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๐ Content updated on 29 April 2026
๐ Omission of Words & Gap Filling – Spotting what's missing and filling it in
Sometimes a sentence is missing a small but essential word — an article, a preposition, a helping verb, or a connector. Other times, you're given a blank and must pick the right word from a set of options. Both tasks test your sense of completeness and grammatical accuracy. This worksheet sharpens your ability to detect and supply missing words in just the right places.
๐ง๐ซ How to use this sheet: In omission exercises, a word is missing; read the sentence and write the missing word along with the location. In gap‑filling exercises, choose the best word to complete the sentence. Then tap “Show Answer” to check, read the reason, and study the extra example.
Sometimes a sentence is missing a small but essential word — an article, a preposition, a helping verb, or a connector. Other times, you're given a blank and must pick the right word from a set of options. Both tasks test your sense of completeness and grammatical accuracy. This worksheet sharpens your ability to detect and supply missing words in just the right places.
๐ง๐ซ How to use this sheet: In omission exercises, a word is missing; read the sentence and write the missing word along with the location. In gap‑filling exercises, choose the best word to complete the sentence. Then tap “Show Answer” to check, read the reason, and study the extra example.
In this worksheet:
(Click any topic to jump straight to that section)
Spotting a missing word is a skill that comes with practice and a good ear for language. Our
Omission of Words & Gap Filling
guide breaks down the most common omission patterns. For more editing and rewriting practice, the
Editing Exercises worksheet
and
Sentence Improvement worksheet
are natural follow‑ups. Hindi learners might compare with
เคตाเค्เคฏ เคถुเคฆ्เคงि เคนเคฌ.
✅ Solved Examples (20 Questions with Answers)
Let's work through omission exercises and gap‑filling tasks together.
Solved Q.1
"He is fond ___ chocolates." (Fill the gap)
Show Answer
Answer: of
Explanation: The adjective 'fond' is always followed by the preposition 'of'. This is a fixed collocation.
Example: She is fond of painting.
Explanation: The adjective 'fond' is always followed by the preposition 'of'. This is a fixed collocation.
Example: She is fond of painting.
Solved Q.2
"I went to market to buy some vegetables." (A word is missing. Which one?)
Show Answer
Answer: the
Explanation: We need 'the' before 'market' when referring to a specific market known to both speaker and listener.
Example: I went to the market with my mother.
Explanation: We need 'the' before 'market' when referring to a specific market known to both speaker and listener.
Example: I went to the market with my mother.
Solved Q.3
"She is afraid ___ spiders." (Fill the gap)
Show Answer
Answer: of
Example: He is afraid of heights.
Example: He is afraid of heights.
Solved Q.4
"He plays cricket and she plays tennis." (No word missing? Correct.) But if we write: "He plays cricket she plays tennis." — what word is missing?
Show Answer
Answer: 'and'
Explanation: A conjunction is needed to connect two independent clauses.
Example: I like tea and she likes coffee.
Explanation: A conjunction is needed to connect two independent clauses.
Example: I like tea and she likes coffee.
Solved Q.5
"He is not ___ honest man." (Fill the gap)
Show Answer
Answer: an
Explanation: 'Honest' begins with a vowel sound (silent 'h'), so we use 'an'.
Example: He is an hour late.
Explanation: 'Honest' begins with a vowel sound (silent 'h'), so we use 'an'.
Example: He is an hour late.
Solved Q.6
"She walks to school foot." (Which word is missing?)
Show Answer
Answer: on
Explanation: The correct phrase is 'on foot'.
Example: We travelled on foot.
Explanation: The correct phrase is 'on foot'.
Example: We travelled on foot.
Solved Q.7
"The children were playing the garden." (Missing word?)
Show Answer
Answer: in
Explanation: 'in the garden' is the correct prepositional phrase.
Example: They sat in the park.
Explanation: 'in the garden' is the correct prepositional phrase.
Example: They sat in the park.
Solved Q.8
"She was born ___ 15th August." (Fill the gap)
Show Answer
Answer: on
Example: He was born on a Tuesday.
Example: He was born on a Tuesday.
Solved Q.9
"He is suffering ___ fever." (Fill)
Show Answer
Answer: from
Example: She is suffering from a cold.
Example: She is suffering from a cold.
Solved Q.10
"I have been waiting here since two hours." (Omit and correct)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'since' to for.
Example: I've been waiting for two hours.
Example: I've been waiting for two hours.
Solved Q.11
"He gave me a lot of advices." (Which word is wrong? Correct it.)
Show Answer
Answer: 'advices' should be advice (uncountable).
Example: She gave me some advice.
Example: She gave me some advice.
Solved Q.12
"The police is investigating the case." (Omit or replace the error)
Show Answer
Answer: Replace 'is' with are.
Example: The police are arriving.
Example: The police are arriving.
Solved Q.13
"He entered into the room quietly." (Which word is extra?)
Show Answer
Answer: 'into' should be removed.
Example: She entered the hall.
Example: She entered the hall.
Solved Q.14
"She is very tired to walk." (Replace a word)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'very' to too.
Example: She is too tired to walk.
Example: She is too tired to walk.
Solved Q.15
"He is the cleverest of the two brothers." (Correct the degree)
Show Answer
Answer: He is the cleverer of the two brothers.
Example: She is the taller of the twins.
Example: She is the taller of the twins.
Solved Q.16
"I am liking this place." (Remove the error)
Show Answer
Answer: I like this place.
Example: She knows the answer.
Example: She knows the answer.
Solved Q.17
"One of my friend is an engineer." (Correct the error)
Show Answer
Answer: One of my friends is an engineer.
Example: One of the students is absent.
Example: One of the students is absent.
Solved Q.18
"He lives in the United States of America." (Which words should be capitalised? — they already are. That's correct. Let's use omission: "He lives in United States." What's missing?)
Show Answer
Answer: 'the' before 'United States'.
Example: She is from the United Kingdom.
Example: She is from the United Kingdom.
Solved Q.19
"He went to bed at 10 pm. He couldn't sleep." (Combine into one sentence using 'Although' and avoid repetition — but this is a different skill. Let's just stick to omission: "He went to bed at 10 pm couldn't sleep." What's missing?)
Show Answer
Answer: 'but' or 'yet' between the two clauses.
Example: He tried hard but failed.
Example: He tried hard but failed.
Solved Q.20
"I am looking forward ___ meet you." (Fill the gap correctly)
Show Answer
Answer: to (but note: 'looking forward to' is followed by a noun/gerund, so "looking forward to meeting you" is the correct phrase. The sentence given "looking forward ___ meet" needs "to", but the verb form would change. Better to correct: I am looking forward to meeting you. However, the blank may just test preposition: "to". We'll accept 'to' as the missing word, despite the following verb form.) Let's clarify: The correct answer is "to", but we should note that the complete phrase is "looking forward to meeting". So we'll answer "to".
Omission exercises train you to notice missing articles, prepositions, and connectors. For more targeted grammar practice, the
Gap Filling worksheet
and
Cloze Text worksheet
are highly recommended. Hindi learners may compare with
เคตाเค्เคฏ เคชเคฐिเคตเคฐ्เคคเคจ เคนเคฌ.
✏️ Practice Questions (20 Questions with Answers)
Each sentence has a missing word or an error. Find it and supply the correct word.
Practice Q.1
"She is good ___ playing the piano."
Show Answer
Answer: at
Example: He is good at chess.
Example: He is good at chess.
Practice Q.2
"I went to store to buy bread." (Missing word?)
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: She went to the store.
Example: She went to the store.
Practice Q.3
"He is afraid ___ dogs."
Show Answer
Answer: of
Example: She is afraid of the dark.
Example: She is afraid of the dark.
Practice Q.4
"He is married ___ a doctor."
Show Answer
Answer: to
Example: She is married to a lawyer.
Example: She is married to a lawyer.
Practice Q.5
"She doesn't have some money." (Replace the wrong word)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'some' to any.
Example: I don't have any milk.
Example: I don't have any milk.
Practice Q.6
"The team are playing well." (Correct or justify — in British English, collective nouns can take plural verbs. So it's acceptable. Let's use a different error: "The team have won the match." That's also fine. We'll change to: "Each of the players have a trophy." Correct.)
Show Answer
Answer: Each of the players has a trophy.
Example: Each of us has a book.
Example: Each of us has a book.
Practice Q.7
"She asked me where did I live." (Remove the extra word)
Show Answer
Answer: Remove 'did'; rewrite as "where I lived".
Example: He asked me what I wanted.
Example: He asked me what I wanted.
Practice Q.8
"He is too much intelligent." (Replace the wrong word)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'too much' to very.
Example: She is very intelligent.
Example: She is very intelligent.
Practice Q.9
"No sooner the sun rose, the birds began to sing." (Correct the word order)
Show Answer
Answer: No sooner did the sun rise than the birds began to sing.
Example: No sooner had she left than he arrived.
Example: No sooner had she left than he arrived.
Practice Q.10
"She insisted to pay for the meal." (Correct the verb form)
Show Answer
Answer: She insisted on paying for the meal.
Example: He insisted on driving.
Example: He insisted on driving.
Practice Q.11
"The sceneries here are beautiful." (Correct the error)
Show Answer
Answer: The scenery here is beautiful.
Example: The scenery is breathtaking.
Example: The scenery is breathtaking.
Practice Q.12
"He is waiting for you since two o'clock." (Correct the preposition)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'for' to since (with point of time). Or if the verb is present perfect continuous, "has been waiting since two o'clock". The sentence given has simple present? It likely should be "He has been waiting for you since two o'clock." The error is 'for' should be 'since'.
Example: She has been reading since morning.
Example: She has been reading since morning.
Practice Q.13
"She prefers tea than coffee." (Replace the wrong word)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'than' to to.
Example: I prefer walking to cycling.
Example: I prefer walking to cycling.
Practice Q.14
"The two brothers shared the money among themselves." (Correct the preposition if necessary)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'among' to between.
Example: Divide the fruit between the two children.
Example: Divide the fruit between the two children.
Practice Q.15
"He is junior than me in rank." (Correct the word)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'than' to to.
Example: She is senior to him.
Example: She is senior to him.
Practice Q.16
"He does not know nothing about the plan." (Correct the double negative)
Show Answer
Answer: He does not know anything about the plan.
Example: I didn't see anybody.
Example: I didn't see anybody.
Practice Q.17
"I have been working here since five years." (Correct the error)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'since' to for.
Example: She has lived here for ten years.
Example: She has lived here for ten years.
Practice Q.18
"She is not as taller as her sister." (Correct the comparative)
Show Answer
Answer: She is not as tall as her sister.
Example: He is not as strong as his brother.
Example: He is not as strong as his brother.
Practice Q.19
"He was accused for stealing." (Correct the preposition)
Show Answer
Answer: He was accused of stealing.
Example: She was accused of lying.
Example: She was accused of lying.
Practice Q.20
"It is high time we leave the office." (Correct the verb form)
Show Answer
Answer: It is high time we left the office.
Example: It is high time she started revising.
Example: It is high time she started revising.
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๐ Challenge Questions (10 Questions with Answers)
These sentences contain subtler omissions or require you to spot a missing word that changes the meaning.
Challenge Q.1
"The man you saw yesterday is an old friend."
Show Answer
Answer: Insert whom after 'man'. (The man whom you saw...)
Example: The book which you lent me is here.
Example: The book which you lent me is here.
Challenge Q.2
"Not only she sings, but she also dances." (Correct the word order)
Show Answer
Answer: Not only does she sing, but she also dances.
Example: Not only does he paint, he sculpts as well.
Example: Not only does he paint, he sculpts as well.
Challenge Q.3
"Hardly had he left the house than it began to rain." (Replace the conjunction)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'than' to when.
Example: Hardly had she spoken when they applauded.
Example: Hardly had she spoken when they applauded.
Challenge Q.4
"She is the girl which won the race." (Replace the relative pronoun)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'which' to who.
Example: The boy who scored the goal is my friend.
Example: The boy who scored the goal is my friend.
Challenge Q.5
"He behaved as if he is the principal." (Correct the verb form)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'is' to were.
Example: She talked as though she were the owner.
Example: She talked as though she were the owner.
Challenge Q.6
"I have never seen so beautiful a sunset as this." (Is it correct? Yes, it's a formal structure. We'll use another: "He is one of the best player in the team." Correct it.)
Show Answer
Answer: He is one of the best players in the team.
Example: One of the students has left.
Example: One of the students has left.
Challenge Q.7
"The committee, which consists of ten members, have taken a decision." (Correct the verb)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'have' to has (collective noun as unit).
Example: The team has won.
Example: The team has won.
Challenge Q.8
"She left the room without to say goodbye." (Correct the verb form)
Show Answer
Answer: She left the room without saying goodbye.
Example: He went out without locking the door.
Example: He went out without locking the door.
Challenge Q.9
"My father, along with his colleagues, have gone to a conference." (Correct the verb)
Show Answer
Answer: Change 'have' to has (subject is 'father').
Example: The teacher, as well as the students, is present.
Example: The teacher, as well as the students, is present.
Challenge Q.10
"He is the taller of the three brothers." (Correct the degree)
Show Answer
Answer: He is the tallest of the three brothers.
Example: She is the smartest in the group.
Example: She is the smartest in the group.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQ 1
What is the difference between omission and gap filling?
Show Answer
Answer: In omission exercises, a word is missing from a sentence and you must identify where it's missing and supply it. In gap filling, blanks are already marked, and you choose the correct word to fill them. Both test similar grammar knowledge.
FAQ 2
Which words are most commonly omitted by mistake?
Show Answer
Answer: Articles (a, an, the), prepositions (in, on, at, of), conjunctions (and, but), auxiliary verbs (is, are, have, do), and relative pronouns (who, which, that) are the most frequently missed words.
FAQ 3
How can I get better at spotting missing words?
Show Answer
Answer: Read the sentence aloud. If it sounds broken or unnatural, there's likely a missing word. Check for missing links between verbs and objects, missing subjects, or missing connectors. With practice, your ears will catch them instantly.
FAQ 4
Are omission exercises asked in board exams?
Show Answer
Answer: Yes, many boards (like CBSE) include omission exercises in the grammar section, where a word has been omitted in each line of a paragraph, and students must write the missing word.
FAQ 5
What is the best strategy for gap filling?
Show Answer
Answer: Read the entire sentence first to understand the context. Then use your knowledge of grammar rules, collocations, and prepositions to choose the word that fits both the meaning and the structure. Eliminate options that don't make sense.
