Action Verbs — Fill in the Gap (B1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

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Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The warehouse checks all incoming deliveries and signs off on the quality control report. (SUPERVISE)

Correct answer: supervisor

Add -or to "supervise" to form "supervisor" — the agent noun for a person who oversees others' work; "supervise" is a verb and cannot follow "The warehouse" as a noun subject.

Senior staff are required to all new recruits closely during their first ninety days. (SUPERVISOR)

Correct answer: supervise

Here, "supervise" is the infinitive verb meaning to oversee someone's work; after "required to," an infinitive verb is needed — "supervisor" is a noun and cannot follow "to" in this verb slot.

All new employees work under direct for the first three months before being assessed independently. (SUPERVISE)

Correct answer: supervision

"Supervise" + -ion → "supervision" — the noun for the act of overseeing; after "under direct," a noun is required; "supervise" is a verb and cannot fill a noun position after a preposition.

The IT department issued a critical security that all users must install by end of business. (UPDATE)

Correct answer: update

"Update" functions here as a noun meaning a new software version or patch; since "update" is both a verb and a noun, learners must identify the noun position after "a critical security"; "updating" (gerund) would require a different sentence structure.

Please the client contact database with the new email addresses before end of business today. (UPDATE)

Correct answer: update

Here, "update" is an imperative verb meaning to make something more current; after "Please," the base form of the verb is used; both noun and verb share the same spelling — context (imperative command) identifies this as the verb form.

The version of the software includes several bug fixes and key performance improvements. (UPDATE)

Correct answer: updated

"Updated" (update + -d) is the adjective meaning "incorporating the most recent changes"; it directly precedes the noun "version" as a modifier; "update" alone (noun or verb) cannot function as an adjective modifier before "version" in this position.

Both parties agreed to each other against any financial losses arising from the contractual dispute. (INDEMNITY)

Correct answer: indemnify

"Indemnity" (noun) → "indemnify" (verb, + -ify suffix); after "agreed to," an infinitive verb is needed — "indemnity" is a noun and cannot follow "to" in this verb slot.

The insurance company paid an of $75,000 to cover losses caused by the data breach. (INDEMNIFY)

Correct answer: indemnity

"Indemnify" (verb) → "indemnity" (noun) — the financial compensation paid to cover a loss; after "an ___," a singular countable noun is required; "indemnify" is a verb and cannot follow the article "an."

The legal team added an clause to the contract to protect the company from third-party claims. (INDEMNIFY)

Correct answer: indemnification

"Indemnify" + -cation → "indemnification" — a more formal noun used specifically for the written contractual obligation; "indemnity" is the general term, while "indemnification" refers specifically to the contractual provision or clause.

The manager was summoned to at the employment tribunal regarding the circumstances of the dismissal. (TESTIMONY)

Correct answer: testify

"Testimony" (noun) → "testify" (verb, remove "-ony," add "-ify"); after "summoned to," an infinitive verb is needed — "testimony" is a noun and cannot follow "to" in a verb position.

Her was the most detailed account of the timeline presented at the arbitration hearing. (TESTIFY)

Correct answer: testimony

"Testify" → "testimony" — the -ony suffix forms the noun for a formal statement of evidence; after "Her," a noun is required — "testify" is a verb and cannot follow a possessive determiner.

The satisfied client wrote a glowing that appeared on the company's website for over a year. (TESTIFY)

Correct answer: testimonial

"Testify" → "testimonial" — a noun for a written recommendation of a product or person; "testimony" is used in formal legal proceedings, while "testimonial" is the marketing term for a customer recommendation; "testify" is a verb and cannot follow "a glowing."

The customer service manager called the client personally to for the three-day shipping delay. (APOLOGY)

Correct answer: apologize

"Apology" (noun) → "apologize" (verb, + -ize suffix); after "called the client personally to," an infinitive verb is required — "apology" is a noun and cannot follow "to" in a verb slot.

The company published a formal on its website after the system outage caused widespread disruption. (APOLOGIZE)

Correct answer: apology

"Apologize" (verb) → "apology" (noun, remove "-ize," add "-y"); after "a formal," a noun is required — "apologize" is a verb and cannot follow "a formal" in a noun slot.

The agent explained that the delay was caused by circumstances entirely outside the company's control. (APOLOGIZE)

Correct answer: apologetically

"Apologize" → "apologetic" → "apologetically" — the adverb form modifies the verb "explained"; "apology" is a noun and cannot modify a verb; "apologetic" is an adjective and also cannot modify a verb — only the -ally adverb form fits this position.

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