Grammar Cloze

Key Concepts

Grammar Cloze tests whether you can use grammar accurately in a continuous passage. You must choose words that are grammatically correct and suitable for the meaning of the whole text.

1. Read the full passage for meaning before filling blanks

Do not fill in the first blank immediately. First, read the entire passage to understand:

• who or what the passage is about
• when the action happens
• whether the tone is formal or informal
• how ideas connect from one sentence to the next

This matters because the correct answer often depends on:

• the tense used in the whole passage
• whether the writer is referring to something for the first time or again
• whether a sentence shows contrast, cause and effect, or addition

A word can be grammatically possible but still wrong if it does not fit the context.

2. Identify the word class required at each blank

Before choosing an answer, decide what kind of word the sentence needs.

Common word classes tested in Grammar Cloze:

Noun

A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.

• Example: “The children listened to the teacher’s instructions carefully.”

Clues that a noun is needed:

• after an article: a, an, the
• after an adjective: “a helpful ___”
• after a preposition: “with great ___”

Verb

A verb shows action or a state.

• Example: “She runs every morning.”

Clues that a verb is needed:

• after the subject
• after auxiliary verbs such as is, was, have, did, will
• when the sentence needs an action

Adjective

An adjective describes a noun.

• Example: “It was a difficult question.”

Clues that an adjective is needed:

• before a noun: “a ___ task”
• after linking verbs: is, was, seems, became

Adverb

An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

• Example: “He answered confidently.”

Clues that an adverb is needed:

• to describe how an action is done
• after a verb: “spoke ___”
• before an adjective: “extremely ___”

Preposition

A preposition shows relationship, often of time, place, direction, or connection.

• Example: “She is good at drawing.”

In Grammar Cloze, many prepositions are tested through collocation. You must know which preposition naturally goes with which word.

Conjunction

A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses.

• Example: “He was tired, but he continued working.”

In Grammar Cloze, conjunctions are often tested through meaning:

• contrast
• cause and effect
• addition

3. Verb forms

Verbs must match the subject and fit the tense of the sentence or passage.

Base form

The simplest form of the verb.

• Example: walk, play, write

Used:

• after modal verbs: can swim, will go, must finish
• in commands: “Please sit down.”

-ing form

Used in continuous tenses and sometimes after certain verbs or prepositions.

• Example: running, playing, writing

Examples:

• “She is reading.”
• “They were waiting outside.”
• “He is interested in learning new skills.”

-ed form

Used for regular past tense verbs and past participles.

• Example: walked, played

Examples:

• “She walked home yesterday.”
• “They have finished their work.”

3rd person singular form

In the simple present tense, a singular subject such as he, she, it, or a singular noun takes a verb ending in -s or -es.

• “He plays football.”
• “The baby cries loudly.”
• “She watches television every evening.”

Do not forget this in habitual actions and facts.

Infinitive

Usually to + base verb.

• “He wants to leave.”
• “She hopes to win.”

Some structures require the infinitive:

• want to
• hope to
• decide to
• plan to
• need to

4. Common irregular verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the usual -ed pattern.

You must know these forms accurately:

• buy – bought – bought
  • “Mother bought fresh vegetables yesterday.”
• bring – brought – brought
  • “He brought his notebook to class.”
• catch – caught – caught
  • “The goalkeeper caught the ball.”
• fight – fought – fought
  • “The brothers fought over the toy.”
• teach – taught – taught
  • “Our coach taught us the new skill.”
• rise – rose – risen
  • “The sun rose early.”
  • “The water has risen after the rain.”

Be careful with rise:

• rose is simple past
• risen is past participle and is used with has, have, or had

5. Prepositions of collocation

Some words must be followed by specific prepositions. These combinations are fixed and must be memorised.

Interested in

• “She is interested in science.”
• Not: ✗ interested on

Good at

• “He is good at solving puzzles.”
• Not: ✗ good in

Responsible for

• “The class monitor is responsible for keeping order.”
• Not: ✗ responsible of

Depend on

• “Success depends on hard work.”
• Not: ✗ depend of

Result in

• “Too much rain may result in flooding.”
• Not: ✗ result to

Always read the words before and after the blank. Often the tested preposition is part of a fixed phrase.

6. Conjunctions in context

Conjunctions must fit the relationship between ideas.

Contrast: despite / although

Use these when two ideas are opposite.

Although

• followed by a clause
• “Although he was tired, he finished his homework.”

Despite

• followed by a noun, noun phrase, or -ing form
• “Despite his tiredness, he finished his homework.”
• “Despite feeling tired, he finished his homework.”

Do not mix the structures:

• ✗ Despite he was tired
• ✓ Although he was tired
• ✓ Despite being tired

Effect: therefore / as a result

Use these when one idea causes another.

• “The roads were flooded. Therefore, school was closed.”
• “She had practised hard. As a result, she performed confidently.”

These connectors show a consequence.

Addition: in addition / furthermore

Use these to add another point.

• “The camp was educational. In addition, it was enjoyable.”
• “He is polite. Furthermore, he is hardworking.”

These are formal linking words and are often used between sentences.

7. Articles in extended text: a/an vs the

Articles are often tested across several sentences, so you must track whether the noun is mentioned for the first time or again.

A / an

Use a or an when mentioning a singular countable noun for the first time, or when it is not specific.

• “I saw a bird in the garden.”
• “She ate an apple.”

Use an before a vowel sound:

• an apple
• an hour

Use a before a consonant sound:

• a book
• a uniform

The

Use the when:

• the noun has already been mentioned
• the noun is specific
• there is only one of it in that context

Example across sentences:

• “Mr Tan adopted a puppy last week. The puppy was shy at first.”
• “We went to the library near our school.”

In Grammar Cloze, check whether the noun is:

1. new information → a/an
2. already known or specific → the

8. Always check grammar and meaning together

After filling each blank, read the completed sentence again and ask:

1. Is it grammatically correct?
2. Does it make sense in the passage?
3. Does it fit the tense and idea of surrounding sentences?

Then read the whole passage once more. Grammar Cloze is not only about one sentence at a time. The best answer must fit the entire text.

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Important Definitions

• Grammar Cloze: a passage with blanks that tests your ability to supply the correct grammatical words.
• Context: the meaning created by the words, sentences, and situation around a blank.
• Word class: the type of word, such as noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, or conjunction.
• Noun: a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
• Verb: a word that shows an action or state.
• Adjective: a word that describes a noun.
• Adverb: a word that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
• Preposition: a word that shows relationship, such as time, place, direction, or connection.
• Conjunction: a word that joins words, phrases, or clauses.
• Subject-verb agreement: the rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
• Tense: the form of a verb that shows time, such as present, past, or future.
• Base form: the simplest form of a verb, such as go or write.
• -ing form: the verb form ending in -ing, such as going or writing.
• Past tense: the verb form used to show that an action happened in the past.
• Past participle: the verb form used with has, have, or had, such as bought, caught, or risen.
• Infinitive: the form to + base verb, such as to eat or to learn.
• Irregular verb: a verb that does not form the past tense by adding -ed.
• Collocation: a pair or group of words that naturally go together, such as interested in or good at.
• Article: a determiner such as a, an, or the.
• Clause: a group of words containing a subject and a verb.
• Contrast: a relationship between two opposite or different ideas.
• Cause and effect: a relationship in which one event makes another happen.
• Addition: a relationship in which one idea is added to another.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Reading for meaning, tense, and subject-verb agreement

Passage

Last Saturday, Amir and his cousin (1) to the wet market early in the morning. Amir (2) some fresh fish while his cousin (3) vegetables for dinner.

Step-by-step answers

Blank (1): went

• Read the whole passage first.
• The time marker is Last Saturday, so the passage is in the past tense.
• The subject is Amir and his cousin, which is plural.
• The verb needed is the past tense of go.
• Correct answer: went

Sentence: “Last Saturday, Amir and his cousin went to the wet market early in the morning.”

Blank (2): bought

• We need a verb.
• The action happened in the past.
• The verb is the irregular verb buy → bought.
• Correct answer: bought

Sentence: “Amir bought some fresh fish…”

Blank (3): brought

• We need another verb in the past tense.
• The meaning is that the cousin took vegetables for dinner.
• The irregular verb is bring → brought.
• Correct answer: brought

Completed passage:

Last Saturday, Amir and his cousin went to the wet market early in the morning. Amir bought some fresh fish while his cousin brought vegetables for dinner.

Example 2: Identifying word class and article use across sentences

Passage

Mei Lin found (1) injured bird near the playground. She carefully placed (2) bird in a box and brought it to the vet.

Step-by-step answers

Blank (1): an

• The blank comes before injured bird.
• We need an article.
• This is the first mention of the bird, so use a/an, not the.
• Injured begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
• Correct answer: an

Blank (2): the

• The bird has already been mentioned in the previous sentence.
• Now it is a specific bird.
• Correct answer: the

Completed passage:

Mei Lin found an injured bird near the playground. She carefully placed the bird in a box and brought it to the vet.

Example 3: Prepositions of collocation

Passage

Ryan is interested (1) robotics and is good (2) building simple machines. His success depends (3) his willingness to learn from mistakes.

Step-by-step answers

Blank (1): in

• The phrase is interested in.
• Correct answer: in

Blank (2): at

• The phrase is good at.
• Correct answer: at

Blank (3): on

• The phrase is depend on.
• Since the subject is success, the verb is depends, but the tested word is the preposition after it.
• The correct collocation is depends on.
• Correct answer: on

Completed passage:

Ryan is interested in robotics and is good at building simple machines. His success depends on his willingness to learn from mistakes.

Example 4: Conjunctions in context

Passage

(1) the heavy rain, the pupils continued with the outdoor activity. The ground was slippery. (2), the teachers instructed everyone to walk carefully. The camp was tiring. (3), it was an unforgettable experience.

Step-by-step answers

Blank (1): Despite

• We need a word showing contrast.
• After the blank, we have the heavy rain, which is a noun phrase, not a full clause.
• Despite is followed by a noun phrase.
• Correct answer: Despite

Blank (2): Therefore

• The ground was slippery, so the teachers gave instructions.
• This is cause and effect.
• Correct answer: Therefore

Blank (3): Furthermore

• “The camp was tiring” and “it was an unforgettable experience” can both be true, but here the writer is adding another point in a formal way.
• Furthermore is suitable as an addition connector.
• Correct answer: Furthermore

Completed passage:

Despite the heavy rain, the pupils continued with the outdoor activity. The ground was slippery. Therefore, the teachers instructed everyone to walk carefully. The camp was tiring. Furthermore, it was an unforgettable experience.

Example 5: Verb forms including -ing, infinitive, and irregular past participle

Passage

After the river had (1) overnight, the villagers began (2) their belongings to safer ground. Some hoped (3) help from nearby towns before the water level rose again.

Step-by-step answers

Blank (1): risen

• The words had and the blank show that we need a past participle.
• The verb is rise – rose – risen.
• Correct answer: risen

Blank (2): bringing

• The structure is began + -ing form or began + infinitive. In Grammar Cloze, the sentence given guides the most natural form.
• Here, began bringing is correct and natural.
• Correct answer: bringing

Blank (3): to receive

• The structure is hoped to + base verb.
• Correct answer: to receive

Completed passage:

After the river had risen overnight, the villagers began bringing their belongings to safer ground. Some hoped to receive help from nearby towns before the water level rose again.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

9. Filling a blank before understanding the passage

• ✗ He is late yesterday because he missed the bus.
• ✓ He was late yesterday because he missed the bus.

Why it is wrong:
The word yesterday shows that the sentence is in the past tense.

10. Choosing a word that fits grammar but not meaning

• ✗ She caught a new dress at the shopping centre.
• ✓ She bought a new dress at the shopping centre.

Why it is wrong:
Both are verbs in the past tense, but only bought makes sense in context.

11. Forgetting 3rd person singular in the present tense

• ✗ My brother play football every weekend.
• ✓ My brother plays football every weekend.

Why it is wrong:
My brother is singular, so the simple present verb must be plays.

12. Using the wrong irregular verb form

• ✗ The sun had rose before we left home.
• ✓ The sun had risen before we left home.

Why it is wrong:
After had, use the past participle, not the simple past.

13. Confusing despite and although

• ✗ Despite he was tired, he continued studying.
• ✓ Although he was tired, he continued studying.
• ✓ Despite being tired, he continued studying.

Why it is wrong:
Although is followed by a clause. Despite is followed by a noun phrase or -ing form.

14. Using the wrong preposition in a collocation

• ✗ She is interested on art.
• ✓ She is interested in art.

Why it is wrong:
The fixed collocation is interested in.

• ✗ He is good in Maths.
• ✓ He is good at Maths.

Why it is wrong:
The fixed collocation is good at.

15. Misusing articles across sentences

• ✗ I saw a dog near the gate. A dog was barking loudly.
• ✓ I saw a dog near the gate. The dog was barking loudly.

Why it is wrong:
The second sentence refers to the same dog already mentioned.

16. Using an adjective where an adverb is needed

• ✗ She spoke soft to the baby.
• ✓ She spoke softly to the baby.

Why it is wrong:
The word describes the verb spoke, so an adverb is needed.

17. Ignoring surrounding clues

• ✗ He wants studying harder this year.
• ✓ He wants to study harder this year.

Why it is wrong:
The verb wants is followed by an infinitive: to study.

Exam Tips

18. Grammar Cloze is worth 10 marks

• There are 20 blanks (Questions 26–45).
• Each blank carries 0.5 marks (two correct answers = 1 mark).
• Write one word for each blank.

19. Spend your time wisely

Use this method:

1. Read the full passage once.
2. Fill in the easy blanks first.
3. Return to difficult blanks using clues from tense, meaning, and sentence structure.
4. Read the whole completed passage again.

A good target is 10 to 15 minutes for this section.

20. Decide the word class before writing

Ask:

• Is a verb needed?
• Is an article needed?
• Is the blank part of a fixed phrase?
• Is the sentence showing contrast, effect, or addition?

This prevents random guessing.

21. Look for signal words

Certain words give strong clues:

• yesterday, last week, ago → past tense
• every day, usually, often → simple present
• is, are, was, were → may need -ing
• has, have, had → may need a past participle
• to before a verb → often an infinitive
• repeated noun in later sentence → often the

22. Check collocations carefully

PSLE often tests common combinations such as:

• interested in
• good at
• responsible for
• depend on
• result in

Memorise them exactly.

23. Use sentence structure to choose conjunctions

• Although + clause
• Despite + noun phrase / -ing
• Therefore / As a result for consequences
• In addition / Furthermore to add points

24. Do a final accuracy check

For every answer, ask:

• Does the tense match?
• Does the subject match the verb?
• Does the word fit the meaning?
• Does the whole passage read smoothly?

25. Do not change the form carelessly

If the passage is in the past tense, keep it in the past tense unless there is a clear reason to change. Do not switch between present and past without a clue from the passage.

Quick Summary

• Read the entire passage first before filling in any blank.
• Use context to understand who, what, when, and why.
• Identify the word class needed: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, or conjunction.
• Check verb tense carefully using time clues such as yesterday or every day.
• Remember subject-verb agreement: singular subjects take singular verbs in the present tense.
• Know verb forms: base, -ing, -ed, 3rd person singular, and infinitive.
• Memorise key irregular verbs: buy/bought, bring/brought, catch/caught, fight/fought, teach/taught, rise/rose/risen.
• Learn fixed preposition collocations: interested in, good at, responsible for, depend on, result in.
• Use conjunctions by meaning and structure: although + clause, despite + noun phrase or -ing form.
• Use therefore and as a result for effects; in addition and furthermore for added points.
• Track articles across sentences: first mention often takes a/an; later mention usually takes the.
• Always check that your answer is grammatically correct and makes sense in the whole passage.