The Gap-Fill Email: Five Judgement Calls
A candidate has completed this email for a B2 Use of English gap-fill. Each gap tests one grammar point in context. The marking scheme is not available; you must judge from standard British English usage at B2. The email is informal but grammatically controlled. Draft: 'Dear Sam, I'm writing (1) ___ ask about the trip. We're planning to leave (2) ___ Friday morning. By the time we arrive, the museum (3) ___ . I'd rather we (4) ___ near the station. Could you let me know (5) ___ you can come? Best wishes, Alex.' The candidate's answers were: 1 for, 2 in, 3 will close, 4 stay, 5 that. The teacher says three answers are clearly wrong, one is wrong in this context, and one changes the meaning of the question. The class has been taught future perfect and 'would rather' but not the difference between 'if' and 'that' after 'let me know'.
1. Correct gaps 1–5 and give the rule or meaning reason for each. Which two errors are most likely to cause a breakdown in communication?
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1 to - purpose ('in order to'); 'for + -ing' would be 'for asking'. 2 on - with a specific day or date; 'in' is for months and years. 3 will have closed - 'By the time + present' looks forward to a point when the action is complete; future perfect. 4 stayed - 'I'd rather + subject' takes past simple for a present or future preference. 5 if/whether - an indirect yes/no question; 'that' would report a fact, not ask. The two most communication-breaking are 3 and 5: 'will close' suggests the museum closes at arrival time rather than before, and 'that' turns a request for information into a statement.
2. The candidate asks: 'Is "I'd rather we stayed" old-fashioned? My teacher says "I'd rather we stay" is also possible.' Explain when each is possible and what to choose in the exam.
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In the standard B2 pattern, 'I'd rather we stayed' means 'I would prefer us to stay' now or in the future; the past form does not refer to past time but marks a hypothetical preference. 'I'd rather we stay' is heard informally, especially in American English, but it is not the form PAU mark schemes normally reward. When the subject is the same, use the bare infinitive: 'I'd rather stay near the station.' When the subject changes, use past simple: 'I'd rather we stayed.' The teacher's claim is therefore only partly true; in the exam, choose 'stayed'.
3. Rewrite the whole email in 40–50 words, keeping the five pieces of information and the informal tone.
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Hi Sam, I'm writing to ask about the trip. We plan to leave on Friday morning, but by the time we arrive the museum will have closed. I'd rather we stayed near the station. Let me know if you can come. Best, Alex. This keeps purpose, day, future perfect, preference and indirect question. The contraction 'I'm' and 'Hi/Best' preserve the informal tone, while 'will have closed' and 'stayed' remain controlled. The original 'for ask' and 'in Friday' are removed, and 'that' becomes 'if' because the writer is asking for a yes/no answer.