What sentence completion is: In sentence completion (completar frases) you finish a sentence about the text so that it matches what the text says. Sometimes you choose the right ending (a/b/c); sometimes you complete it with words from the text. Either way, the finished sentence must be true according to the text — not just true in general.
- completar la frase
- to complete the sentence
- el principio de la frase
- the sentence stem (its beginning)
- el final correcto
- the correct ending
- según el texto
- according to the text
- verdadero según el texto
- true according to the text
- una afirmación
- a statement / claim
True in the text, not just true: An ending can sound sensible and still be wrong — because the text doesn't actually say it. The completed sentence must match this text, not your general knowledge.
Two formats you'll meet: Sentence completion comes in two shapes. In one you get a stem plus endings (a/b/c) and pick the right one; in the other you complete from the text in your own words or with words from it. In both, the completed sentence must be true according to the text.
| Formato | Qué haces |
|---|---|
| Principio + finales (a/b/c) | eliges el final que coincide con el texto |
| Completar con el texto | completas la frase con palabras o ideas del texto |
| La frase completa debe… | ser verdadera según el texto (no solo en general) |
| ¿De dónde sale la respuesta? | del texto — el texto está delante de ti |
| ¿Importa la gramática? | sí — el final debe encajar gramaticalmente en la frase |
Read the whole sentence: Always read the whole completed sentence, not just the ending. It has to be true per the text and fit grammatically with the stem you were given.
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A reliable completion routine: Read the stem, find what the text says about it, choose or write the matching ending, then check the whole sentence is true per the text before moving on. Five quick steps.
Complete the sentence — 5 steps
1
Read the stem
Read the beginning of the sentence. What is it about, and what does it need to be completed?
2
Find it in the text
Scan the text for the line that talks about the same thing as the stem.
3
Choose or write the ending
Pick the ending that matches that line, or complete it with the text's words.
4
Check it's true
Read the whole completed sentence — is it true according to the text, and does it fit grammatically?
5
Move on
Once it's true and fits, move to the next one. Don't keep second-guessing a verified answer.
Read stem → Find in text → Choose/Write → Check true → Move on
Match the stem to the text line: The stem points you at one idea in the text. Find the line about that idea first; the correct ending will be the one that agrees with that exact line.
A sentence completion in action: Here is a short text — the kind Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. The text stays in front of you, so you complete the sentence from what it says. Read it once for the gist (tap Ver traducción if you get stuck), then we'll complete one sentence together.
Daniel y el refugio de animales: Daniel tiene quince años y, desde hace un año, dedica los sábados por la mañana a ser voluntario en un refugio de animales. Allí pasea a los perros, limpia las jaulas y ayuda a dar de comer a los gatos que han sido abandonados.
Al principio lo hacía solo para conseguir horas de servicio comunitario para el instituto. Sin embargo, ahora dice que es la mejor parte de su semana. Gracias a esta experiencia ha decidido que de mayor quiere estudiar Veterinaria para cuidar a los animales enfermos.
- el voluntario
- the volunteer
- el refugio de animales
- the animal shelter
- abandonado/a
- abandoned
- el servicio comunitario
- community service
- estudiar Veterinaria
- to study Veterinary Science
Completing one sentence
Una frase, paso a paso
- Read the stem — «Al principio, Daniel se hizo voluntario _________.»
- Find it in the text. Scan for «al principio»: «Al principio lo hacía solo para conseguir horas de servicio comunitario para el instituto».
- Choose the ending & check it's true — «…para conseguir horas de servicio comunitario para el instituto.» Read the whole sentence: it is true per the text and fits the grammar.
Watch the time shift: A favourite trap: an ending that is true later in the text but not for the part the stem asks about. Daniel now loves it — but the stem says «al principio», so the correct ending is the community-service one. Match the exact part of the text.
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Where completion marks are lost: Completion marks are lost to endings that are true in general but not in the text, endings that don't fit grammatically, or completing from memory instead of the text. Compare the two columns.
Buenas prácticas
- Choose the ending that the text actually supports.
- Read the whole completed sentence to confirm it's true per the text.
- Make sure the ending fits the stem grammatically.
- Complete from the text in front of you, not from memory.
Errores típicos
- Pick an ending that is true in general but not stated in the text.
- Choose an ending that doesn't fit the grammar of the stem.
- Complete the sentence from memory rather than the text.
- Match an ending true for another part of the text, not the part asked about.
Sensible isn't the same as true: The trickiest wrong endings are plausible — they sound reasonable. But unless this text says it, it's wrong. Always anchor the ending to the exact line the stem points to.