The gap-fill text: grammar and meaning
By the end of this lesson you can choose the right word for a gap by looking at the grammar, the meaning and the words that go together.
5 min · Level B1
In the gap-fill text (the cloze) one word is missing in each gap. First read the whole text once, to understand what it is about. If there is an example already done (often gap [0]), look at it: it shows you how the task works.
For each gap: 1) What kind of word is missing? Article, preposition, verb (which tense? which person?), connector (ma, perché, quindi), noun or adjective. 2) Look left and right: masculine or feminine, singular or plural; the preposition the verb wants (riesco a, decido di); time words (ieri, da tre anni, mentre). 3) Check the meaning: does the sentence make sense? 4) Reread the whole sentence with your choice.
In CILS B1 Cittadinanza the cloze has 6 gaps, each with 3 options; gap 0 is an example already done. Each right answer is worth 1 point.
In CELI 2 i Cittadinanza there are two gap-fill texts: a story with 10 gaps and 3 options, and a text message with 5 gaps and no options. In the text message you write the word yourself: it is usually a grammar word.
In CERT.IT B1 the cloze has 7 gaps, each with 4 options.
On the page
Le nuove regole del condominio sono appese all'ingresso.
The new building rules are posted at the entrance.
Finalmente Priya è riuscita a parlare con la direttrice.
Priya finally managed to speak to the director.
João lavora in questa ditta da tre anni.
João has been working at this company for three years.
Mentre aspettavo l'autobus, ho chiamato mia sorella.
While I was waiting for the bus, I called my sister.
Ieri Ion ha dato una mano al vicino per il trasloco.
Yesterday Ion gave his neighbour a hand with the move.
Common mistakes
✗ Scelgo la parola che conosco meglio.→ Provo ogni opzione nella frase e scelgo quella giusta per grammatica e significato.
The easiest or best-known word is often a trap. Reread the whole sentence with each option.
✗ La riunione dei genitori sono alle cinque.→ La riunione dei genitori è alle cinque.
Before the verb there is genitori (plural), but the subject is la riunione (singular). Don't look only at the nearest word: find who or what does the action.
✗ Posso chiedere una domanda?→ Posso fare una domanda?
In English you say to ask a question, but in Italian you say fare una domanda. Chiedere goes with something you want: chiedere un'informazione, chiedere aiuto. And to make a decision is prendere una decisione.
✗ Domenica diamo una passeggiata al parco.→ Domenica facciamo una passeggiata al parco.
In Spanish you say dar un paseo and in Portuguese dar um passeio, but in Italian you say fare una passeggiata. On the other hand dare una mano is correct: it means aiutare (to help).
✗ Ho abitato qui da tre anni.→ Abito qui da tre anni.
In English you say I have lived here for three years. In Italian, with da + time for something still going on today, you use the present: abito qui da tre anni.
Check yourself
L'orario degli uffici comunali ___ da lunedì prossimo.
Elira ha deciso ___ iscriversi a un corso serale.
Marco e Giulia ___ in questa città da cinque anni e si trovano bene.
Scusi, posso ___ una domanda sull'iscrizione?
Il bambino aveva la febbre, ___ è rimasto a casa da scuola.
In one line
For each gap, ask yourself what kind of word is missing, look left and right, check the meaning and reread the whole sentence.
civicoach practice booklet · not an official document