Cambridge BEC Vantage — All Questions

Which sentence is correct in a business context?

• a.We look forward to receive your proposal.
• b.We look forward receiving your proposal.
• c.We are looking forward to receive your proposal.
• d.We look forward to receiving your proposal.✓

'Look forward to' is followed by a gerund because 'to' is a preposition, so 'receiving' is correct. This is standard in formal correspondence.

Identify the error-free sentence.

• a.The staff are being consulted about the changes.✓
• b.The staffs are being consulted about the changes.
• c.The staff is been consulted about the changes.
• d.The staff are been consulted about the changes.

'Staff' is a collective noun with no plural 'staffs' in this sense, and the present continuous passive is 'are being consulted'.

Choose the correct sentence.

• a.We would appreciate if you could confirm by Monday.
• b.We would appreciate it if you could confirm by Monday.✓
• c.We would appreciate you to confirm by Monday.
• d.We will appreciate it if you would confirmed by Monday.

The polite formula is 'appreciate it if you could', keeping the object 'it' before the 'if' clause. Dropping 'it' is a common error.

Which sentence has no error?

• a.There have been a steady increase in demand.
• b.There has been a steady increase in demands.
• c.There has been a steady increase in demand.✓
• d.There have being a steady increase in demand.

The singular subject 'a steady increase' takes 'has been', and the uncountable 'demand' has no plural here.