CDS English · Cloze Test
The Verb Slot: Tense, Agreement and Form
When the four options are forms of one verb, find the subject and the time of the passage, then look at the word just before the blank.
Why this matters
Verb forms are one of the largest groups of cloze blanks in CDS papers. The options often differ only in tense or form: has, have, has had, had had. One clue settles the answer: a time phrase, the subject, or a small word such as 'to' or 'does not' right before the gap.
Concept 1 of 4: Find the subject and the passage's time frame
A verb must agree with two things: its subject (one or many) and the time of the passage (past, present, or from the past up to now). Find both before you look at the options.
Definition
The terms:
- Subject: the person or thing that does the verb. Find it by asking 'who or what ...?' before the verb.
- Time marker: a word or phrase that fixes the time: in 1869, since the 12th century, today, nowadays.
- Present perfect (has or have + past form): an action that began in the past and is still true now, or a past action whose result is with us now.
The method:
- Find the subject. Skip the words between it and the verb. In 'Bad habits such as over-eating, drinking or smoking ___ very easy to acquire', the subject is habits, so are.
- After that, which or who, the verb agrees with the noun before it: a science that studies.
- Find the time marker. A past year: simple past. 'since' a point or 'for' a period up to now: has or have + past form. A general truth or a rule: simple present.
- If the sentence has no time marker, read the sentences around it. A passage keeps one time unless something changes it.
- After till, until, when or if about the future, use the simple present: it will drag on till there is a revolution, not 'till there will be'.
Worked example
Fill the three blanks: 'The old fort ___ by the Marathas in 1670. Today it ___ a museum that ___ thousands of visitors each year.' Options: (was captured / has captured); (is / are); (attract / attracts)
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2018 · CDS (II) 2018 — English · Q50Moderate
Example 1 · Cloze Test · Verb Forms in the Blank
Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four words or group of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Passage
CLOZE COMPREHENSION 1
This cultural form ___(49)___ from Japan has a name which means ‘whimsical or impromptu pictures’. It ___(50)___ in existence since the 12th century when the first ___(51)___ for this art form was seen. Since the language itself is read from right to left, the books with ___(52)___ art form follow the same pattern. ___(53)___ when English translations were made, they flipped the pictures and published it. This ___(54)___ the purists as it showed left-handed samurai, who did not exist in the original book. Hence, nowadays even English translations follow ___(55)___ right to left format. The name of this art form is Manga.
Blank (50): "It ___ in existence since the 12th century ..."
Agreeing with the nearest noun
In 'Bad habits such as over-eating, drinking, or smoking ___', the word next to the blank is smoking, which looks singular. The subject is habits, so are. Find the subject, not the neighbour.
will after till or until
'it will drag on till there will be a revolution' is wrong. The main clause already carries the future; the till clause takes the simple present: till there is.
Ignoring the time of the sentence
'the totalitarian government knows how to shape the minds ... they ___ the trick.' knows is present, so the result is with us now: have learnt, not had learnt.
Concept 2 of 4: The word before the blank fixes the verb's form
Some words lock the form of the verb that follows them. After 'to' comes the base form; after 'about' or 'for' comes the -ing form. Spot the locking word and three options fall away.
Definition
The terms:
- Base form: the verb with nothing added: build, mean, judge.
- Infinitive: to + base form: to build, to judge.
- Gerund: the -ing form used as a noun: studying, changing.
- Preposition: a small word before a noun or an -ing form: about, for, in, of, by, against.
- Causative: make or let + a person + a verb: makes me want, let him go.
The method:
- Look at the word just before the blank.
- do, does or did (also with not), and can, will, should: base form. does not mean, can go.
- 'to' as part of a verb (want to, tend to, impossible to): base form. tends to affect, impossible to judge.
- A preposition: the -ing form. about studying, for changing, in articulating.
- make or let + person: base form with no 'to'. makes me want.
- want, ask or expect + person + to: we want children to be educated. If the person receives the action, use to be + past form.
- Careful: in a few phrases 'to' is a preposition, so the -ing form follows: look forward to meeting, object to waiting.
Worked example
Fill both blanks: 'The instructor let the recruits ___ early, but warned them against ___ late the next day.' First blank: rest / to rest / resting. Second blank: come / to come / coming.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2020 · CDS (II) 2020 — English · Q103Easy
Example 2 · Cloze Test · Verb Forms in the Blank
Directions: select the word group that fits each blank
Passage
The difficult thing about ___(91)___ the science of habits is that most people, when they hear about this field of research, ___(92)___ to know the secret formula for quickly changing any habit. If scientists have discovered how ___(93)___ patterns work, then it stands to reason that they ___(94)___ have also found a recipe for rapid change, right ? If only it ___(95)___ that easy. It’s not ___(96)___ formulas don’t exist. The problem is that there isn’t one formula for ___(97)___ habits. There are thousands. Individuals and habits are ___(98)___ different, and so the specifics of diagnosing and changing the patterns in our lives differ from person to ___(99)___ and behaviour to behaviour. Giving up cigarettes is different ___(100)___ curbing overeating, which is different from changing how you communicate with your spouse, ___(101)___ is different from how you prioritize tasks at work. What’s more, each person’s habits are ___(102)___ by different cravings. As a result, this book does not ___(103)___ one prescription. Rather, I hoped to deliver something else : a framework for understanding ___(104)___ habits work and a guide to experimenting with how they ___(105)___ change. Some habits yield easily to analysis and influence. Others are ___(106)___ complex and obstinate, and require prolonged study. And for others, change is a ___(107)___ that never fully concludes. But that does not ___(108)___ it can’t occur. Each chapter in this book explains a different aspect of why habits exist and how they function. The framework ___(109)___ in this section is an attempt to distil, in a ___(110)___ very basic way, the tactics that researchers have found for diagnosing and shaping habits within our own lives.
Blank (103): "As a result, this book does not ______ one prescription. Rather, I hoped to deliver something ..."
Adding -s or -ed after does or did
'But that does not means it can't occur' is wrong. does already carries the tense and the singular, so the verb after it stays bare: does not mean.
Active where the person receives the action
'we want large numbers of children ___ together': the children are educated by someone. So to be educated, not to be educating or to educate.
make + to
'it makes me to want to run away' is wrong. After make + person, use the base form with no 'to': makes me want.
Concept 3 of 4: -ing or -ed: does the noun act or is it acted on?
An -ing or -ed form can describe a noun. The -ing form says the noun does the action. The -ed (past) form says the noun receives it. Ask: who is doing what to whom?
Definition
The terms:
- Participle: a verb form that works like a describing word: the rising sun (-ing), a broken chair (past form).
- Active: the noun does the action. Passive: the action is done to the noun.
The method:
- Find the noun the blank describes. It is usually just before the blank, or the subject of the main clause when the blank opens the sentence.
- Ask: does the noun do the action, or is it acted on?
- It does the action: -ing. A form originating from Japan (it comes from Japan); outcomes suggesting that (they suggest).
- It is acted on: past form. A system based on elections; the framework described in this section; the movement portrayed.
- A 'by ...' phrase after the blank almost always means acted on.
- If the sentence already has its main verb, the blank cannot be a full verb such as 'originates': it must be a participle.
- 'It is ___ that' about what people think or know is passive: it is widely believed that, it is known that.
Worked example
Fill both blanks: '___ at dawn, the patrol reached the river by noon. The bridge ___ across it had been blown up.' First blank: Leaving / Left / Leaves. Second blank: building / built / builds.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (I) 2025 — English · Q111Moderate
Example 3 · Cloze Test · Verb Forms in the Blank
Directions: In the following item a passage is given, in which there are ten blank spaces along with four options each for filling those blanks. Find the most appropriate word from the options provided to fill in the blanks, and mark your response on the Answer Sheet.
Passage
____(111)____ by the charm of Nature around him, man has expressed his appreciation of it in works of art produced by him. This goes back to a time ____(112)____ he was still a primitive being. Art ____(113)____ a softening influence on him. The earliest paintings of the prehistoric age in the caves all over the world give us magnificent examples of the ____(114)____ eye and the trained hand in man's savage state. The colours chosen, the movement ____(115)____ and the expressions the pictures are ____(116)____ with really make us marvel, even if all of them are not of the ____(117)____ of the paintings at Altamira. The prehistoric cave paintings in India give us a picture of life in those ____(118)____ days of the early man in India. It is a great and true experience that Kalidasa expresses, when he feels that ____(119)____ the happiest man feels ____(120)____ when he sees beautiful things or hears melodious notes.
Blank (111): "___ by the charm of Nature around him, man has expressed his appreciation of it in works of art produced by him."
Choosing a full verb when the sentence already has one
'This cultural form ___ from Japan has a name ...' already has its verb, has. So the blank cannot be originates or originated as a main verb. It describes the form: originating.
-ing for a thing that is acted on
'a representative system of government ___ on free and fair elections': the system is built on elections by someone. based, not basing.
Feeling words: -ing causes, -ed feels
A boring lecture makes you bored. Ask whether the noun causes the feeling (-ing) or has it (-ed).
Concept 4 of 4: Modals and mood: how sure is the writer?
A modal (must, may, might, should) shows how sure the writer is. Match the modal to the strength of the claim around it.
Definition
The terms:
- Modal: a helping verb that adds certainty, possibility or duty: must, may, might, can, could, should, ought to, will, would.
- Inference: a conclusion the writer draws from evidence.
The method:
- Look for words that show how sure the writer is. 'it stands to reason', 'clearly', 'surely': a firm inference, so must (have).
- 'perhaps', 'this could be because', an open question, a guide to trying things out: a weak possibility, so may or might.
- A duty or advice: should, ought to. Do not use them for a guess about the cause of something.
- For a guess about the past, use modal + have + past form: may have left, must have found.
- Wishes and unreal conditions take were for every subject: If only it were that easy. If I were you.
Worked example
Nobody is certain why the engine stopped. Some say it ___ have run out of fuel. (a) must (b) may (c) should (d) will
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2020 · CDS (II) 2020 — English · Q94Moderate
Example 4 · Cloze Test · Verb Forms in the Blank
Directions: select the word group that fits each blank
Passage
The difficult thing about ___(91)___ the science of habits is that most people, when they hear about this field of research, ___(92)___ to know the secret formula for quickly changing any habit. If scientists have discovered how ___(93)___ patterns work, then it stands to reason that they ___(94)___ have also found a recipe for rapid change, right ? If only it ___(95)___ that easy. It’s not ___(96)___ formulas don’t exist. The problem is that there isn’t one formula for ___(97)___ habits. There are thousands. Individuals and habits are ___(98)___ different, and so the specifics of diagnosing and changing the patterns in our lives differ from person to ___(99)___ and behaviour to behaviour. Giving up cigarettes is different ___(100)___ curbing overeating, which is different from changing how you communicate with your spouse, ___(101)___ is different from how you prioritize tasks at work. What’s more, each person’s habits are ___(102)___ by different cravings. As a result, this book does not ___(103)___ one prescription. Rather, I hoped to deliver something else : a framework for understanding ___(104)___ habits work and a guide to experimenting with how they ___(105)___ change. Some habits yield easily to analysis and influence. Others are ___(106)___ complex and obstinate, and require prolonged study. And for others, change is a ___(107)___ that never fully concludes. But that does not ___(108)___ it can’t occur. Each chapter in this book explains a different aspect of why habits exist and how they function. The framework ___(109)___ in this section is an attempt to distil, in a ___(110)___ very basic way, the tactics that researchers have found for diagnosing and shaping habits within our own lives.
Blank (94): "... then it stands to reason that they ______ have also found a recipe for rapid change, right?"
should for a guess
'Learning levels are highly unequal. This ___ be happening because of institutional features' offers a possible cause. should and ought to speak of duty, so the tentative may fits.
A firm modal in a careful sentence
Academic writing often hedges. When the passage says 'arguably', 'perhaps' or 'one possible reason', a strong must or will claims more than the writer does.
was after 'If only'
'If only it was that easy' is common in speech, but the exam answer for a wish or an unreal condition is were.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Watch out for (12)
- Agreeing with the nearest noun→ Find the subject and the passage's time frame
- will after till or until→ Find the subject and the passage's time frame
- Ignoring the time of the sentence→ Find the subject and the passage's time frame
- Adding -s or -ed after does or did→ The word before the blank fixes the verb's form
- Active where the person receives the action→ The word before the blank fixes the verb's form
- make + to→ The word before the blank fixes the verb's form
- Choosing a full verb when the sentence already has one→ -ing or -ed: does the noun act or is it acted on?
- -ing for a thing that is acted on→ -ing or -ed: does the noun act or is it acted on?
- Feeling words: -ing causes, -ed feels→ -ing or -ed: does the noun act or is it acted on?
- should for a guess→ Modals and mood: how sure is the writer?
- A firm modal in a careful sentence→ Modals and mood: how sure is the writer?
- was after 'If only'→ Modals and mood: how sure is the writer?
Test yourself on Cloze Test
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.