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English grammar

Headline English: how the news compresses a sentence

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

Headlines have a grammar of their own, and a C1 reader has to restore what they leave out. The present simple reports a recent past event (Minister resigns = has resigned). to + infinitive refers to the future (President to visit Kenya = is going to / will visit). A past participle alone is a passive (Ten injured in crash = were injured). Articles and forms of be disappear, a comma can stand for and (Minister, aide quit), and short headline words replace longer ones: bid (attempt), row (argument), curb (limit), slam (criticise strongly), probe (investigation), quit (resign), vow (promise), axe (cut), back (support), hit (affect badly). Reading a headline means expanding it into a full sentence — and writing one means doing the reverse.

Pattern

present simple = recent past event · to + verb = future · past participle alone = passive · no articles, no be · headline words: bid, row, curb, slam, probe, quit, vow, axe, back, hit

Examples

  1. Minister resigns over expenses row

  2. Prime Minister to visit flood-hit towns

  3. Ten injured in motorway crash

  4. Council vows to curb rising rents

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Minister has resigned yesterday over row

    Right: Minister resigns over row

    A headline uses the present simple for a recent past event.

  • Wrong: Ten are injured in crash

    Right: Ten injured in crash

    A headline passive is the past participle alone.

  • Wrong: President will to visit Kenya

    Right: President to visit Kenya

    The future in a headline is to + infinitive.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the headline mean?

    Minister quits after row with PM

    1. A minister is arguing with the Prime Minister now.
    2. A minister has resigned after an argument with the Prime Minister.
    3. A minister will resign next week.
    4. A minister has been sacked for rowing a boat.
    Show answer

    Answer: B A minister has resigned after an argument with the Prime Minister.

    Present simple = recent past; quit = resign; row = argument.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the headline mean?

    Mayor to open new sports centre

    1. The mayor will open the new sports centre.
    2. The mayor is opening it at this moment.
    3. The mayor opened the sports centre yesterday.
    4. The mayor wants a sports centre.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The mayor will open the new sports centre.

    to + infinitive in a headline refers to the future.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the headline mean?

    Five arrested after match violence

    1. Five people will be arrested.
    2. Five people are arresting fans.
    3. Five people arrested others.
    4. Five people were arrested.
    Show answer

    Answer: D Five people were arrested.

    A past participle alone in a headline is a passive.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which is written as a headline?

    News: a company has cut 200 jobs.

    1. Firm is to have axed 200 jobs yesterday
    2. The firm had axed 200 jobs.
    3. A firm has cut 200 jobs, it was announced.
    4. Firm axes 200 jobs
    Show answer

    Answer: D Firm axes 200 jobs

    Headline style: present simple, no article, a short verb.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the headline word mean?

    Government slams bank bosses’ pay

    1. investigates
    2. criticises strongly
    3. reduces
    4. praises
    Show answer

    Answer: B criticises strongly

    slam = criticise strongly.

  6. 6Change the sentence.

    Write it as a full sentence.

    Police probe hotel fire

    1. The police are investigating a fire at a hotel.
    2. The police were probe a hotel fire.
    3. The hotel is investigating the police.
    4. The police probe the hotel fire yesterday.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The police are investigating a fire at a hotel.

    probe as a verb = investigate; add the article and the auxiliary.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a newspaper headline.

    Teachers _____ strike over pay

    1. is
    2. to
    3. will be
    4. had
    Show answer

    Answer: B Teachers to strike over pay

    A planned future in a headline: to + infinitive.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Minister has vowed yesterday to cut taxes

    1. Minister is vow to cut taxes
    2. Minister vows to cut taxes
    3. Minister vows cutting taxes
    4. Minister vowed yesterday cut taxes
    Show answer

    Answer: B Minister vows to cut taxes

    Headline: present simple, no time phrase, vow to + infinitive.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the headline word mean?

    New bid to save historic pier

    1. refusal
    2. celebration
    3. offer at an auction
    4. attempt
    Show answer

    Answer: D attempt

    bid to + verb = an attempt to.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    Council to close three libraries

    Show answer

    Answer: Council to close three libraries

    to + infinitive: a future decision.

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