Workplace Word Families, Set 1 — Finance (B2)

Your task

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

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

All clients must be within five business days of project completion. (INVOICE)

Correct answer: invoiced

"Invoice" functions as a verb meaning to send a bill; "invoiced" is the passive past participle required after "must be ___"; "invoicing" (gerund) cannot follow "be" in a passive structure.

The board appointed an external to verify the accuracy of all year-end financial statements. (AUDIT)

Correct answer: auditor

Add -or to "audit" to form "auditor" — the agent noun for a person who examines financial records; "audit" alone is a noun (the process) or verb — "an external ___" pointing to a person requires the agent noun.

The new subscription tier proved highly in its first quarter of operation. (PROFIT)

Correct answer: profitable

Add -able to "profit" to form "profitable" — the adjective meaning generating financial gain; "profit" alone is a noun or verb; "profitably" is an adverb — "proved highly ___" requires a predicate adjective.

The executive team reviews financial performance on a basis, meeting four times per year. (QUARTER)

Correct answer: quarterly

"Quarter" + -ly → "quarterly" — the adjective/adverb meaning occurring every three months; "quarter" alone is a noun and cannot follow "on a ___ basis" as an adjective modifier; "quartered" means divided into four parts.

The development bank agreed to the project $5 million at a preferential fixed rate. (LOAN)

Correct answer: lend

"Loan" can function as a verb meaning to lend; "lend" is also acceptable here as the standard British English verb form; both "loan" and "lend" are correct in this context — the key is recognising the verb slot after "agreed to."

Capital on new manufacturing equipment fell 10% compared with the previous year. (EXPEND)

Correct answer: expenditure

Add -iture to "expend" to form "expenditure" — the formal noun for money spent, especially on capital items; "expense" refers to routine day-to-day costs, while "expenditure" is used for larger, budgeted spending; "expending" is a gerund.

The department's projected budget was larger than the finance team had anticipated. (DEFICIT)

Correct answer: deficit

"Deficit" is the noun for a shortfall when expenditure exceeds income; it derives from Latin "deficere" but has no common derivational English verb; "deficient" is the related adjective (lacking in quality) and does not mean a financial shortfall.

Strong annual results enabled the board to pay significantly higher to shareholders this year. (DIVIDEND)

Correct answer: dividends

"Dividend" → "dividends" (plural) — payments distributed to shareholders from company profits; "dividends" in the plural is standard when referring to multiple payments or distributions; "dividend" (singular) is used when discussing a specific single payment.

The firm promoted its most experienced to Chief Financial Officer following the merger. (ACCOUNT)

Correct answer: accountant

Add -ant to "account" to form "accountant" — the agent noun for a person who manages financial records; "accounting" is the discipline or department; "account" alone is a financial record — "accountant" is the professional role.

Accurate sales enabled the operations team to manage inventory levels far more efficiently. (FORECAST)

Correct answer: forecasting

"Forecast" + -ing → "forecasting" — the gerund/noun for the activity of predicting future trends; "forecast" as a standalone noun refers to a single prediction; "forecasting" refers to the ongoing process or discipline.

The founders their personal property to raise the capital needed to launch the company. (MORTGAGE)

Correct answer: mortgaged

"Mortgage" used as a verb means to pledge property as security for a loan; "mortgaged" is the simple past tense required here; "mortgaging" would need different tense structure — the simple past follows the subject "The founders."

The group liquidated several non-core to improve its short-term cash position before the audit. (ASSET)

Correct answer: assets

"Asset" → "assets" (plural) — resources of economic value owned by a company; "non-core assets" are resources not essential to the main business; "several non-core ___" requires the countable plural form.

Customers purchasing over $500 were offered credit for the first twelve months. (INTEREST)

Correct answer: interest-free

"Interest-free" is a compound adjective meaning "without interest charges"; it is formed from "interest" + "free"; learners may write "no interest" (correct in meaning but not a compound adjective) or "uninterested" (meaning indifferent, unrelated to finance).

The board resolved to sell the subsidiary before the end of the financial year. (LOSS)

Correct answer: loss-making

"Loss-making" is a compound adjective meaning "operating at a financial loss"; it is formed from "loss" + "making" (present participle); learners may write "losing" (wrong compound) or "loss" (a noun, not an adjective modifier).

Under the terms of the agreement, all shares are freely within the first six months of issue. (EXCHANGE)

Correct answer: exchangeable

Add -able to "exchange" to form "exchangeable" — the adjective meaning capable of being traded or converted; "exchange" alone is a noun or verb; "exchanging" is a gerund — only "exchangeable" fits as a predicate adjective after "are freely ___."

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