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.

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.

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

PUT THE VERBS INTO THE CORRECT PRESENT FORMS

Dear Mr and Mrs. Witmore

I (1) __________ (write) to thank you for coming to our wedding last month. I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Sheila and I (2)__________ (just / return) from our honeymoon in

Kenya and (3)__________ (now / look forward to) starting our new life together. We (4)__________ (just / move) into our new house and since our honeymoon we

(5)__________ (spend) all our free time decorating. The house (6)__________ (actually / begin) to feel like home now and we (7)_________ (gradually / settle) in a routine. We

(8)__________ (have) breakfast together in the morning, but then we (9)__________ (not / see) each other until late in the evening when we (10)__________ (get) home from

work. I hope both of you (11)__________ (be) well since we last saw you.

Love.

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.

CLOZE TESTS (ONE WORD EXERCISES) PRE-INTERMEDIATE

Fill in the blanks with ONE word only

A) Have you ever ___________(1) birds build nests? They usually do so when the female bird is about to

__________(2) its eggs. Both the male and female birds find twigs, straw, grass and even string to build a

nest. After the nest is __________(3), the female bird lays its eggs in the nest and sits __________(4) them

until it is time for them to hatch. The male bird flies around to __________(5) for food. Sometimes, it is the

male bird that sits on the eggs to keep them ___________(6). In some species, __________(7) the male and

female birds take turns to sit on the eggs.

B) We ___________(1) to have inconsiderate neighbours. They were rude and unfriendly. They also made a lot __________(2) noise at night. Whenever they watched TV or listened to the radio, they always

turned the volume __________(3) high. We tried telling them about the problems they were __________(4), but they ignored us and the noise got __________(5). They also liked to litter the corridor. Their

son would eat ice cream or crackers and ___________(6) the wrappers along the corridor. My mother made several complaints __________(7) the municipality. However, when the officers came to visit,

they would always refuse to open the door. Then, one day, we __________(8) them packing their things and loading them __________(9) a lorry. We were very happy when we realised that they were moving.

KEY

A) 1. seen  2. lay  3. built / ready 4. on  5. look  6. warm  7. both

B) 1. used to  2. of  3. up  4. causing  5. worse  6. throw  7. to  8. saw  9. into

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

1. She doesn’t know how to make a cake, otherwise she would do it herself.

If ____________________________________________________________.

2. If you don’t save enough money, you won’t buy that computer.

Unless________________________________________________________.

3. If he should go to Paris this spring, I could lend him my HD camera.

Should________________________________________________________.

4. You can go out with your friends only if you promise to come back early.

Providing______________________________________________________.

5. Should you call Tim, tell him to bring my DVDs back on Sunday.

If_____________________________________________________________.

6. Alex was exhausted, otherwise he would have scored that goal.

If _____________________________________________________________:

7. Mancini will be transferred to Juventus only if they accept his offer.

Provided_______________________________________________________.

8. You’ll hurt yourself unless you put that knife away.

If_____________________________________________________________.

9. They can be successful only if they change their strategies.

As long as

10. My sister can’t sew, otherwise she would make her own clothes.

If_____________________________________________________________.

EXERCISE 1. Fill in the blanks with MUST / MUSTN’T / HAVE TO / NOT HAVE TO

Ronaldo can go to Brazil next week because he ________________ attend the training.

You ______________ buy that CD. We have got so many Cds at home.

Look at my car. It’s really dirty. I ____________ wash it as soon as possible.

I have just ordered some pizza. You ____________ cook anything tonight.

Since Alex de Souza was injured in the middle of the match, he ___________ leave the pitch.

You ___________ remember what I said to you. It’s very important.

You ___________ put the chains on the wheels. It’s going to be snowy.

Tayfun ___________ buy a new CD player. He can use mine.

In Turkey all men _____________ do military service.

You __________ prepare an impressive CV before applying a job.

EXERCISE 2. Fill in the blanks with MUST / MUSTN’T / CAN / CAN’T / HAVE TO / DON’T HAVE TO

My mother has told me to buy some batteries. I ___________ forget to buy some.

The old lady is sleeping. You _____________ turn down the volume.

You ____________ walk on the grass. It’s forbidden.

I’m sorry I couldn’t come yesterday. I _____________ visit a very important client.

We’ve got a lot of time. You ____________ hurry.

KEY

EXERCISE 1. 1) doesn’t have to 2) don’t have to 3) must 4) don’t have to 5) had to 6) must 7) don’t have to 8) doesn’t have to 9) have to 10) must

EXERCISE 2) 1) mustn’t 2) must 3) mustn’t 4) had to 5) don’t have to

SIMPLE PRESENT or PRESENT CONTINUOUS

EXERCISE 1. Fill in the blanks. Use Simple Present or Present Continuous Tense

1. A: Where’s Nuray?     B: She’s in her room. She _______________ ( play ) a computer game.

2. This room ______________ ( feel ) hot. Would you mind opening the window please?

3. Shhh! Listen! Someone _______________ ( make ) noise in the garden.

4. I normally _____________( play)  tennis at the weekends but this weekend I _____________ ( play ) squash with Berk.

5. I ____________ ( taste ) the milk at the moment. Ohh! It’s very hot.

6. Because it’s really hot, Melek ___________ ( want ) to eat some ice-cream.

7. Cenk _____________ ( not understand ) how Murat’s found the correct answer.

8. She ____________ ( fly ) to Athens on Monday.

9. Our toys shop _____________ ( open ) at 9 a.m. and ____________ ( close ) at 8 p.m.

10. Look at the boy. He ______________ ( walk ) fast.

EXERCISE 2. Complete the story by using Simple Present or Present Cont.

Dear Nihat

As you ____________ 1( know ), I ____________ 2( work ) for the TMRC company. Our company __________ 3( produce ) spare parts for all vehicles. It’s a big company and it ____________ 4( have ) four factories in different parts of the world. The main factory _____________ 5( be ) in Turkey. It mainly __________ 6( focus ) on the heavy industrial vehicles. 3500 workers ____________ 7( work ) there. They ___________ 8( have ) 3 shifts; morning, afternoon and night.

At the moment I ____________ 9( work ) on the night shift. I and the other engineers ___________ 10( check ) the new parts carefully and we ____________ 11( take ) notes. As it is a night shift, it ____________ 12( be ) very cold outside. All the workers ____________ 13( wear ) warm clothes in order not to feel the cold. All the machines ___________ 14( run ) so I _____________ 15( hardly / hear ) the other workers. Generally the manager ____________ 16( visit ) the factory when we are on the night shift but this week he _____________ 17( visit ) the second factory in Brazil. Therefore, we _____________ 18( not feel ) ourselves under pressure. I ___________ 19( need ) to go now.  I ___________ 20( look forward ) to seeing you next month.

                                                                                                                                     Best wishes…

                                                                                                                                     Osman

KEY

EXERCISE 1. 1. is playing  2. feels  3. is making 4. play / am playing  5. am tasting  6. wants  7. doesn’t understand 8. is flying  9. opens / closes 10. is walking

EXERCISE 2. 1. know 2. work 3. produces 4. has 5. is 6. focuses 7. work 8. have 9. am working 10. are checking 11. are taking 12. is 13. are wearing 14. are running 15. hardly hear 16.visits 17. is visiting 18. don’t feel 19. need 20. am looking forward