Fill in the Blanks
This is the biggest section of the ASO English paper (64 of 100 questions in 2025). Blanks test either vocabulary in context or grammar. Each set here mixes both, as in the exam.
Method
- Read the whole sentence and find the clue words: despite, but, although (contrast); so, therefore, because (cause/result); and (similar idea).
- Decide what the blank needs: noun, verb form, adjective, adverb, article, preposition or conjunction.
- For vocabulary, match the tone: "calmed the patient" needs a positive word (reassuring); "despite warnings" needs the opposite idea (careless).
- For grammar, apply the rule from the topic notes (agreement, tense, conditionals, inversion, fixed prepositions, gerund/infinitive).
- Put your answer back into the sentence and read it once more.
Grammar checks that decide most blanks
- Neither…nor / either…or → nearer subject; each/every/one of → singular.
- since/for → perfect; by the time + past → had + V3; if + present → will.
- No sooner…than; Hardly/Scarcely…when; negative word first → inversion (Little did I…).
- insist on / look forward to + -ing; had better / make + V1; too … to; lest … should.
- fewer (countable) / less (uncountable); better of two; linking verb + adjective.