Sentence Completion
~12 min read
- What: Sentence Completion gives a sentence with one or two blanks and four options for the blanks. Pick the option that completes the sentence so it reads logically and grammatically.
- Why it matters: NDA tests this skill regularly, sometimes inside Cloze, sometimes as a standalone block. The same skill underlies Cloze and Fill in the Blanks.
- Key habit: The sentence almost always contains a logical cue — a contrast marker, a cause-effect signal, a definition phrase, a parallel structure. Find the cue, decide the blank's relationship to the rest, then pick.
Sentence Completion is the bridge skill between vocabulary and paragraph-logic. Unlike Synonyms, which tests "what does this word mean", Sentence Completion tests "which word makes the sentence's logic complete". Two options may both fit vocabulary-wise; only one will fit the sentence's logical movement.
This page lays out the four-cue method that catches almost every Sentence Completion item, plus worked examples. Pair it with Discourse Markers (the cue vocabulary) and Cloze Test (where this skill is tested at passage scale).
What This Topic Covers
NDA Sentence Completion — Question Format
- Item type: One sentence with one or two blanks. Four options labelled (a)–(d). Each option provides one word (or two, if two blanks).
- Instruction: "Pick the option that best completes the sentence."
- Number: When standalone, typically 5 items. When merged into Cloze, embedded inside the passage.
The Four-Cue Method
- Read the full sentence once. Don't yet look at options. Get a feel for the logic.
- Locate the cue. Almost every Sentence Completion item has at least one cue — a discourse marker (however, therefore), a parallel construction, a definition phrase, or a cause-effect pairing.
- Predict the blank's content type. Before looking at options, say in plain English: "The blank needs a word meaning roughly X" or "The blank needs an antonym of Y" or "The blank needs a verb in past tense".
- Match prediction to option. If two options match, eliminate by register, intensity, or collocation (the same tools as Synonyms).
Four Cue Types That Decide the Answer
Cue 1 — Discourse Markers (Contrast / Continuation)
A contrast marker (however, but, although, despite) tells you the blank must be the opposite of what came before. A continuation marker (moreover, and, also) tells you the blank must be in the same direction.
Example: "He is generally hard-working, but on Friday afternoons he tends to be _____." → contrast needed → "lazy / unfocused / slack".
Cue 2 — Cause and Effect Pairing
A sentence with two clauses linked by a cause-effect relationship needs a blank that completes the chain.
Example: "Because the rains failed, the harvest was _____." → cause = failed rain → effect = poor harvest → blank = "scanty / poor / disappointing".
Cue 3 — Definition or Restatement
The sentence may contain a phrase that defines what the blank needs. "Someone who collects coins is called a _____" → numismatist.
Example: "A person who never expresses emotion is called _____." Predict: stoic / impassive.
Cue 4 — Parallel Structure
Lists or "not only ... but also" constructions require the blank to be the same grammatical form and same conceptual category as its parallel partner.
Example: "She is brave, intelligent and _____." → blank needs an adjective in the positive-trait family → "honest / hardworking / generous".
Worked Examples
Worked Example 1 — Contrast Marker
Stem: "Although the proposal seemed _____ at first, the committee approved it after a brief discussion."
Options: (a) practical (b) controversial (c) acceptable (d) reasonable
Cue: "Although" → contrast. The blank must be the opposite of "approved".
Predict: Something negative → likely to face resistance.
Match: (a), (c), (d) all imply acceptance; only (b) "controversial" sets up resistance.
Answer: (b) controversial.
Worked Example 2 — Cause-Effect
Stem: "Because she had practised for months, her performance was _____."
Options: (a) shaky (b) flawless (c) brief (d) hesitant
Cue: "Because" → cause-effect. Cause: months of practice. Effect: positive performance quality.
Match: (a) and (d) are negative. (c) is unrelated. (b) is the positive consequence of practice.
Answer: (b) flawless.
Worked Example 3 — Definition
Stem: "A speech in which a person speaks to themselves alone is called a _____."
Options: (a) monologue (b) dialogue (c) soliloquy (d) eulogy
Cue: Definition phrase. "Speaks to themselves alone" → root solus + loqui.
Match: (c) soliloquy.
Answer: (c) soliloquy.
Worked Example 4 — Two Blanks (parallel)
Stem: "The team's _____ effort and _____ teamwork led to victory."
Options: (a) tireless / seamless (b) tired / loose (c) constant / divided (d) divided / strong
Cue: Parallel positive blanks (both lead to victory).
Match: Only (a) gives two positive qualities that fit "effort" and "teamwork" respectively.
Answer: (a) tireless / seamless.
Worked Example 5 — Concession + Contrast
Stem: "_____ the player was injured, he _____ to play and helped his team win."
Options: (a) Because / refused (b) Although / continued (c) Since / failed (d) However / agreed
Cue: Concession-contrast pair. Injury + continued play + win = "Although ... continued".
Match: (b).
Answer: (b) Although / continued.
Three Traps NDA Exploits
- The "fits-vocabulary-not-logic" trap. An option fits the immediate word slot but breaks the sentence's logical flow. Always check against the discourse marker / cause-effect cue.
- The "right-tone-wrong-intensity" trap. The blank is positive, both options are positive, but only one matches the strength of the surrounding language. Brilliant vs good.
- The "two-blank-mismatch" trap. In two-blank items, three options have at least one correct word; only one gets both right. Always check both blanks fit, not just one.
Preparation Strategy
3-Week Sentence Completion Plan
- Week 1: Discourse-marker cues + 5 items / day.
- Week 2: Cause-effect, definition, parallel-structure cues. 5 items / day. Build a "personal cues seen" notebook.
- Week 3: Timed mixed practice. 5 items in 3 minutes. Target ≥4/5.
Drill Sentence Completion with Cue-Tagged Explanations
NDA-pattern Sentence Completion items with discourse-marker, cause-effect, definition, and parallel-structure cues flagged in every explanation.
Start Free Mock TestFrequently Asked Questions
How is Sentence Completion different from Fill in the Blanks?
Fill in the Blanks usually tests a single word in a self-contained slot (grammar, vocabulary, preposition). Sentence Completion tests the logic of the sentence — which word makes the whole sentence's meaning fit together.
How is Sentence Completion different from Cloze Test?
Same skill, different scale. Sentence Completion has one or two blanks in one sentence. Cloze has 5–10 blanks in a multi-paragraph passage. Prep them together.
What is the most useful cue to learn?
Discourse markers. Contrast and continuation markers in particular catch about half of all Sentence Completion items.
Which NDA English topics connect to Sentence Completion?
Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Discourse Markers, Synonyms, Word Meanings.