FCE SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION TIPS 1  (TENSES)

Sentences which give the same meaning

1) I have never watched such a boring film.

or

It’s the most boring film I have ever watched.

2) When did Derya start work?

or

How long is it since Derya started work?

or

How long ago did Derya start work?

3) My parents haven’t reached Marmaris yet.

or

My parents still haven’t reached Marmaris.

4) Duygu moved to Karşıyaka five months ago.

or

Duygu has been in Karşıyaka for five months.

5) I haven’t been to the Fenerbahçe’s football match for three years.

or

The last time I went to Fenerbahçe’s football match was three years ago.

6) It’s a long time since we went out.

or

We haven’t been out for a long time.

7) Alex has never eaten Turkish food before.

or

It’s the first time Alex has ever eaten Chinese food.

8) Melisa started cooking as soon as her husband (had) left home.

or

Melisa started cooking when her husband left.

or

Melisa waited until her husband had left before she started cooking.

or

Melisa didn’t start cooking until after her husband had left.

9) They got married ten years ago.

or

Thay have been married for ten years.

BECAUSE / BECAUSE OF

Use of ‘because’ and ‘because of’ : To give a reason

Structure: We use a complete sentence after because.

” They didn’t win the game because they didn’t play well.

BUT,

after because of we use NOUN Phrase or Ving form.

” All the flights were cancelled because of bad weather conditions.”

” I went to bed very early because of working too much.

PRACTICE

Fill in the blanks with “because” or “because of”

1. Please don’t let your children walk alone _______________the walkway is slippery when wet.

2. Alex missed the penalty _______________lack of concentration.

3. _______________ thick fog at the airport, Louis and Tim had to stay in Ankara one more day.

4. Unfortunately she had to give up singing __________________she had a serious throat problem.

5. You are not allowed to enter this secured area ________________ you don’t have an official permit.

6. We decided to buy that house ______________ its low price.

7. _____________the elecrticity was cut off, we went to bed early.

8. We can’t go to school by public transport tomorrow ____________ the srtike.

9. I had to overwork last week _____________my manager wanted me to finish the reports.

10. People always trust him _______________his honesty.

KEY: 1. because  2. because of  3. Because of  4. because 5. because  6. because of  7. Because 8. because of 9. because  10. because of

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BECAUSE OF / BECAUSE

IF or WHEN

Fill in the blanks with ‘if’ or ‘when’ and put the verbs into the correct tense

1) Alex will write an e-mail to his manager __________ he __________ ( arrive )

2) __________ does the doctor think he _____________( get over ) his injury?

3) __________ there____________( be ) any problems, I will phone you.

4) __________ the interviews __________ ( be ) over, we will announce the results.

5) I wonder ___________ Santos ____________( return ) from his trip to Brazil.

6) ___________ Michael ____________( apply ) for the job, I’m sure he will get it.

7) ___________ they _____________ ( arrive ) late at the airport, they will miss the flight.

8) She will call you ____________ she ____________( finish ) writing the reports.

9) ___________________________( he / give up ) blocking the street?

10) ____________ we __________( have ) nothing else to discuss, we can all leave now.

KEY

1. when / arrives  2. When / will get over  3. If / are  4. When / are  5. if / returns  6. If / applies  7. If / arrive  8. when / finishes  9. When does he give up 10. If / have

REWRITE QUESTIONS ( SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION )

Rewrite the sentences without changing the meaning. Use 2-5 words in total.

1. They were served by an attractive and quick waitress.  ( who )

The ________________________________________attractive and quick.

2. The moment I reached the tunnel, I saw a bright light.  ( just )

I saw a bright light ___________________________________the tunnel.

3. Ted and Robin spent their holiday in a magnificient hotel.  ( where )

The hotel _____________________________________ was magnificient.

4. The floorboards in her summer house are in bad shape and need replacing. ( which )

The floorboards in her summer house, ___________________________, need replacing.

5. The electricity won’t be reconnected until you pay the bill.  (when)

The electricity will be connected ________________________the bill.

6. My grandmother bought me a shirt, but the sleeves are too long. ( of  )

My grandmother bought me a shirt ______________________are too long.

7. The speakers left immediately after they finished their speech. ( soon )

The speakers left __________________________________their speech.

8. I hadn’t heard from Kate for years and last week I received a letter from her. ( who )

Last week I received a letter from Kate __________________________________from for years.

9. A lot of damage was caused by the storm yesterday. ( which)

There was a storm yesterday, ___________________________ a lot of damage.

10. The poet, who has recently had his poems translated into 7 languages, is giving a speech tonight. ( whose )

The poet, _________________________________translated into 7 languages, is giving a speech tonight.

11. I finished writing the reports and then I went out with my girlfriend.  ( until )

I didn’t go out with my girlfriend until __________________________the reports.

12. In 2002 I opened my first shop in Paris.  ( was )

2002 _________________________________I opened my first shop in Paris.

13. We’ll leave any time you’re ready.  (whenever)

We’ll leave _______________________________________ready.

14. During a walk in the main square Alex met his friend. ( while )

Alex met his friend ______________________________in the main square.

15. I met a very qualified assistant manager last week. ( whom )

The assistant manager ________________________last week was very qualified.

We use “SINCE” for a point of time.

Examples

I have lived in Karşıyaka since 1994.

She has worked for IBM since last October.

We’ve been playing tennis since two’clock.

Alex hasn’t seen his parents since he moved to İzmir.

I haven’t been to England since I finished the university.

We use “FOR” for a period of time.

Examples:

Ozan has been married for two years.

They haven’t been to their summer house for 6 months.

I have been listening to the radio for an hour.

She has been a teacher for 35 years.

SOME / ANY

Fill in the blanks with “some” or “any”

1) There aren’t ____________correct answers in your exam paper.

2) I’ve got__________cheese but I haven’t got ___________jam.

3) Has Alex got __________children?

4) I can see ___________people in the street from my flat.

5) We haven’t got ___________potatoes but Larry has got __________.

6) Would you like ___________tea?

7) Can I have __________coffee, please?

8) You can smoke at __________but you cant buy cigarettes until you’re 18.

9) Sarah is very lonely. She hasn’t got __________friends here.

10. I can’t play ___________card games.

TIME EXPRESSIONS in PRESENT PREFECT and PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Fill in the blanks with time expressions from the list below

since / all morning / already / How long / for / ever / yet / so far / just / always

1. Have you ___________eaten Indian food?

2. The dog has been barking ___________.

3. Deivid hasn’t started training __________.

4. I’ve _________wanted to see Istanbul and its historical places.

5. His son has been ill ___________a week.

6. ___________has Alex been married?

7. It’s very early in the morning but my father has__________drunk five cups of coffee.

8. As a novelist he has written 34 novels __________.

9. Robin hasn’t seen her family __________2002.

10. I’ve __________cleaned my car, so it’s shining.

KEY) 1. ever  2. all morning  3. yet  4. always  5. for  6. How long  7. already  8. so far  9. since  10. just

PREPOSITIONS

Fill in the blanks with suitable preposition

1. On rainy days she usually goes __________ a walk with her boyfriend.

2. Listen _________ me very carefully. This is really important.

3. Scolari hardly ever goes _________ bed before midnight at the weekends.

4. This is not my own computer. I share it _________ my sister.

5. It was too late when I got __________ the office. The meeting had already started.

6. Look _________ this photo in the newspaper? Isn’t this your father’s friend?

7. A policeman gave us some information __________ the robbery.

8. Everyday Alex studies Turkish __________ two hours.

9. Are there any eggs __________ the kitchen?

10. Angelina and her friends often go __________ a drink __________ work _________  Friday evenings.

11. Is there a football match __________TV this evening?

12. He mostly spends his money __________ technology.

13. Is Roberto Carlos __________ Brazil.

14. What time does she usually get ___________ at the weekends?

15. Colombus discovered America __________ the 15th century.

16. T-Bag was very good _________ math __________ high school.

17. Sara works __________ a multinational company.

18. Their French classes are __________ 6 p.m __________ 9.pm.

19. Lincoln was __________ Germany last week.

20. They have got a beautiful house __________ the lake.

21. In Turkey most banks open __________ about 9 a.m.

22. Ronaldinho often watches TV or play Playstation __________ the evenings.

23. My daughter always walks to school because we live __________ her school.

24. The restaurants are very expensive here so people hardly ever eat __________ around here.

25. A: What shall we eat __________ dinner today?   B: How __________ pizza?

26. Are these flowers __________me? Thank you very much.

27. Kate’s always very busy __________ the week so she has lunch in her office.

KEY

1. for  2. to  3. to  4. with  5. to  6. at  7. about  8. for  9. in  10. for / after / on  11. on  12. on  13. from  14. up  15. in  16. at / in  17. for  18. from / to  19. in  20. by  21. at  22. in  23. near 24. out  25. for / about  26. for  27. in

Rewrite the following sentences starting with the words given.

1. The Coca Cola Company advertises its products well, so people prefer drinking them.

If _____________________________________________________________________________.

2.  It is necessary for him  to renew his  passport before leaving the country.

I______________________________________________________________________________.

3. Is it prohibited for students to park here?

Are students___________________________________________________________________ ?

4. “How long have they been in Porto when you arrived there?”

Can you tell me __________________________________________________________________?

5. Ceyda is much more romantic than her sister, Lale.

Lale  is_________________________________________________________________________.

6. Aragones is older than Fatih Terim. (not as….as)

Fatih Terim ___________________________________________________________________.

7. Alex had already left the library when I got there. (by)

Aylin had already left the library_____________________________there.

8. There were more accidents last year than this year. (as)

This year, there were not ______________________________________ last year.

PRESENT WISH

Complete the sentences using the given clues.

1. It’s a pity I can’t go to the stadium tonight.

I wish____________________________________________________.

2. I want to see Sara more often but I can’t.

I wish____________________________________________________.

3. I live in Malta and I don’t like this.

I wish_____________________________________________________.

4. It’s a pity Mary is not here.

I wish____________________________________________________.

5. My sister doesn’t know how to dance.

I wish____________________________________________________.

6. My best friend isn’t here.

I wish ___________________________________________________.

7. Why can’t you come to my birthday party?

I wish___________________________________________________.

8.  I’m not watching the news.

I wish__________________________________________________.

9. She has got a lot of problems with her husband.

She wishes _________________________________________________.

10. Alex can’t speak English fluently.

He wishes________________________________________________.

KEY:

1. I wish I could go to the stadium tonight.

2. I wish I saw Sara more often.

3. I wish I didn’t live in Malta.

4. I wish Mary was here.

5. I wish she knew how to dance.

6. I wish my best friend was here.

7. I wish you came to my party.

8. I wish I was watching the news.

9. She wishes she didn’t have problems with her husband.

10. He wishes he could speak English fluently.