What Is Grammar Cloze?
Grammar cloze is a section in the PSLE English Paper that tests your
understanding of grammar rules by requiring you to fill in blanks within a short
passage.
To do well, you need to read carefully, understand the passage as a whole, and apply
your grammar concepts to choose the most accurate word for each blank.
In this article, we’ll explain what grammar cloze is, walk you through how to
approach it, and give you 5 smart tips to help you answer
each question with confidence.
PSLE Grammar Cloze Format
Grammar cloze appears in Booklet B of the PSLE English Paper 2, which focuses on language use and comprehension. The section carries 10 marks and consists of a single passage with 10 blanks.
- Each blank is worth 1 mark.
- You must fill in the correct word without changing the original meaning or sentence structure.
- All answers must be grammatically accurate to receive marks.
What Does Grammar Cloze Assess?
Grammar cloze tests your ability to recognise and apply grammar rules in
context, rather than just identifying them in isolated sentences.
It is an important part of the Primary
6 English assessment, as it shows how well students can use grammar accurately
within a complete passage.
Each blank in the passage is designed to test a specific grammar concept, such as verb
usage, sentence structure, or logical connectors. Understanding how each sentence fits into
the passage helps you choose the most accurate answer.
Common Grammar Cloze Question Types
Here are the most common grammar concepts tested in grammar Cloze, along with what each one assesses and an example:
| Question Type | What It Tests | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Verb Tenses | Choosing the correct verb tense (present, past, or future) based on clue words for time, like “yesterday,” “now,” or “tomorrow.”Choosing the correct verb tense (present, past, or future) based on clue words for time, like “yesterday,” “now,” or “tomorrow.” |
She went (past tense) to the market yesterday.
They are (present tense) reading their books now. |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | Making sure the verb agrees with the subject by using a different verb form depending on whether the subject is singular or plural (“he walks” vs “they walk”).Making sure the verb agrees with the subject by using a different verb form depending on whether the subject is singular or plural (“he walks” vs “they walk”). |
The boy runs (singular subject) quickly.
They are (present tense) reading their books now. |
| Articles | Using "a", "an", or "the" correctly depending on whether the noun starts with a vowel sound, whether it is singular or plural, or if you are talking about something general or specific. |
She bought a book (general) from the store.
They are (present tense) reading their books now. |
| Prepositions | Selecting the correct preposition to show time (at), place (under), direction (into), or relationship (with). |
The cat is hiding under (place) the table.
We will meet at (time) 3 p.m. |
| Pronouns | Replacing nouns with appropriate pronouns (e.g. he, she, it, they, his, their) to avoid repetition and ensure clarity. |
Lisa picked up her (possessive pronoun) bag and left.
The students have completed their work. |
| Conjunctions | Joining parts of a sentence using words that show cause (because), contrast (but), or addition (and). |
He stayed home because (cause) he was sick.
She wanted to go for a swim but (contrast) it was raining. |
| Modals | Using helping verbs like "can", "should", or "might" to show ability, give advice, or talk about something that could happen. |
You should (advice) wear a jacket.
They can (ability) solve this problem on their own. |
| Conditionals | Forming sentences with "if" to show what could happen in a certain situation. |
If it rains, we will cancel the trip. (Shows what might happen
in the future if something happens.)
If he had studied, he would have passed. (Shows what could have happened in the past, but didn’t.) |
Tips to Answer Grammar Cloze Questions
Here’s a step-by-step approach you can use to answer grammar cloze passages more accurately:
1. Read the Entire Passage First
Begin by reading the whole passage once without filling in any blanks.
Focus on understanding what the passage is about and take note of the general tone and the
order of events. This gives you a clear idea of the context and helps you guess what kinds
of words might fit.
2. Understand the Context Around Each Blank
Look at the sentence before and after each blank.
Grammar cloze tests how words connect to each other, so understanding the context is
important. Ask yourself:
- Is the sentence in the past, present, or future?
- Is there a cause-and-effect relationship?
- Is the sentence comparing or adding ideas?
Identifying these clues will help you choose the correct grammar rule.
3. Identify the Grammar Rule Being Tested
Each blank usually focuses on one grammar concept. Try to figure out what’s being tested:
- Tense – Look for time clues like yesterday, now, or soon.
- Articles – Check if the noun is singular, plural, or specific.
- Pronouns or subject-verb agreement – Look at the subject and make sure the verb or pronoun matches (e.g. Anna forgot her book vs The boys forgot their books).
- Connectors – Look for relationships between ideas (cause, contrast, or addition).
4. Check Your Grammar and Logic
After filling in all the blanks, read the entire passage again:
- Does it sound smooth and grammatically correct?
- Does each word make sense in the sentence?
- Have you used the same tense throughout the passage?
This final check helps you spot and correct careless mistakes before submitting your answer.
5. Use the Word Bank Carefully
Use the word bank to help narrow down your choices. Some useful strategies include:
- Read through all the words in the word bank before you begin.
- Cross out words you have already used to avoid repeating them.
- If more than one word seems to fit, reread the sentence and think about the exact meaning.
- Leave a blank for later if you are unsure and return once other answers help eliminate options.
Grammar Cloze Practice Worksheet
Here is a short grammar cloze passage for practice:
Suggested Answers & Explanations
-
(D) while
“Even while they are busy...” — "While" shows two actions happening at the same time. -
(B) across
“Takes place across all schools” — "Across" refers to something happening throughout many locations. -
(H) until
“Must read... until the campaign ends” — "Until" indicates the time limit for the action. -
(E) Instead
“Instead of just reading...” — "Instead" shows contrast and adds a variety of activities. -
(C) because
“Because of giving up...” — "Because" explains the reason or cause behind choosing simpler books. -
(G) on
“Worry on how fast...” — This is slightly informal but contextually acceptable. A better formal fit could be “about,” but using “on” fits the cloze options. -
(F) unless
“Read... unless they enjoy it” — "Unless" shows a condition; the goal is reading for enjoyment. -
(J) between
“Life between two cities” — "Between" is used when comparing two items. -
(A) after
“After the campaign...” — "After" refers to what happens following the campaign. -
(K) through
“A journey through imagination...” — "Through" shows movement within or across ideas.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A cloze is a short passage with missing words that you need to fill in using the right grammar. For example: “She ___ to the market yesterday.” You would choose “went.” Another example is: “Tom and Jerry ___ best friends.” The correct answer is “are.” Each blank tests how well you understand grammar in context.
Cloze and comprehension are different because cloze checks your grammar, while comprehension checks how well you understand a passage. In cloze, you fill in blanks like “He ___ going to school now.” In comprehension, you read a story and answer questions such as “Why did the character feel sad?” Both help you improve different English skills.
You can improve in grammar cloze by reading carefully, understanding the passage, and practising grammar rules such as verb tenses (e.g. she walks / she walked), articles (e.g. a book / the book), and pronouns (e.g. he, she, they). Look for clues in the passage to help you choose the correct word. Practising with past papers and learning from your mistakes will help you get better over time.
It’s called a cloze passage because some words are missing, and you need to fill them in using grammar and clues from the passage. For example, a word like “yesterday” tells you the action happened in the past, so you choose a past tense verb. The name “cloze” comes from the idea of closing the gap to complete the sentence correctly.