Cambridge C1 Open Cloze: Complementation, Prepositions, and Linkers

In an open cloze, a blank may sit between two perfectly familiar words:

The organisers were committed ______ keeping admission free.

The missing word is to. It is not the infinitive marker; it is the preposition selected by committed, so keeping remains a gerund. The answer depends on the frame, not the topic.

Cambridge C1 Advanced Reading and Use of English Part 2 contains eight gaps, and each gap represents one missing word. Cambridge describes the focus as grammar and vocabulary. This lesson narrows that broad target to complementation: the small prepositions and linkers required after particular verbs, adjectives, nouns, and comparative structures.

Use the Cambridge C1/C2 vocabulary practice hub for more task lessons and Exam English for the complete exam collection.

What complementation means

A word or phrase often controls the form that follows it. Insist can take on + noun/gerund or a that-clause. Capable selects of + noun/gerund. Reason commonly takes for + noun/gerund. A comparison may require than, while a result frame may require so or such.

The gap is only one word, but the evidence can extend across the sentence. Read left for the controller and right for the complement.

Six high-value frames

Committed to doing

In be committed to, to is a preposition:

The library is committed to providing equal access.

The following verb therefore takes -ing. Compare commit to provide, which is not the normal frame in this meaning. The same pattern appears after object to, be accustomed to, and look forward to.

Prevent someone from doing

The standard frame is prevent + object + from + gerund:

A damaged gate prevented visitors from entering.

Do not use prevent visitors to enter. With stop, informal English sometimes omits from, but a controlled item must be licensed by the exact verb given.

Insist on doing; insist that

When a noun or gerund follows, use on:

She insisted on checking every label.

Before a clause, use that:

She insisted that every label was checked.

The words after the gap decide which pattern applies. One-word practice should never treat on and that as interchangeable.

Capable of doing

Capable takes of:

The device is capable of storing the readings.

It describes ability or potential. Ability normally takes to + infinitive: “the ability to store.” Similar meaning does not guarantee identical complementation.

No reason why; reason for doing

Why commonly introduces the finite clause in this frame:

There is no reason why the event should be cancelled.

Use for before a noun or gerund:

There is no reason for cancelling the event.

The complement type is grammatical, not stylistic. In wider English, that can also introduce a content clause after reason, so an exam-style item should not force a why/that choice unless further structure excludes one of them.

Rather than; so that

Rather than marks an alternative or rejected course. So that introduces purpose or result, often with a modal:

They repaired the hall rather than replace it. They added signs so that visitors could find the exit.

In an open cloze, than or that may be the missing half of the linker. Inspect both sides before deciding.

Original eight-gap open cloze

The text below is original practice. It is not a Cambridge sample and does not reproduce or predict a live item. Write one word in each gap.

A neighbourhood repair café

A neighbourhood group wanted to open a monthly repair café. Its members were committed (1) ______ keeping the service free, but the proposed venue lacked safe electrical sockets. This prevented volunteers (2) ______ testing appliances there.

The building manager insisted (3) ______ an inspection before any equipment was connected. Rather (4) ______ abandon the project, the group invited a qualified electrician to assess the room. She found that the wiring was capable (5) ______ supporting the equipment once two damaged outlets had been replaced.

The electrician was confident (6) ______ completing the work within a week. The group moved its first session to a later Saturday in order (7) ______ the electrician would have enough time. Attendance eventually proved higher (8) ______ the organisers had expected, and the café became a regular event.

Answers and rationales

1. to. The adjective frame is committed to + noun/gerund. The following keeping confirms that to is a preposition, not an infinitive marker.

2. from. Prevent + object + from + gerund is the required pattern: the unsafe sockets stopped volunteers testing appliances.

3. on. A noun phrase, an inspection, follows. Insist on + noun is correct. A that answer would require a clause, such as “that an inspection be conducted.”

4. than. Rather than introduces the rejected alternative, abandoning the project. The group chose to seek an assessment instead.

5. of. Capable of + gerund expresses the wiring’s potential after repairs. Capable to supporting is impossible.

6. of. The adjective frame is confident of + gerund. The following completing makes the complement type visible; an infinitive would require a different sentence structure.

7. that. Together with the printed in order, it forms in order that, introducing purpose. The later date was chosen to give the electrician enough time.

8. than. The comparative adjective higher requires than before the comparison standard.

How to find the controlling word

For every gap, ask four questions.

1. What word or phrase to the left creates an expectation?
2. What grammatical form appears to the right: noun, gerund, infinitive, or finite clause?
3. Is the relationship complement, contrast, purpose, cause, or comparison?
4. Does the answer create an established complete frame?

For gap 6, confident is the controller, while the right side provides decisive evidence: completing is a gerund. That licenses of. For gap 7, the printed in order and the following finite clause require that and encode purpose.

One meaning, different grammar

Rewriting a sentence reveals why memorising isolated translations is unreliable.

• They prevented us from entering.
• They made it impossible for us to enter.
• They did not allow us to enter.

All three concern blocked entry, but each frame requires different small words and verb forms.

• She insisted on checking the figures.
• She insisted that the figures be checked.
• She was adamant about checking the figures herself.

The stance is similar, but on, that, and about are controlled by different structures. An open-cloze answer must fit the sentence you have, not a paraphrase you remember.

C1 traps with to

Classify to before deciding what follows.

Infinitive marker:

They decided to postpone the launch.

Preposition:

They objected to postponing the launch.

They were accustomed to working late.

They contributed to making the event safer.

If the gap comes before to, the missing item may be part of the controller: “look forward to,” “with a view to,” or “be opposed to.” If to is printed and the gap follows it, decide whether the needed form is a base verb or a gerund from the preceding frame.

Focused practice

Supply one word and explain the form on the right.

1. The archive is dedicated ______ preserving local photographs.
2. Heavy rain prevented the team ______ completing the survey.
3. The curator insisted ______ seeing the original receipt.
4. There is little justification ______ treating the two groups differently.
5. The new shelf is capable ______ holding twice the weight.
6. The instructions were rewritten in order ______ first-time users could follow them.
7. The second room was quieter ______ the first.
8. Rather ______ cancel the workshop, they reduced its size.

Answers: 1 to, selected by dedicated before a gerund; 2 from, in the prevent frame; 3 on, before a gerund; 4 for, selected by justification before a gerund; 5 of, selected by capable; 6 that, completing in order that; 7 than, after a comparative; 8 than, completing rather than.

Common errors

• Treating every to as an infinitive marker.
• Supplying a semantically reasonable preposition without checking the controller.
• Looking only left and missing whether the right side is a noun phrase or a clause.
• Writing two words, such as so that, when that is already printed.
• Confusing purpose with consequence. The surrounding tense and intention should license the relationship.
• Choosing for after reason when a full clause follows.
• Overlooking comparison cues such as higher, less, or more.
• Changing the printed words mentally instead of completing the actual sentence.

Build a complementation notebook

Record a full frame, a natural example, and a contrast:

committed to + gerund — committed to keeping access free — not committed to keep in this frame

reason why + clause — no reason why it should fail — compare reason for + noun/gerund

insist on + noun/gerund — insisted on an inspection — compare insist that + clause

The contrast makes the entry usable. A list reading “committed— to; capable—of” may help recognition but does not train you to inspect the complement.

Independent practice

Write a 120-word open cloze about a community garden preparing an event. Create eight one-word gaps. Include two adjective complements, two verb complements, one noun complement, one comparison, one alternative linker, and one purpose linker. Provide an answer and a rationale for each. Check that no gap accepts a second answer under ordinary standard English; if it does, add grammatical evidence.

Sources

• C1 Advanced exam format — Cambridge English
• C1 Advanced preparation — Cambridge English
• C1 Advanced handbook for teachers — Cambridge English

Related articles

• Cambridge C1 Open Cloze: One-Word Grammar and Phrases
• Cambridge C1 Phrasal Verbs for Use of English
• Cambridge C1 Word Formation: Build the Right Form
• Cambridge C1 Key Word Transformations: Keep the Meaning

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