Business vocabulary exercise: 5 verbs (damage, repair, break, maintain, assemble)

Business English vocabulary exercise, intermediate level.

This exercise gives you practice using these five verbs:

damage | repair | break | maintain | assemble

Exercise instructions

1. Study the vocabulary, including ‘how to use’ and the example sentences.
2. Do the exercise below and check your answers.

damage	da.mage	damage
verb	to spoil the condition or quality of something (machinery, equipment, etc.); to cause it to be in imperfect condition
how to use	damage something; be damaged
examples	1. The men damaged the goods when they unpacked them. 2. The goods were damaged when we received them.

repair	re.pair	repair
verb	to take something broken and make it work again synonyms: mend, fix
how to use	repair something; be repaired
examples	1. We found the problem in the motor and repaired it. 2. Have you repaired your car yet?

break	break	break
verb	cause something not to work correctly; to cause to be useless; (of a machine) to stop working correctly
how to use	break something; be broken something breaks past simple: broke; past participle: broken
examples	1. I broke the plate when I was washing it. 2. The photocopier broke again yesterday.

maintain	main.tain	maintain
verb	keep something in good and working condition
how to use	maintain something, a machine, standards; be (well) maintained; noun: maintenance
examples	1. The roads in the area are well maintained. 2. We have to maintain a good relationship with our customers.

assemble	a.ssem.ble	assemble
verb	to put something (a machine, furniture) together
how to use	assemble something, a machine, furniture opposite: disassemble; noun: assembly
examples	1. We deliver furniture but the customer has to assemble it himself. 2. Before moving it, the machine should be disassembled.

Now try the exercise. Choose the best answer to fill the gap in each of the following: