Reporting, Arranging and Getting Things Done

The room is ___ painted now.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: being

The room is being painted now. Passive constructions use be in the required tense plus a past participle. Continuous passive uses being; perfect passive uses been. Modal passive uses modal + be + participle; perfect modal passive uses modal + have been + participle. Avoid passivising intransitive verbs.

The package has ___ delivered.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: been

The package has been delivered. Passive constructions use be in the required tense plus a past participle. Continuous passive uses being; perfect passive uses been. Modal passive uses modal + be + participle; perfect modal passive uses modal + have been + participle. Avoid passivising intransitive verbs.

Choose the word or expression: Money left after business costs have been paid.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: profit

profit: Money left after business costs have been paid. Example: The shop made a small profit last year.

It is ___ that the plan will succeed.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: believed

It is believed that the plan will succeed. Reporting passives distance the writer from a claim: It is said that... or subject + is said to.... A perfect infinitive places the reported event earlier: is believed to have left. The reporting tense and the infinitive's time relationship are separate choices.

She is said ___ live abroad.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: to

She is said to live abroad. Reporting passives distance the writer from a claim: It is said that... or subject + is said to.... A perfect infinitive places the reported event earlier: is believed to have left. The reporting tense and the infinitive's time relationship are separate choices.

Choose the word or expression: The total value of sales during a particular period.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: turnover

turnover: The total value of sales during a particular period. Example: Annual turnover rose as the company sold more products.

I had my hair ___ yesterday.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: cut

I had my hair cut yesterday. Have/get something done describes arranging for someone else to do a task, or sometimes experiencing an unwanted event. The object goes before the past participle. Change have/get for tense; do not confuse this with doing the task yourself.

We are having the kitchen ___.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: painted

We are having the kitchen painted. Have/get something done describes arranging for someone else to do a task, or sometimes experiencing an unwanted event. The object goes before the past participle. Change have/get for tense; do not confuse this with doing the task yourself.

Choose the word or expression: A business selling similar products to the same customers.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: competitor

competitor: A business selling similar products to the same customers. Example: Our main competitor has opened a shop nearby.

He denied ___ the document.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: taking

He denied taking the document. Verb complements differ: admit/deny/avoid + -ing, agree/refuse + to-infinitive, and preposition + -ing. Some verbs change meaning: try doing tests a method, while try to do attempts a task. Perfect infinitives refer to earlier actions.

She agreed ___ us.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: to help

She agreed to help us. Verb complements differ: admit/deny/avoid + -ing, agree/refuse + to-infinitive, and preposition + -ing. Some verbs change meaning: try doing tests a method, while try to do attempts a task. Perfect infinitives refer to earlier actions.

Choose the word or expression: To introduce a new product or service to the public.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: launch

launch: To introduce a new product or service to the public. Example: They will launch a new range of phones in June.

He admitted ___ the window.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: breaking

He admitted breaking the window. Reporting verbs have specific patterns: admit/deny/suggest + -ing, agree/refuse/promise + to-infinitive, and advise/warn/remind + object + to-infinitive. Some use prepositions, such as apologise for and accuse someone of. Do not use suggest someone to do.

She refused ___ the form.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: to sign

She refused to sign the form. Reporting verbs have specific patterns: admit/deny/suggest + -ing, agree/refuse/promise + to-infinitive, and advise/warn/remind + object + to-infinitive. Some use prepositions, such as apologise for and accuse someone of. Do not use suggest someone to do.

Choose the word or expression: The group of people who regularly buy from a business.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: customer base

customer base: The group of people who regularly buy from a business. Example: Good service helped the café build a loyal customer base.