Insist On, Object To, Succeed In
Explore three useful patterns for professional conversations: firm requirements, objections, and successful results.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
My manager insists ___ checking the figures before we send the report.
- on
- in
- to
The verb “insist” has a fixed preposition when it introduces a required action.
Show solution
My manager insists on checking the figures before we send the report.
“Insist on” presents an action as a firm requirement rather than a suggestion.
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2. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
Several employees object ___ sharing their personal phone numbers with clients.
- for
- to
- on
Here, “object” is a verb meaning to express opposition.
Show solution
Several employees object to sharing their personal phone numbers with clients.
The pattern is “object to” an action. Although “to” often introduces an infinitive, it is a preposition here.
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3. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
We succeeded ___ finding a supplier who could deliver by Friday.
- on
- to
- in
Think of the fixed pattern used to describe achieving a goal.
Show solution
We succeeded in finding a supplier who could deliver by Friday.
“Succeed in” describes an effort that achieves its goal, not simply an attempt.
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4. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
Our team succeeded in ___ costs without reducing quality.
- to reduce
- reducing
- reduce
Notice the preposition immediately before the gap.
Show solution
Our team succeeded in reducing costs without reducing quality.
An action after a preposition takes the “-ing” form: “in reducing,” not “in to reduce.”
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5. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What condition does the team set?
“We insist on receiving written approval before starting the work.”
- Written approval must arrive before work begins.
- Work can begin while written approval is still being prepared.
- Verbal approval is enough for work to begin.
Pay attention to both the strength of “insist” and the word “before.”
Show solution
- Written approval must arrive before work begins.
“Before starting” establishes the sequence: approval first, work second.
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6. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What does the colleague accept?
“I don't object to working late occasionally, but I can't do it every evening.”
- Working late every evening.
- Never working beyond normal hours.
- Working late from time to time.
The speaker sets a limit rather than rejecting all late work.
Show solution
- Working late from time to time.
“Don't object to” means there is no opposition. It does not necessarily express enthusiasm.
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7. Kies het juiste antwoord.
Which result did the team achieve?
“We succeeded in contacting the supplier, but we couldn't agree on a delivery date.”
- They agreed on a delivery date.
- They made contact with the supplier.
- They received the delivery.
Separate the successful action from the problem that remained.
Show solution
- They made contact with the supplier.
The success applies specifically to “contacting.” It does not mean the whole negotiation was successful.
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8. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
The manager requires employees to keep passwords out of email.
For security reasons, the manager insists on ___ passwords by email.
- not sending
- not to send
- to not send
The negative action must still fit after the preposition “on.”
Show solution
For security reasons, the manager insists on not sending passwords by email.
Put “not” before the “-ing” form to make the action negative: “on not sending.”
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9. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What is the speaker objecting to?
“I object to being filmed during the workshop.”
- Being asked to film the trainer.
- Having to review the workshop footage.
- Having someone film them.
Does the speaker perform the filming or receive the action?
Show solution
- Having someone film them.
“Being filmed” is passive: someone else operates the camera, and the speaker is recorded.
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10. Kies het juiste antwoord.
Who is expected to send the draft?
“The client insists on our sending the draft today.”
- The client.
- Our team.
- The client and our team together.
Look at the word directly before “sending.”
Show solution
- Our team.
In formal English, a possessive such as “our” can identify who performs the “-ing” action.
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11. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What change is the speaker asking for?
“I'm not against the proposal itself; I object to approving it before we've seen the cost estimate.”
- Wait for the cost estimate before approving the proposal.
- Reject the proposal regardless of its cost.
- Approve the proposal now and review the cost estimate later.
The objection concerns the timing of approval, not the proposal itself.
Show solution
- Wait for the cost estimate before approving the proposal.
An objection can target how or when something happens without rejecting the underlying idea.
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12. Kies het juiste antwoord.
Why does “extending” use “-ing,” while “discuss” does not?
The director objected to extending the deadline but agreed to discuss alternatives.
- “Extending” refers to the past, while “discuss” refers to the future.
- A negative attitude requires “-ing,” while a positive attitude requires the base form.
- “Object to” ends with a preposition, while “agree to” introduces an infinitive.
The word “to” has different grammatical roles in these two patterns.
Show solution
- “Object to” ends with a preposition, while “agree to” introduces an infinitive.
The same word can introduce different structures: “object to doing” but “agree to do.” Learn the complete verb pattern.