Fill in the Blanks
This section tests your mastery of English grammar and vocabulary through single sentence context. Unlike the Cloze Test (which gives you a whole paragraph of context), here you must rely entirely on the immediate sentence structure to find the correct answer.
🎯 Objective: To accurately apply rules governing prepositions, articles, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and vocabulary to complete a standalone sentence logically and grammatically.
Key Areas Tested
1. Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between nouns/pronouns and other words. The NDA exam heavily tests Fixed Prepositions (words that always take a specific preposition).
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Accused | of | He was accused of theft. |
| Addicted | to | She is addicted to caffeine. |
| Dealt | with (a person/issue) in (trade) | I dealt with the angry customer. His father deals in diamonds. |
| Afraid | of | The child is afraid of the dark. |
| Familiar | with | Are you familiar with this software? |
2. Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with its subject in number (singular vs plural). Pay attention to trick phrases.
- Words joined by 'and': Usually take a plural verb. (e.g., Tom and Jerry are friends.)
- Distributive Pronouns: Each, every, either, neither, everyone, nobody ALWAYS take a singular verb. (e.g., Each of the boys was given a prize.)
- 'As well as' / 'Along with': When two subjects are joined by these phrases, the verb follows the first subject. (e.g., The captain, along with his soldiers, was captured. - 'was' matches 'captain').
- Neither...nor / Either...or: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it. (e.g., Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.)
3. Tenses & Conditionals
Looking at time markers (yesterday, since, for, tomorrow) helps determine the tense. Conditionals are also heavily tested:
- Zero Conditional (General Truth): If + Present Simple, Present Simple. (e.g., If you heat ice, it melts.)
- First Conditional (Real Future): If + Present Simple, Will + Verb. (e.g., If it rains today, I will stay home.)
- Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future): If + Past Simple, Would + Verb. (e.g., If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.)
- Third Conditional (Unreal Past): If + Past Perfect, Would have + V3. (e.g., If she had studied, she would have passed.)
4. Articles (A, An, The)
- Use A/An for singular, countable, non-specific nouns. Use 'A' before consonant sounds (a university, a one-eyed man). Use 'An' before vowel sounds (an hour, an apple).
- Use The for specific/particular nouns, superlative degrees (the tallest), rivers/oceans (the Ganges), unique objects (the Sun, the Earth).
- Omission of Article: Before abstract nouns used in a general sense (Honesty is the best policy), before languages (I speak English), before games (He plays cricket).
Approaching the Question
Example 1 (Preposition)
The criminal was deprived all his fundamental rights while in prison.
(a) off (b) from (c) of (d) with
Analysis: Look at the verb preceding the blank. The word 'deprived' is a fixed preposition word. It always takes the preposition 'of'. Therefore, "deprived of" is the correct pair.
Answer: (c) of
Example 2 (Subject-Verb Agreement)
Either the manager or his assistants responsible for this massive failure.
(a) is (b) are (c) was (d) has been
Analysis: In an "Either... or" sentence, the verb must agree with the subject closest to the blank. The closest subject is "his assistants," which is plural. Therefore, the present tense plural verb "are" is required.
Answer: (b) are
Example 3 (Vocabulary Context)
Despite facing numerous severe setbacks, the team leader remained surprisingly throughout the critical mission.
(a) despondent (b) optimistic (c) frantic (d) terrified
Analysis: The crucial word here is "Despite", which indicates a contrast. Facing severe setbacks normally makes someone sad or frantic. Because of "Despite... surprisingly", the blank must be the opposite of the expected negative reaction. "Optimistic" (hopeful/positive) is the only positive choice.
Answer: (b) optimistic
Practice Questions: Fill in the Blanks
Directions: Each of the following sentences has a blank space. Select the most appropriate word or phrase from the given options to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct.
Practice Set (20 Questions)
Q1. The diligent student was completely absorbed her studies before the final exams.
Answer: (d) in
The adjective 'absorbed' takes the fixed preposition 'in' when referring to being engrossed in an activity or thought. (e.g., absorbed in a book, absorbed in thought).
Q2. Neither the principal nor the teachers present at the annual sports day.
Answer: (b) were
In 'Neither...nor' constructions, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, the closest subject is 'teachers' (plural), so the plural verb 'were' is required (past tense fits the context of 'at the... day').
Q3. If I the Prime Minister, I would eradicate poverty within a decade.
Answer: (c) were
This is a Second Conditional sentence expressing an unreal or imaginary present situation. In such hypothetical situations, the verb 'to be' always takes the form 'were' for all subjects (I, he, she, it).
Q4. By the time we reached the cinema hall, the movie already.
Answer: (c) had started
When two actions happen in the past, the one that happened *first* takes the Past Perfect tense ('had started'), and the subsequent action takes the Simple Past tense ('reached').
Q5. The majestic eagle swooped down and caught its prey with remarkable .
Answer: (b) precision
The context is an eagle successfully catching prey. This requires a positive, skillful attribute. 'Lethargy' (laziness), 'hesitation', and 'reluctance' are negative. 'Precision' (accuracy/exactness) perfectly fits an eagle's hunting strike.
Q6. He proudly considers himself European by birth.
Answer: (a) a
Although 'European' starts with the vowel 'E', it is pronounced with a consonant sound ('Yoo-ro-pean'). Therefore, the article 'a' is used before it, not 'an'.
Q7. The suspect was completely exonerated all charges after the DNA evidence emerged.
Answer: (b) from
The verb 'exonerate' (to officially absolve from blame) takes the fixed preposition 'from'. "Exonerated from all charges."
Q8. Despite a rigorous investigation, the police could not find any evidence against him.
Answer: (c) substantial
The police couldn't find evidence to prove him guilty. They need strong, solid evidence. 'Substantial' means of considerable importance, size, or worth (solid evidence). The others mean untouchable, temporary, or imaginary.
Q9. Hardly the station when the train departed.
Answer: (c) had he reached
When a sentence begins with a negative adverbial like 'Hardly', 'Scarcely', or 'No sooner', it follows an inverted word order (Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb). Hence, "Hardly had he reached".
Q10. I am eagerly looking forward you next week at the conference.
Answer: (c) to meeting
The phrasal verb 'look forward to' is followed by a gerund (verb+ing) or a noun. Here, 'to' is a preposition, not part of an infinitive verb. Therefore, "looking forward to meeting" is correct.
Q11. The manager, along with his entire team of developers, working late into the night.
Answer: (a) is
When two subjects are joined by phrases like 'along with', 'together with', 'as well as', or 'in addition to', the primary verb must agree with the *first* subject. Here, the first subject is 'manager' (singular), so the singular verb 'is' is used.
Q12. Due to the impending thunderstorm, the eagerly awaited cricket match was .
Answer: (b) called off
This tests phrasal verbs. 'Call off' means to cancel an event or agreement. The match was canceled due to bad weather. ('Call up' = telephone, 'Call out' = shout/summon).
Q13. She has been practicing classical dance she was five years old.
Answer: (b) since
Use 'since' with a specific point in past time (e.g., 1999, Monday, she was five) to indicate when an action started that continues to the present. Use 'for' with a duration of time (e.g., for ten years).
Q14. The CEO issued a stern warning lest the employees repeat the critical error.
Answer: (a) should
The conjunction 'lest' (meaning 'to prevent something from happening' or 'in case') is always followed directly by the modal auxiliary verb 'should'. E.g., "Work hard lest you should fail."
Q15. Children exposed to excessive violence on television often become to the suffering of others.
Answer: (b) desensitized
Excessive exposure to violence usually reduces emotional response. 'Desensitized' means made less sensitive or reactive. The other options imply becoming *more* feeling (compassionate, empathetic) or weak (vulnerable), which contradicts the usual psychological effect.
Q16. The committee comprises ten highly esteemed scientists from various nations.
Answer: (d) no preposition
The verb 'comprise' (meaning to consist of or be made up of) is a transitive verb that does not take a preposition in the active voice. It is incorrect to say "comprises of". (Note: "is comprised of" is acceptable in passive voice, but "consists of" is better).
Q17. knowledge is a dangerous thing, especially in medical matters.
Answer: (a) A little
"A little" means a small amount (positive meaning). "Little" means almost nothing (negative meaning). The famous proverb is "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," implying that knowing only a small amount about a subject can make you overconfident and dangerous.
Q18. He was thoroughly entirely disgusted the atrocious behavior of his colleagues.
Answer: (d) at
The adjective 'disgusted' takes 'with' a person ("disgusted with him"), but takes 'at' or 'by' an action or behavior ("disgusted at/by his behavior").
Q19. Unless you hard, you will certainly not pass the entrance examination.
Answer: (c) work
The word 'Unless' inherently means 'if not' and carries a negative sense. Therefore, you cannot use another negative ('do not') in the same clause. Correct usage: "Unless you work hard...".
Q20. The intricate ancient manuscript is virtually impossible to without a magnifying glass.
Answer: (a) decipher
The context is reading an intricate (complex/detailed) and ancient manuscript. You need a word meaning 'to succeed in understanding or reading'. 'Decipher' means exactly that. ('Obliterate' = destroy, 'Obscure' = hide).
Previous Year Questions: Fill in the Blanks
Directions: Each of the following sentences has a blank space. Select the most appropriate word or phrase from the given options to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct based on past NDA examinations.
NDA Previous Year Questions (20 Questions)
NDA 2023 (II)
Q1. He has been working with this renowned organization the last ten years steadily.
Answer: (a) for
'For' is used before a period/duration of time (ten years). 'Since' is used before a specific point in time (1998, Monday).
NDA 2023 (II)
Q2. Scarcely had I reached the crowded railway station the train unfortunately left without me.
Answer: (c) when
The correlative conjunction pairs are 'Hardly/Scarcely... when' and 'No sooner... than'. Therefore, 'scarcely' pairs with 'when'.
NDA 2023 (I)
Q3. The experienced judge ordered that the condemned criminal be hanged death immediately.
Answer: (b) to
The correct legal idiom and phrasing is "hanged to death." You hang someone *to* death. (Note: The past tense of hang for execution is 'hanged', not 'hung').
NDA 2023 (I)
Q4. He is blind his own deep flaws but readily criticizes everyone else's mistakes.
Answer: (c) to
'Blind in' refers to physical blindness (e.g., blind in one eye). 'Blind to' refers to being unaware or ignoring a fault (e.g., blind to his faults). Here it's a fault.
NDA 2022 (II)
Q5. A tremendous swarm of aggressive bees the frightened children in the quiet park yesterday.
Answer: (b) attacked
The word 'yesterday' clearly indicates a completed action in the simple past. Therefore, the simple past tense 'attacked' is required.
NDA 2022 (II)
Q6. I am completely confident winning this crucial debate competition on Sunday.
Answer: (b) of
The adjective 'confident' takes the fixed preposition 'of' followed by a noun or gerund. (e.g., confident of success, confident of winning).
NDA 2022 (I)
Q7. Not only the principal but also all the teachers actively participating in the lively cultural event.
Answer: (b) are
In "Not only... but also", the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. The closest subject is 'teachers' (plural). Therefore, 'are' is the correct plural verb for the continuous tense.
NDA 2022 (I)
Q8. Despite his immense arrogance, he finally had to yield the relentless pressure from his boss.
Answer: (b) to
The verb 'yield' (meaning to surrender or give way) takes the fixed preposition 'to'. You always yield *to* someone or something.
NDA 2021 (II)
Q9. Do not intentionally interfere my intensely personal internal matters.
Answer: (a) in
You interfere 'in' a matter/affair. You interfere 'with' a person or object (e.g., don't interfere with the equipment). Here it's matters, so 'in'.
NDA 2021 (II)
Q10. Either the diligent manager or the lazy employees solely responsible for this massive failure.
Answer: (b) are
In an 'Either... or' sentence, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, the closest subject is 'employees' (plural). So, 'are' is the correct verb.
NDA 2021 (I)
Q11. My ambitious brother deals intensely imported electronics from Japan.
Answer: (b) in
You deal 'with' a person or a situation. You deal 'in' goods or trade. Since 'electronics' is a product of trade, it takes 'in'.
NDA 2021 (I)
Q12. The exhausted ship sank silently to the very bottom the vast unfathomable ocean.
Answer: (c) of
This is a simple preposition of possession/belonging. The bottom *of* the ocean. 'Into' is incorrect because it implies movement *inside* the bottom.
NDA 2020 (I & II)
Q13. He boasts excessively his unparalleled linguistic accomplishments in front of everyone.
Answer: (c) of
The verb 'boast' (meaning to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction) takes the fixed prepositions 'of' or 'about'. Here 'of' is the only correct option given.
NDA 2020 (I & II)
Q14. Let us not delve deeply the extremely painful past events.
Answer: (c) into
The phrasal verb is 'delve into', which means to research or investigate something deeply. You cannot 'delve in' or 'delve over'.
NDA 2019 (II)
Q15. The passionate students were strictly opposed the newly proposed bizarre university policies.
Answer: (b) to
The adjective 'opposed' always takes the preposition 'to'. You are opposed *to* an idea or rule, not opposed against it.
NDA 2019 (II)
Q16. Upon entering the room, he immediately inquired the current deteriorating health of my frail mother.
Answer: (c) after
This is a specific phrasal verb. 'Inquire after' specifically means to ask about someone's health, well-being, or how they are doing.
NDA 2019 (I)
Q17. She has a deep innate psychological abhorrence all kinds of mindless violent movies.
Answer: (b) of
The noun 'abhorrence' (meaning a feeling of repulsion or disgusted loathing) takes the fixed preposition 'of'. Abhorrence *of* violence.
NDA 2019 (I)
Q18. The sudden extremely loud noise completely startled me out my peaceful deep slumber.
Answer: (b) of
The correct phrasing is "startled out of". It means you were shocked and brought *out of* a state (like sleep or deep thought).
NDA 2018 (II)
Q19. Despite all odds, he was fully resolved overcoming the seemingly impossible tremendous difficulty.
Answer: (d) on
The adjective 'resolved' (firmly determined to do something) takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon'. "Resolved on doing something." Option (c) 'upon' is technically acceptable but 'on' is far more common in modern English tests regarding this specific idiom. (Note: NDA typically accepts 'on').
NDA 2018 (II)
Q20. If I heavily enough yesterday before the exam, I would have easily overwhelmingly passed the test.
Answer: (a) had studied
This is a Third Conditional sentence dealing with an unreal past condition. It follows the structure: "If + Past Perfect (had + V3), ... would have + V3". Hence, "If I had studied".
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