Fill in the Blanks
🔒 Log in to trackDouble blanks: two gaps, one sentence
🔒 Log in to trackSome questions have two blanks in one sentence. Each option gives a pair of words, one for each blank. Fill the easier blank first. The wrong pairs then drop out, and you test the last one or two pairs in both blanks.
Two blanks, one choice
The options are complete pairs, such as both ... and or null and void. You must test the whole pair in the sentence.
Example: The room was ___ small ___ hold all the guests. After the second blank comes a plain verb (hold). Only too ... to fits: too small to hold.
A pair can fit the first blank and fail the second. That is exactly where the trap sits.
Fill the easier blank first
One blank is usually much easier. It may be half of a fixed pair, or a word only one option can fit.
- Decide the easy blank.
- Remove every pair that does not match it.
- Test what is left in both blanks.
- Read the whole sentence aloud. If the second half sounds wrong, your first choice was the trap.
Pairs fixed by the verb
With joining pairs, the verb in the sentence often decides alone.
| Pair | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Both ... and | plural | Both the pilot and the co-pilot were honoured. |
| Either ... or / Neither ... nor | agrees with the nearer subject | Neither the boys nor the coach was told. |
| Not only ... but also | the second part adds new information | not only fast but also safe |
Tip: Read the verb that is not blanked. "Were honoured" points to both ... and. "Was told" points to either or neither.
Structure pairs
- too + adjective + to + V1: too tired to walk.
- so + adjective + that + clause: so tired that she could not walk.
- such + noun + that + clause: such a noise that nobody slept.
- Hardly / Scarcely ... when; No sooner ... than. These never cross.
- from ... to marks a range: from Monday to Friday. between ... and links exactly two items.
Watch: From never pairs with and. Between never pairs with to.
Pairs fixed by meaning
Some pairs are chosen by sense, not grammar. The words after the second blank usually confirm the meaning. So read to the full stop before you choose.
___ his age ___ his poor health could stop him; he finished the marathon. The ending shows nothing stopped him, so Neither ... nor fits.
Two-word fixed expressions
These are single ideas written as two words joined by and. Learn them as pairs, never one half.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| null and void | no longer valid |
| part and parcel | an essential part |
| safe and sound | unhurt |
| first and foremost | most importantly |
| odds and ends | small leftover items |
| done and dusted | completely finished |
| one and all | everyone |
| ways and means | methods |
| pros and cons | points for and against |
All the options may be real expressions. Only one matches the sentence's meaning.
Among pairs that survive, pick the exact one, not the one that just sounds grand.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Both / either / neither pairs
Two blanks surround two nouns, and one verb is visible. The options are both ... and, either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also.
Check the visible verb: plural → both ... and; singular → either / neither.
Check the meaning: none of them → neither ... nor; one of them → either ... or.
Read the ending if two pairs still fit.
The pair decides the verb's number, so the visible verb often gives the answer.
___ the pilot ___ the co-pilot were honoured for the emergency landing.
Show solutionHide solution
The verb 'were honoured' is plural.
A plural verb goes with 'both ... and'.
Neither / either would need 'was' here.
Both, and
Two-word fixed expressions
The options are whole expressions (null and void, part and parcel, safe and sound). The sentence is about validity, importance or safety.
Name the sentence's message: cancelled, essential, unhurt or finished.
Match it: null and void; part and parcel; safe and sound; done and dusted.
Reject real expressions that mean something else.
Every option is a real expression, so only meaning separates them.
The old agreement was declared ___ after the merger.
Show solutionHide solution
The agreement stopped being valid.
No longer valid = null and void.
Part and parcel would mean the agreement is essential.
null and void
from ... to and between ... and
The sentence gives a time range or links exactly two parties. The options are preposition pairs.
A start and an end → from ... to.
Exactly two parties → between ... and.
Reject mixed pairs such as from ... and or between ... to.
These pairs are fixed by usage; the wrong options mix partners that never go together.
The summer sale runs ___ 1 May ___ 15 May.
Show solutionHide solution
1 May is the start and 15 May is the end.
A range takes 'from ... to'.
'Between ... to' mixes two pairs.
from, to
No sooner ... than / Hardly ... when
The sentence starts with a blank followed by 'had'. The options pair no sooner, hardly or scarcely with than, when or then.
No sooner → than. Hardly / Scarcely → when.
Reject any pair with 'then' or 'that'.
Check the tenses: had + V3 first, simple past second.
The pair is learnt as one unit, and the options only test whether you know it whole.
___ had the plane touched down ___ the passengers began clapping.
Show solutionHide solution
The options mix no sooner and hardly with than and when.
Correct pairs are 'No sooner ... than' and 'Hardly ... when'.
Only 'No sooner, than' appears as a correct pair among the options.
No sooner, than
too ... to and so ... that
Two blanks sit around an adjective. Look at what follows the second blank: a plain verb or a full clause.
Plain verb after the second blank → too ... to.
Full clause (subject + verb) → so ... that.
Noun after the first blank → such ... that.
The words after the second blank show which structure the sentence is built on.
The tea was ___ hot ___ I could not drink it at once.
Show solutionHide solution
After the second blank comes a full clause: 'I could not drink it'.
A clause needs 'so ... that'.
'Too ... to' would need a plain verb: 'too hot to drink'.
so, that
Two content words with a contrast or link
Both blanks need meaning words (adjectives, nouns or verbs). A word like but, though or and joins the two parts.
Find the joining word: but / though means the two blanks go opposite ways; and means the same way.
Fill the blank with a clearer clue first.
Check that the second word of the pair has the right direction.
The joining word tells you whether the pair should agree or contrast, which removes most options.
The speech was ___, but the minister's actions were ___. (a) bold, timid (b) bold, brave (c) timid, cautious (d) short, brief
Show solutionHide solution
'But' shows the two blanks must contrast.
Only 'bold, timid' is a pair of opposites.
The other pairs are similar in meaning.
bold, timid
Shortcuts that save time
Learn the skeletons: too + adjective + to + V1; so + adjective + that + clause; such + noun + that + clause; hardly ... when; no sooner ... than. Once you see the skeleton, both blanks fill at once.
The room was ___ small ___ accommodate all the guests.
Show solutionHide solution
After the second blank comes a plain verb, 'accommodate'.
too + adjective + to + V1 fits: 'too small to accommodate'.
'So ... that' would need a clause: 'so small that it could not accommodate'.
too, to
Plural verb with two subjects → Both ... and. Singular verb → Either ... or / Neither ... nor, agreeing with the nearer noun.
Revise safe and sound, part and parcel, null and void, first and foremost, ways and means together. Options often join a real first half to a wrong second half.
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Solving the hard blank first.
Start with the blank that has a fixed partner or an obvious answer.
Choosing 'so ... that' when a plain verb follows the second blank.
A plain verb after the blank needs 'too ... to'.
Using 'Both ... and' with a singular verb.
Both ... and takes a plural verb; neither / either take the verb of the nearer subject.
Accepting a half-real expression such as 'part and half'.
Check both halves: the expression is 'part and parcel'.
Stopping at the second blank.
Read to the full stop; the ending often confirms the meaning.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
Test the whole pair in both blanks, never one word alone.
Fill the easier blank first, then check the other.
Both ... and → plural verb; either / neither → verb agrees with the nearer subject.
too + adjective + to + V1; so + adjective + that + clause.
from ... to; between ... and; no sooner ... than; hardly ... when.
null and void, part and parcel, safe and sound, first and foremost: fixed pairs.
Practice: 12 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 12 questions
Suggested time 7 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.