Use of English – English Grammar Exercises for B2
You are an Executive Assistant proofreading the monthly internal corporate newsletter. Your manager tends to write wordy sentences with redundant words (words that repeat a meaning unnecessarily) and double pronouns. Choose the correct option (A, B, C, or D) to fix each sentence, making it concise, professional, and grammatically accurate at a B2/C1 level.
1 Draft: The new software, which it was installed last week, is very efficient.
Correction: The new software, ______ last week, has proven to be highly efficient.
(A) which it was installed
(B) which was installed
(C) that it was installed
(D) what was installed
2 Draft: In tomorrow’s meeting, we will discuss about the upcoming marketing strategies.
Correction: In tomorrow’s meeting, we will ______ the upcoming marketing strategies.
(A) discuss about
(B) discuss on
(C) discuss
(D) discuss regarding
3 Draft: The HR manager she announced the new holiday policy this morning.
Correction: The HR manager ______ the new holiday policy this morning.
(A) she announced
(B) has announced it
(C) her announced
(D) announced
4 Draft: Please ensure that you return back the signed forms to the front desk.
Correction: Please ensure that you ______ the signed forms to the front desk.
(A) return back
(B) return
(C) revert back
(D) send back again
5 Draft: Although profits increased by 10%, but we still need to cut costs.
Correction: Although profits increased by 10%, ______ to cut costs.
(A) but we still need
(B) however we still need
(C) we still need
(D) yet we still need
6 Draft: The final end result of the employee satisfaction survey will be published tomorrow.
Correction: The ______ of the employee satisfaction survey will be published tomorrow.
(A) final end result
(B) finalized end result
(C) result
(D) ending result
7 Draft: All departments must cooperate together to ensure the success of this project.
Correction: All departments must ______ to ensure the success of this project.
(A) cooperate together
(B) jointly cooperate
(C) cooperate with each other together
(D) cooperate
8 Draft: Because the server crashed yesterday, so we lost several important emails.
Correction: Because the server crashed yesterday, ______ several important emails.
(A) so we lost
(B) therefore we lost
(C) we lost
(D) thus we lost
9 Draft: Every new employee will receive a free gift from the company on their first day.
Correction: Every new employee will receive a ______ from the company on their first day.
(A) free gift
(B) complimentary free gift
(C) gift
(D) unpaid gift
10 Draft: The reason why the meeting was cancelled is because the CEO was ill.
Correction: The reason the meeting was cancelled ______ the CEO was ill.
(A) is because
(B) is that
(C) is due to
(D) is since
11 Draft: Please reply back to this email as soon as possible.
Correction: Please ______ this email as soon as possible.
(A) reply back to
(B) reply to
(C) reply back
(D) answer back to
12 Draft: The upcoming compliance training session will begin exactly at 9 AM in the morning.
Correction: The upcoming compliance training session will begin exactly at ______.
(A) 9 AM in the morning
(B) 9 o’clock AM
(C) 9 AM
(D) 9 AM morning
13 Draft: We have a strict security protocol that we must follow it at all times.
Correction: We have a strict security protocol ______ at all times.
(A) that we must follow it
(B) which we must follow it
(C) that we must follow
(D) what we must follow
14 Draft: Looking back at our past history, this quarter was the most successful on record.
Correction: Looking back at our ______, this quarter was the most successful on record.
(A) past history
(B) previous history
(C) past historical record
(D) history
15 Draft: The two independent departments must merge together by the end of the fiscal year.
Correction: The two independent departments must ______ by the end of the fiscal year.
(A) merge together
(B) merge
(C) join together
(D) combine together
16 Draft: We are proud to introduce our new innovation in cloud computing.
Correction: We are proud to introduce our ______ in cloud computing.
(A) new innovation
(B) latest new innovation
(C) innovation
(D) newly innovation
17 Draft: The executive board has decided to postpone the annual gala until later.
Correction: The executive board has decided to ______ the annual gala.
(A) postpone until later
(B) postpone
(C) delay until later
(D) put off until later
18 Draft: Can you summarize briefly the main points of yesterday’s presentation?
Correction: Can you ______ the main points of yesterday’s presentation?
(A) summarize briefly
(B) summarize
(C) briefly summarize up
(D) make a brief summary of briefly
19 Draft: The regional director, who he founded the branch in 2010, is retiring next month.
Correction: The regional director, ______ the branch in 2010, is retiring next month.
(A) who he founded
(B) that he founded
(C) who founded
(D) which founded
20 Draft: If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask them to me.
Correction: If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ______.
(A) ask them to me
(B) ask me
(C) ask to me
(D) ask them for me
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) which was installed
Explanation: In a relative clause, the relative pronoun (“which”) replaces the subject (“it”). Using both (“which it”) is a classic double-subject redundancy.
2 (C) discuss
Explanation: The verb discuss means “to talk about”. Therefore, saying “discuss about” is redundant. It is a direct transitive verb: discuss the strategies.
3 (D) announced
Explanation: Similar to question 1, “The HR manager” is the subject. Adding “she” right after it creates a double subject, which is grammatically incorrect.
4 (B) return
Explanation: Return already means “to give/send back”. Adding “back” (return back, revert back, reply back) is a very common redundancy in business English.
5 (C) we still need
Explanation: In English, you only need one conjunction to connect two clauses. If you start with “Although”, you cannot use “but” in the middle. (Translating directly from some languages causes this “Although… but…” error).
6 (C) result
Explanation: A “result” is by definition what happens at the end. Saying “final result” or “end result” is often tautological, and “final end result” is extremely redundant.
7 (D) cooperate
Explanation: Cooperate means “to work together”. Adding “together” after it is unnecessary repetition.
8 (C) we lost
Explanation: Just like “Although/but”, you cannot pair “Because” and “so” in the same sentence. Choose one. If you start with “Because”, the second clause needs no conjunction.
9 (C) gift
Explanation: A “gift” is by definition free. Saying “free gift” is redundant.
10 (B) is that
Explanation: “The reason is because” is redundant because both words signify cause. The grammatically correct formal structure is “The reason… is that…”.
11 (B) reply to
Explanation: As with return, the prefix re- in reply implies giving a response back to the sender. “Reply back” is redundant.
12 (C) 9 AM
Explanation: “AM” stands for ante meridiem, which means “before noon” (the morning). Saying “9 AM in the morning” is repeating the same information.
13 (C) that we must follow
Explanation: In the relative clause “that we must follow”, “that” acts as the object of “follow”. Adding “it” at the end makes the object redundant.
14 (D) history
Explanation: “History” refers exclusively to events in the past. “Past history” is a tautology (redundancy).
15 (B) merge
Explanation: To merge means to combine two or more things into one. Adding “together” is unnecessary.
16 (C) innovation
Explanation: An innovation is a new idea, method, or device. Therefore, a “new innovation” is redundant.
17 (B) postpone
Explanation: To postpone means to arrange for an event to take place at a later time. “Postpone until later” is redundant.
18 (B) summarize
Explanation: To summarize means to give a brief statement of the main points. Therefore, “summarize briefly” repeats the concept of brevity.
19 (C) who founded
Explanation: “Who” acts as the subject of the relative clause, replacing “The regional director”. Adding the pronoun “he” (“who he”) creates a double subject.
20 (B) ask me
Explanation: “Ask them to me” is wordy and awkward. The verb ask can take a direct personal object: “ask me (any questions)”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
To achieve a true B2/C1 level in writing (and to excel in Use of English tasks), you must embrace the principle of conciseness: less is often more. Redundancy makes your writing sound translated and unprofessional.
1 Watch Out for the “Double Conjunction” Trap:
Never use two connecting words for a single relationship. This is a common habit carried over from direct translation.
- ❌ Although it was raining, but we went out.
- ✅ Although it was raining, we went out.
- ❌ Because I was tired, so I slept early.
- ✅ Because I was tired, I slept early.
2 Avoid the “Double Subject/Object” in Relative Clauses:
When you use who, which, or that, it replaces the noun. Do not add another pronoun!
- ❌ The file which I sent it to you.
- ✅ The file which I sent to you.
- ❌ My boss, who he is very strict…
- ✅ My boss, who is very strict…
3 Purge Redundant Prepositions & Adjectives:
Memorize these common business English verbs and nouns that do NOT need extra words:
- Discuss (NOT discuss about)
- Return/Reply/Revert (NOT return back)
- Cooperate/Merge/Collaborate (NOT cooperate together)
- Innovation (NOT new innovation)
- Gift (NOT free gift)
- History (NOT past history)