Master omission exercises and gap filling for Classes 10-12. Learn to identify missing words in passages and fill blanks with appropriate words based on grammar and context.
✅ Recommended for: Class 10-12 (CBSE/UP Board) | Competitive Exams
1. Understanding Omission & Gap Filling Exercises
Omission exercises present a passage with missing words (marked with ___). You must identify and supply the missing words. Gap filling requires choosing appropriate words from given options to complete sentences. Both test grammar, vocabulary, and contextual understanding.
| Exercise Type | Format | Example | Skills Tested | Marks Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omission | Passage with missing words | I went ___ market yesterday. (to) | Grammar, prepositions, articles, conjunctions | 1 mark per word (usually 8-10 marks) |
| Gap Filling with Options | Blanks with multiple choice | He is good ___ mathematics. (a) in (b) at (c) with (d) for | Vocabulary, collocations, grammar rules | 1 mark per blank (usually 5-6 marks) |
| Gap Filling without Options | Blanks to fill with own words | If I ___ rich, I would travel the world. (were) | Grammar rules, tense, conditional sentences | 1 mark per blank (usually 5-6 marks) |
| Cloze Test | Comprehensive passage with blanks | A complete story/article with systematic deletions | Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary | 1 mark per blank (usually 10 marks) |
2. Commonly Omitted Words & Their Categories
| Word Category | Commonly Omitted Words | Example Before | Example After | Frequency in Exams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles (a, an, the) | a, an, the | He is ___ honest man. | He is an honest man. | Very High (25%) |
| Prepositions | to, of, in, at, for, with, by, from | She is good ___ English. | She is good at English. | Very High (30%) |
| Conjunctions | and, but, or, so, because, although, if | He worked hard ___ he passed. | He worked hard so he passed. | High (20%) |
| Pronouns | he, she, it, they, we, you, I, me, him, her | Ravi is my friend. ___ studies with me. | Ravi is my friend. He studies with me. | Medium (15%) |
| Auxiliary Verbs | is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had, do, does, did | She ___ going to school. | She is going to school. | High (20%) |
| Relative Pronouns | who, which, that, whom, whose | The boy ___ won is my brother. | The boy who won is my brother. | Medium (10%) |
| Determiners | this, that, these, those, my, your, his, her | ___ book is very interesting. | This book is very interesting. | Medium (10%) |
| Linkers/Connectors | however, therefore, moreover, furthermore | It was raining; ___, we went out. | It was raining; however, we went out. | Low (5%) |
3. Step-by-Step Strategy for Omission Exercises
| Step | Action | What to Check | Example | Time (per passage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Quick Read | Read entire passage ignoring blanks | Overall theme, context, flow | Understand what passage is about | 1 minute |
| Step 2: Sentence Analysis | Read sentence with blank | Sentence structure, what's missing | Subject? Verb? Object? Connector? | 2 minutes |
| Step 3: Grammar Check | Analyze grammar around blank | Articles, prepositions, tense, agreement | "She ___ going" needs "is" (auxiliary) | 3 minutes |
| Step 4: Context Check | Read before and after blank | Logical flow, connectors, references | "He was tired. ___, he continued." needs "However" | 2 minutes |
| Step 5: Word Type Identification | Identify what type of word is missing | Noun? Verb? Preposition? Conjunction? | "Between you ___ me" needs "and" (conjunction) | 2 minutes |
| Step 6: Fill & Verify | Insert word, read complete sentence | Grammar correct? Meaning clear? | Read: "She is good at English." ✓ | 2 minutes |
| Step 7: Final Review | Read entire passage with filled words | Overall coherence, no contradictions | Ensure passage flows naturally | 1 minute |
4. Common Gap Filling Patterns & Rules
| Pattern Type | Grammar Rule | Example Sentence | Correct Word | Why This Word? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preposition after Adjective | Adjective + specific preposition | She is fond ___ music. | of | "Fond of" is fixed collocation |
| Preposition after Verb | Verb + specific preposition | He insisted ___ going. | on | "Insist on" is fixed phrasal verb |
| Article before Noun | a/an before consonant/vowel sound | He is ___ honest man. | an | "Honest" starts with vowel sound (silent h) |
| Tense Consistency | Same tense in connected clauses | When he arrived, I ___ dinner. | was having | Past continuous for ongoing past action |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | Singular subject + singular verb | Each student ___ a book. | has | "Each" is singular, needs "has" not "have" |
| Conditional Sentences | If + past, would + V1 | If I ___ you, I would go. | were | Second conditional uses "were" for all subjects |
| Relative Pronouns | Who for people, which for things | The book ___ I bought is interesting. | that/which | Things need "which" or "that" |
| Conjunctions for Contrast | But for contrast, and for addition | He is poor ___ honest. | but | Contrast between poor and honest |
| Reported Speech | Tense backshift in indirect speech | He said he ___ tired. | was | Present → past in reported speech |
| Modal Verbs | Modals express ability, permission, etc. | You ___ not smoke here. | must/should | Prohibition needs "must not" or "should not" |
5. Common Preposition Collocations for Gap Filling
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example | Common Mistake | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| good | at | good at mathematics | good in ✗ | People are "good at" skills/subjects |
| interested | in | interested in science | interested for ✗ | "Interest in" something |
| fond | of | fond of music | fond with ✗ | "Fond of" like "full of" |
| depend | on | depend on parents | depend of ✗ | "Depend ON" your own two feet |
| arrive | at (place), in (city) | arrive at station, arrive in Delhi | arrive to ✗ | At = specific place, In = city/country |
| different | from | different from others | different than ✗ | "Different FROM" the norm |
| accused | of | accused of theft | accused for ✗ | "Accused OF" a crime |
| congratulate | on | congratulate on success | congratulate for ✗ | "Congratulate ON" achievement |
| wait | for | wait for bus | wait to ✗ | "Wait FOR" someone/something |
| listen | to | listen to music | listen ✗ (no preposition) | "Listen TO" what I say |
| consist | of | consist of members | consist in ✗ | "Consist OF" = made up of |
| agree | with (person), to (plan) | agree with you, agree to proposal | agree on ✗ (sometimes OK) | With = person, To = thing/plan |
🎯 Omission & Gap Filling Challenge
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
1. He is accused ___ stealing the money from the office.
Rule: "Accused" takes preposition "of"
Common Error: People often use "for" but it's wrong.
Related: charged with, suspected of, convicted of
2. Neither of the two applicants ___ suitable for the job.
Rule: "Neither" is singular, needs singular verb "is"
Trick: Neither/either/each/everyone = singular
Wrong: "are" would be incorrect despite "two applicants"
3. If I ___ you, I would accept the offer.
Rule: Second conditional (unreal present) uses "were" for all subjects
Pattern: If + past tense, would + V1
Note: "If I was" is sometimes used informally but "were" is grammatically correct
4. The teacher, along with her students, ___ going on a field trip.
Rule: Subject is "teacher" (singular), "along with" doesn't make it plural
Similar Cases: as well as, together with, in addition to
Trick: Ignore words between commas when finding subject
5. She is not only intelligent ___ also hardworking.
Rule: Fixed pair "not only...but also"
Pattern: Not only + adjective/noun + but also + adjective/noun
Common Error: Missing "but" - "not only...also" is incorrect
7. Memory Aids & Quick Tips
The Omission Checklist (PACT):
P - Prepositions (check fixed combinations)
A - Articles (a/an/the before nouns)
C - Conjunctions (connecting words between clauses)
T - Tenses (verb forms, auxiliaries, agreement)
+ Pronouns (he, she, it, they reference)
90% of omitted words fall into PACT categories
Common Preposition Pairs (Must Memorize):
• Good at, interested in, fond of
• Depend on, accused of, consist of
• Arrive at (place), arrive in (city)
• Different from, similar to
• Wait for, listen to, look at
• Congratulate on, insist on, rely on
• Agree with (person), agree to (plan)
These are tested repeatedly in exams
Exam Strategy for Omission/Gap Filling:
1. Read the entire passage first for context
2. Identify missing word type before guessing
3. Check grammar rules (tense, agreement, prepositions)
4. Read before and after the blank for clues
5. Eliminate impossible options in MCQ gap filling
6. Ensure sentence flows naturally with your word
7. Review all answers at the end
Allocate 10-12 minutes for omission/gap filling passages
📝 Practice Omission & Gap Filling
Master omission and gap filling with our comprehensive worksheet covering CBSE/UP Board patterns!
Go to Omission & Gap Filling WorksheetIncludes answer key • Omission passages • Gap filling exercises • Preposition practice • Article usage • Contextual vocabulary
