logo
logoGrammar Error
Test Your EnglishLearnChallengesArticlesAbout
logoGrammar Error

Work Email & Meeting Etiquette: correct answers

StartTo ChallengesDownload PDF
Jump to answers ↓

Navigating workplace English requires more than just knowing vocabulary; you need to master the grammar behind polite requests, apologies, and standard email phrases. The key to sounding natural lies in knowing when to use gerunds (-ing forms) and infinitives (to + verb).

Gerunds After Prepositions

Any time a verb directly follows a preposition (such as for, in, about, or with), it must take the gerund (-ing) form. This rule is crucial for workplace apologies and explanations.

✅ I sincerely apologize for missing the meeting today. ❌ I sincerely apologize for miss the meeting today.

One of the biggest edge cases that trips up learners is the phrase look forward to. Because we are used to seeing to as part of an infinitive (like to go or to write), it feels natural to use a base verb. However, in the phrase look forward to, the word to is a preposition. Therefore, it must be followed by a noun or a gerund.

✅ I look forward to hearing from you soon. ❌ I look forward to hear from you soon.

Gerunds After Specific Verbs

Certain verbs dictate that the action following them must be a gerund. In business communication, the verb mind is frequently used to make polite requests, and it always takes an -ing verb.

✅ Would you mind muting your microphone? ❌ Would you mind to mute your microphone?

Infinitives of Purpose

When you need to explain your reason for doing something—such as why you are sending an email or calling a meeting—use the infinitive form (to + base verb). This is called the infinitive of purpose.

✅ I am writing to update you on the project status. ❌ I am writing for updating you on the project status.

Essential Professional Collocations

Grammar isn't just about rules; it is also about collocations (words that naturally go together). Virtual meetings and emails have their own set of fixed phrases that you simply need to memorize:

  • Attachments: Use "Please find attached the report" rather than "Please look attached."
  • Virtual Meetings: When someone's audio is off, they are "on mute," not "in mute."
  • Following Up: When checking on a previous message, you are "following up" on it.

A Common Learner Error

A frequent mistake is mixing up the grammar when interrupting or apologizing. You can use either sorry to + base verb OR sorry for + gerund. Learners often blend the two by mistake.

✅ Sorry to interrupt, but could you explain that again? ✅ Sorry for interrupting, but could you explain that again? ❌ Sorry for interrupt, but could you explain that again?

Choosing one structure and sticking to its rule will instantly make your professional English sound more polished.

MediumB1 | IntermediateB1AdjectiveGerundInfinitiveModal verbNounPhrasal verbPhrasePrepositionQuestionsSentenceVerbPerfect tenseCollocationsIdiom

Correct answers

Question 1

Help Sam fix his schedule! He accidentally double-booked a meeting with an important client and a rather urgent root canal at the dentist. Select ALL the polite, natural sentences he can use in his email to reschedule.

The correct answers are Could we possibly reschedule our meeting for later this week? and I'm afraid something urgent has come up. Would it be possible to meet on Thursday instead?

In professional business emails, we use indirect language and modal verbs (like could and would) to soften the request. Saying "I can't make it" or "You need to change" is too blunt and informal for client communication!

Question 2

Leo overslept because his cat stepped on his phone and turned off his alarm. Choose the most natural and grammatically correct phrase to help Leo apologize to his team in a quick message.

Hi team, I sincerely apologize _____ the morning huddle today.

The correct answer is for missing.

The verb "apologize" is followed by the preposition "for" when stating the reason for the apology. Because prepositions must be followed by a noun or a gerund, we use the -ing form of the verb ("missing").

Question 3

Maya is on a very serious video call with her boss when her cat suddenly jumps onto her keyboard! She needs to recover quickly, agree with her boss's proposal, and add a quick point. Select ALL the natural, professional phrases she can use.

The correct answers are I completely agree with that, and I'd like to add one thing... and That sounds like a great plan. Could I just jump in and add...

"I completely agree" and "Could I just jump in" are highly natural fixed expressions in business meetings. We say "agree with you" (not "agree to you"), and phrases like "I say also" or "put my words" are grammatically incorrect and unnatural.

Question 4

Help the nervous intern draft their first weekly update email to the team by choosing the most natural professional phrases.
Dear Team,
I am writing _________________________ you on the project status. Please _________________________ the weekly report.
If you have any questions, feel free to _________________________ to me. I look forward to _________________________ this at our meeting on Thursday.
Best regards,
Jordan

The correct answers are to update, find attached, reach out, and discussing.

to update: We use the to-infinitive after "writing" to express purpose ("I am writing to...").

find attached: "Please find attached" is a standard, fixed expression in business emails used to point out a file.

reach out: "Reach out to someone" is a very common professional idiom meaning to contact them. "Approach to" and "inform to" are grammatically incorrect.

discussing: The phrase "look forward to" must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing verb), never a base verb!

Question 5

Sarah is in a virtual meeting, and her coworker's dog is barking aggressively in the background. Help her politely ask him to mute his audio by selecting the correct verb form.

Excuse me, Bob, but would you mind _____ your microphone while the dog is barking?

The correct answer is muting.

When making a polite request using the phrase "would you mind," the verb that follows must always be in the gerund (-ing) form. "Would you mind to mute" is a common mistake, but it is grammatically incorrect!

Question 6

Complete the club president's slightly chaotic virtual meeting script by selecting the best words for each gap.
"Okay everyone, let's get started. Alex, I think you're _________________________ mute, we can't hear you!
Sorry for _________________________ your point, Sarah, but let me just _________________________ my screen so you can all see the agenda. We have a lot to cover, so we need to _________________________ the meeting by 4 PM so everyone can go study."

The correct answers are on, interrupting, share, and wrap up.

on: The correct preposition for a microphone's status is "on mute."

interrupting: After prepositions like "for," verbs must take the gerund (-ing) form.

share: In virtual meetings, the standard collocation is to "share" your screen with others.

wrap up: This is a very natural phrasal verb used in business and meetings to mean "finish" or "bring to a close."

Question 7

Help Alex finish his email to a recruiter! Choose the correct word to complete his professional sign-off.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I look forward to _____ from you soon.

The correct answer is hearing.

In the fixed business expression "look forward to," the word "to" acts as a preposition, not part of an infinitive verb. Therefore, it must be followed by a noun or a gerund (an -ing verb acting as a noun).

Question 8

Sarah is struggling to hear her colleagues in a chaotic virtual meeting. Help her politely interrupt and ask for clarification by dragging the correct words into the blanks.

"Sorry to interrupt, but could you explain that last point again? I'm afraid I didn't quite catch what you said about the new budget. Also, could you please speak up a little? Your microphone is quite low."

"Sorry to interrupt, but could you explain that last point again?"

"Interrupt" is the most natural verb for pausing someone while they are speaking. "Interfere" means getting involved in a situation where you don't belong, which sounds a bit aggressive here!

"I'm afraid I didn't quite catch what you said about the new budget."

To "not catch" something is a very common, polite idiom in English meaning you didn't hear or understand what was just said.

"Also, could you please speak up a little?"

"Speak up" is the correct phrasal verb used to ask someone to talk more loudly.

Question 9

Guide Leo through his post-vacation inbox! He just returned from a relaxing beach holiday to find 400 unread emails. He needs to reply to a colleague who has been waiting for a week. Select ALL the natural and professional ways he can apologize for the delay.

The correct answers are Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. and Apologies for the late reply.

"Apologies for the late reply" and "Sorry for the delay in getting back to you" are standard, polite fixed expressions in business English. "Late" cannot be used as a noun ("my late to answer"), and "slow returning of your message" sounds very unnatural.

Question 10

Help Marcus draft a polite (but slightly desperate) follow-up email to his boss without sounding rude. Drag the correct words to complete his message.

Hi Sarah,

I am just following up on the project proposal I sent yesterday. Please let me know if you need any further information from my side.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this!

Best, Marcus

I am just following up on the project proposal I sent yesterday.

"Following up on" is a standard business expression used to check the status of a previous email or task. We say "touching base with you," not "touching up on."

Please let me know if you need any further information from my side.

"Further information" is a polite, formal fixed expression meaning "more information." "Farther" is typically used only for physical distance.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this!

The verb pattern is always "look forward to" followed by a noun or a gerund (an -ing verb).

Terms of ServicePrivacy Policy
Copyright Kind Robots Ltd.