gone, has gone), the question tests tense or agreement, so hunt for the time signal or the head noun. If they are different words, it tests collocation or meaning.

Shortcut: in a 2-blank question, settle the easier blank first; often only 1 or 2 options survive it, and you test the second blank only on those.

Where the shortcut fails: 'nearest noun' agreement is wrong after 'of' phrases and after 'as well as / along with'; it is right only for either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also.

Example 1: Tense with 'since'

Question: Meera ____ (work) in this branch of the bank since 2019. Fill in the correct form.

Solution: 'Since 2019' gives a starting point and the action is still going on, so the present perfect continuous is needed. 'Works' and 'worked' ignore the link to the present.

Answer: has been working.

Example 2: Head noun decides agreement

Question: The quality of the mangoes sent by the farmers ____ (be) not up to the mark.

Solution: Strip the phrase 'of the mangoes sent by the farmers'. The head of the subject is 'quality', which is singular, so the verb is singular even though 'farmers' is the nearest noun.

Answer: is.

Example 3: Unreal past condition

Question: If Arjun had left home on time, he ____ (catch) the 7 o'clock train.

Solution: The if-clause has 'had + V3', which is Type 3 (an unreal past situation: he did not leave on time). Type 3 needs 'would have + V3' in the main clause.

Answer: would have caught.

Example 4: Paired connector

Question: No sooner had the bell rung ____ the students rushed out of the classroom. (a) when (b) then (c) than (d) that

Solution: 'No sooner' is a comparative form and always pairs with 'than'. 'When' pairs with 'hardly' or 'scarcely', not with 'no sooner'. 'Then' and 'that' do not complete this pair.

Answer: (c) than.

Example 5: Agreement plus sequence of tenses

Question: Neither the principal nor the teachers ____ aware that the inspector ____ the school the previous evening. (a) was, had visited (b) were, had visited (c) were, has visited (d) was, has visited

Solution: Blank 1: with 'neither…nor' the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'teachers', which is plural, so 'were'. This removes (a) and (d).

Blank 2: the main clause is in the past ('were aware') and the visit happened even earlier ('the previous evening'), so the past perfect 'had visited' is required. 'Has visited' cannot go with a finished past time phrase, so (c) fails.

Answer: (b) were, had visited.

Example 6: 'High time' and 'lest'

Question: It is high time the authorities ____ steps to repair the canal, lest the fields ____ dry before the sowing season. (a) take, will run (b) have taken, would run (c) took, should run (d) took, would run

Solution: Blank 1: 'It is high time + subject' takes the simple past, so 'took'. This removes (a) and (b).

Blank 2: 'lest' is followed by 'should + V1' (or the bare V1), never by 'would' or 'will'. So (d) fails and only (c) satisfies both blanks.

Answer: (c) took, should run.

Common mistakes

Using the present perfect with a finished past time: 'I have met him yesterday' is wrong; write 'I met him yesterday'.

Agreeing with the nearest noun after 'of' or 'as well as': 'The captain, as well as the players, are happy' is wrong; the verb follows 'captain', so 'is'.

Writing 'than' after senior, junior, superior, inferior, prior or prefer: these take 'to'. 'He is senior than me' is wrong.

Putting the bare verb after 'look forward to' or 'object to': 'to' is a preposition here, so use verb + ing: 'look forward to meeting you'.

Adding 'not' after 'lest' or 'will' in an if-clause: 'lest he should not fail' and 'if it will rain' are both wrong.

Practice questions

Q1. Mr Rao is senior ____ me by 2 years in the department. (a) than (b) to (c) from (d) over

Q2. The minister, along with his secretaries, ____ visiting the flood-hit villages tomorrow. (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have been

Q3. Hardly had the guests arrived ____ the power went off. (a) than (b) when (c) then (d) as

Answers

Q1. (b) 'Senior' is a Latin comparative and takes 'to', not 'than'.

Q2. (c) With 'along with' the verb agrees with the first subject 'the minister' (singular); 'tomorrow' rules out 'were' and 'have been'.

Q3. (b) 'Hardly' pairs with 'when'; 'than' pairs only with 'no sooner'.

Quick revision

Since/for + continuing action ⇒ has/have (been) + verb; yesterday/ago ⇒ simple past.

If + had + V3 ⇒ would have + V3; If + past ⇒ would + V1; If + present ⇒ will + V1.

Neither/either/not only…but also ⇒ nearer subject; as well as/along with ⇒ first subject; 'of' phrase ⇒ head noun.

No sooner…than; hardly/scarcely…when; lest…should; high time + past; senior/prefer…to; look forward to + ing.

Concepts and rules

In a context-based blank, all options are usually grammatically possible; the sentence itself contains a clue that makes only one meaning fit. Your job is to find that clue, not to pick the most impressive word.

Contrast signals reverse the direction: but, yet, although, though, however, despite, in spite of, while, whereas, instead, rather than, far from, unlike. The blank will be roughly opposite to the idea on the other side of the signal.

Support signals keep the direction: and, also, moreover, furthermore, in addition, similarly, likewise, a semicolon or colon that explains. The blank will agree with the nearby idea.

Cause and result signals: because, since, as, so, therefore, thus, hence, consequently, as a result. The blank must be a logical cause or result of the other half.

Definition or example signals: that is, namely, in other words, such as, for instance, a dash. The words after the signal describe the blank almost directly.

Tone (connotation): many near-synonyms differ in whether they praise or blame. famous/renowned (good) vs notorious/infamous (bad); frugal/thrifty (good) vs stingy/miserly (bad); childlike (innocent) vs childish (immature); firm (good) vs obstinate (bad).

Collocation: some words simply go together in English and a synonym sounds wrong. commit a crime, lodge a complaint, deliver a speech, pay attention, bear the brunt, heavy rain, strong tea, meet a demand, raise an objection, break a record, keep a promise.

Confusable pairs that SSC uses as options: economic (of the economy) vs economical (thrifty); historic (important in history) vs historical (of the past); continual (repeated with breaks) vs continuous (without a break); eligible (qualified) vs illegible (unreadable).

The part of speech must still fit: a blank after an article and before a noun needs an adjective; a blank after 'to' (infinitive) needs a verb. Use this to remove options quickly before thinking about meaning.

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: Cover the options. Read the sentence and find the clue word or phrase (signal word, description, cause or contrast).

Step 2: Decide the direction (same or opposite) and the charge (positive or negative) of the missing word.

Step 3: Put a simple word of your own in the blank, such as 'good', 'hard' or 'reduce'. Now uncover the options and choose the one closest to your word.

Step 4: Check the collocation and part of speech by reading the full sentence with your choice. In 2-blank items, a pair must be right in both places; one right word is not enough.

Shortcut: in 2-blank items with a contrast signal between the blanks, the 2 words are usually opposite in charge; options with 2 words of the same charge can be dropped at once.

Where the shortcut fails: 'not only…but also' and 'not just…but' look like contrast but actually add a stronger idea in the same direction, so do not reverse the meaning there.

Example 1: Contrast signal

Question: Although the task looked simple at first, it turned out to be extremely ____. (choose from: effortless, tedious, brief)

Solution: 'Although' signals contrast with 'simple', so the blank must mean hard or tiring. 'Effortless' and 'brief' agree with 'simple' and break the contrast.

Answer: tedious.

Example 2: Restatement after a semicolon

Question: Ravi is extremely ____; he never spends a rupee more than he must and saves part of every salary. (choose from: lavish, frugal, generous)

Solution: The part after the semicolon explains the blank: careful spending and saving. 'Frugal' means careful with money in a sensible way; 'lavish' and 'generous' mean spending freely.

Answer: frugal.

Example 3: Collocation

Question: The villagers ____ a complaint at the police station about the polluted well. (choose from: lodged, performed, committed)

Solution: The standard collocation is 'lodge a complaint' (also 'file a complaint'). One performs a duty or a play and commits a crime or a mistake; neither verb goes with 'a complaint'.

Answer: lodged.

Example 4: Connotation decides

Question: The smuggler was ____ throughout the district for his cruelty towards his own men. (a) famous (b) notorious (c) renowned (d) celebrated

Solution: All 4 mean 'well known', but 'for his cruelty' shows he is known for something bad. Only 'notorious' carries this negative charge; the other 3 praise.

Answer: (b) notorious.

Example 5: 2 blanks with a contrast

Question: The new scheme was meant to ____ the farmers' distress, but its poor implementation only ____ it. (a) alleviate, aggravated (b) aggravate, alleviated (c) alleviate, eased (d) intensify, worsened

Solution: A scheme is 'meant' to reduce distress, so blank 1 means 'reduce': alleviate. 'But… poor implementation only' signals the opposite result, so blank 2 means 'made worse': aggravated.

Check the others: (b) and (d) make the scheme intend to worsen distress, which is absurd; (c) 'eased' agrees with blank 1 and destroys the contrast set up by 'but'.

Answer: (a) alleviate, aggravated.

Example 6: 'Far from' reverses the clue

Question: Far from being ____, the speaker's remarks were so carefully balanced that neither party could take offence. (a) measured (b) diplomatic (c) provocative (d) conciliatory

Solution: The remarks were 'carefully balanced' and offended nobody. 'Far from being X' means 'the opposite of X', so X must mean 'likely to cause offence or anger'.

'Measured', 'diplomatic' and 'conciliatory' all describe balanced, calming speech, which is what the remarks actually were, so they cannot follow 'far from'. Only 'provocative' is the opposite.

Answer: (c) provocative.

Common mistakes

Picking the hardest-looking word: SSC often makes the rare word a trap. Decide the meaning first, then match.

Ignoring the signal word: missing 'although', 'far from' or 'instead' makes you choose the exact opposite of the answer. Circle the signal every time.

Choosing a synonym with the wrong tone: 'The thrifty old man refused to give even a rupee to his starving servant' should be 'miserly', because the context blames him.

Breaking a collocation: 'did a crime', 'told a speech', 'gave attention' sound wrong; use committed a crime, delivered a speech, paid attention.

Checking only one blank in a 2-blank item: an option with a perfect first word can still fail on the second; test both.

Practice questions

Q1. The scientist's theory, once ____ by her colleagues, is now accepted across the world. (a) endorsed (b) praised (c) ridiculed (d) supported

Q2. Because the witness kept changing his statement, the judge found his testimony ____. (a) unreliable (b) consistent (c) credible (d) convincing

Q3. The Chief Minister ____ a speech on the need for clean drinking water. (a) told (b) said (c) spoke (d) delivered

Answers

Q1. (c) 'Once… is now accepted' contrasts past and present, so in the past the theory was mocked: ridiculed. The other 3 mean accepted, which kills the contrast.

Q2. (a) 'Because' gives the cause: a changing statement makes testimony untrustworthy, so 'unreliable'. The other 3 are positive.

Q3. (d) The collocation is 'deliver a speech'; 'told', 'said' and 'spoke' do not take 'a speech' as an object in standard use.

Quick revision

Find the clue first: contrast (but, although, far from) reverses; support (and, moreover, semicolon) repeats; because/so links cause and result.

Predict your own simple word before looking at the options.

Check tone: famous/notorious, frugal/miserly, firm/obstinate, childlike/childish.

Check collocation: lodge a complaint, deliver a speech, commit a crime, pay attention, bear the brunt.