Workplace Word Families, Set 3 — Office (B1)

Your task

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

0 / 15 answered

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Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The secretary was asked to take the of the board meeting and circulate them within 24 hours. (MINUTES)

Correct answer: minutes

"Minutes" in this context is the plural noun for the official written record of a meeting; despite its spelling, it has no direct connection to "minute" (a unit of time) in business English — it is a fixed office term that must be memorised.

All team leaders directly to the regional director on a weekly basis. (REPORT)

Correct answer: report

"Report" functions here as a verb meaning to be responsible to someone in a hierarchy; "reporting" (gerund) cannot replace a simple present tense verb after "All team leaders"; "reporter" is a person who reports news.

The email was to all department heads without the confidential attachment. (FORWARD)

Correct answer: forwarded

"Forward" used as a verb means to redirect a message to someone else; "forwarded" is the passive past participle required after "was ___"; "forwards" is an adverb meaning in a forward direction — not the same word in this context.

She sent a brief to the client's enquiry and promised a more detailed response by noon. (REPLY)

Correct answer: reply

"Reply" functions here as a noun meaning a response to a message; since "reply" is both a verb and a noun, learners must identify the noun position after "a brief ___"; "replied" is past tense and cannot follow "a brief" as a noun.

The new employee spent her first morning completing all the required for her contract and benefits. (PAPERWORK)

Correct answer: paperwork

"Paperwork" is an uncountable compound noun for routine administrative documents; it is formed from "paper" + "work" and is used in the singular; "papers" (plural) refers to specific documents, while "paperwork" refers to administrative tasks in general.

The office broke down on the busiest day of the quarter, causing delays to all document processing. (PHOTOCOPY)

Correct answer: photocopier

"Photocopy" + -er → "photocopier" — the agent noun for the machine that makes copies; "photocopy" alone is a noun (a single copy) or verb (to make a copy) — "The office ___" referring to a machine requires the agent noun "photocopier."

The office manager ordered a new batch of branded including letterheads, envelopes and business cards. (STATIONERY)

Correct answer: stationery

"Stationery" (with an "e") is the uncountable noun for writing materials; note the spelling — "stationery" (supplies) vs "stationary" (not moving); this is one of the most common spelling errors at B1 level.

The company switched to a new after the previous one failed to meet quality standards. (SUPPLY)

Correct answer: supplier

Add -er to "supply" to form "supplier" — the agent noun for a company that provides goods or services; "supplies" is the plural noun for the goods themselves; "supplying" is a gerund — "a new ___" pointing to a company requires the agent noun.

Please send the document to the shared network on the second floor rather than your local device. (PRINT)

Correct answer: printer

Add -er to "print" to form "printer" — the agent noun for both the machine that prints and a company that prints; "print" is a verb or noun; "printing" is a gerund or the industry — "the shared network ___" requires the machine noun.

All incoming paper documents are converted to digital files using the high-speed office . (SCAN)

Correct answer: scanner

"Scan" + -ner → "scanner" — the agent noun for the device that converts physical documents to digital files; "scanning" is a gerund describing the process; "scan" alone is a noun or verb — "the high-speed office ___" requires the device noun.

The company redesigned the open-plan to create better natural light and improve employee wellbeing. (WORKSPACE)

Correct answer: workspace

"Workspace" is the compound noun for the physical area where people work; it combines "work" + "space"; "working space" (two words) is a looser variant but "workspace" is the standard TOEIC office term.

Each employee has a personal with a desk, monitor, and lockable storage drawer. (CUBICLE)

Correct answer: cubicle

"Cubicle" is the noun for a small, partitioned workspace in an open-plan office; it derives from Latin "cubiculum" (bedroom/small room) and has no common English derivational verb; it is a fixed TOEIC office environment term.

The merger negotiations took place in the executive on the top floor of the headquarters building. (BOARDROOM)

Correct answer: boardroom

"Boardroom" is the compound noun for the room where a company's board of directors meets; it combines "board" (the directors) + "room"; "board room" (two words) is an alternative spelling but "boardroom" (one word) is more standard in business writing.

The greeted all visitors, issued security passes, and directed them to the correct meeting room. (RECEPTION)

Correct answer: receptionist

"Reception" + -ist → "receptionist" — the agent noun for the person who manages the front desk; "reception" refers to the area or event; learners sometimes confuse these — "receptionist" is always the person, "reception" is always the place or event.

She left a detailed for her colleague explaining the key points from the client meeting. (VOICEMAIL)

Correct answer: voicemail

"Voicemail" is the compound noun for a recorded telephone message; it combines "voice" + "mail"; "voice message" is a synonym but "voicemail" is the standard TOEIC term; it can be used as a noun (leave a voicemail) or as an adjective modifier (voicemail system).

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