In sentence completion, the sentence defines its own blank. The writer always leaves a clue — a word or phrase that tells you what the missing word must mean. Find that clue first; choose a word second.
Three kinds of clue
| Clue type | How it works | Mini-example |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | the sentence restates the blank | "She was ___ — generous to a fault." generous defines the blank |
| Example | a "such as / like" list pins the meaning | "___ animals, such as wolves and ants, hunt together." social |
| Contrast | a turn word demands the opposite | "Once shy, he is now quite ___." opposite of shy |
The method: cover and predict
- Cover the answer choices. Read only the sentence.
- Underline the clue — the word that points at the blank.
- Predict your own word for the blank, in plain language.
- Now uncover the choices and pick the one closest to your prediction.
Predicting first is the whole game. If you read the choices before the clue, every word starts to "sound okay" and you lose your anchor.
Trust the sentence, not your mood
The blank is not "whatever feels right" — it is whatever the clue forces. If the clue says "generous", do not pick a fancy negative word just because it looks sophisticated.