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.

CATCH UP (WITH)

Meaning: 1. reach someone by running or walking faster.

2. reach the same level or degree as someone.

Example: Semih will never catch up with me. I’m a better runner than him.

After studying hard, I finally caught up with my classmates.

As he has just joined the team, he needs more time to catch up with his friends.

have something done / make somebody do something / get somebody to do something / let somebody do something

Choose the best answer.

1. She ________ that he wouldn’t tell anyone.

a) made him promised b) made him promise c) promised to make

2. Does your tooth still hurt? Yes, I have to get a dentist ________ soon.

a) look at it b) to get it looked at c) to look at it

3. I ________ a couple of days ago.

a) had my bike to be fixed b) had my bike fix c) had my bike fixed

4. I will not ________ with this!

a) allow you get away b) let you get away c) to let you get away

5. Don’t ________ these things about you!

a) let him say b) let him to say c) let him said

6. The movie ________ sad.

a) made to feel b) made him feel c) made him to feel

7. I get my ________ from my other address.

a) mail forward b) mail to forward c) mail forwarded

8. Have your assistant ________ these letters immediately!

a) to send b) to be sent c) send

9. He ________ yesterday.

a) had his hair cut b) had his hair to be cut c) had hair to be cut

10. The professor ________ early.

a) to let the students leave b) let the students leave c) let the students to leave

KEY: 1. b  2. c 3. c 4. b 5.a 6.b 7. c 8.c 9. a 10. b<-->

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

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.

ERROR CORRECTION

CORRECT THE MISTAKE IN EACH SENTENCE

1. Murat is married for ten years.

__________________________________________________.

2. Fernando Sucre lives in Chicago since 2003.

__________________________________________________.

3. I haven’t seen my cousin since three weeks.

__________________________________________________.

4. How long does she work for Samsung Electronics?

_________________________________________________.

5. Anelka has been in England for June.

_________________________________________________.

6. How long do you have your i-phone?

_________________________________________________.

7. Sinan knows his best friend Erkan since 2001.

________________________________________________.

8. Sara has had this job since eight years.

_________________________________________________.

KEY

1. …..has been married

2. ……has lived…..

3. …………..for three weeks.

4. How long has she worked…….?

5. …………………since June.

6. How long have you had your i-phone?

7. ……….has known

8. …………………..for eight years

GET

Complete the sentences with the correct form of get and one of these words

angry – emails- home- married – taller – tickets – on – better – off – lost

1.  A:The pain in my back’s __________________. B: I’ m happy to hear that.

2. Alex didn’t have a map and a GPS system in his car so he _______________.

3. Look at Sara’s daughter. She ___________________. She’s growing very fast.

4. What’s the best age for people to _________________?

5. Because I work for a very big firm, I always ___________nearly 75___________ from the clients everyday.

6. It will be the most important match in this season, so we must ______________ early.

7. Although he is new in the team, he _____________with everybody.

8. Scolfield will call his brother as soon as he _____________ in the evening.

9. Mary’s boss _______________ because she couldn’t finish writing the orders on time.

10. I _____________ the bus quickly as soon as I noticed that I had taken the wrong bus.

KEY:

1. getting better  2. got lost  3. is getting taller 4. get married  5. get nearly 75 emails  6. get tickets  7. gets on  8. gets home  9. got angry  10. got off

PHRASAL VERBS

Put the phrasal verbs into correct sentences. Use each only once.

1. Alex’s been __________ his keys for an hour but he hasn’t found them yet.

2. She doesn’t want to go to the airport alone. She wants her friends to __________ her ________.

3. It’s getting late. I think we have to __________on our journey now.

4. You have to __________this application form to get a full membership.

5. I __________suddenly when I saw Carlos on the side of the stadium. His car had __________ and he was trying to repair it.

6. I can’t hear the radio. Can you please_________it___________?

7. Claire really __________ her mother, she has the same eyes and hair.

8. Could you please _________ me ________ when you learn the result of the test?

9. The teacher ________ Kerim ______ for not bringing his books to the class.

10. A: I have to spend the night in the city because I have an appointment in the morning.

B: Don’t worry we’ll _________ you ________ for the night.

11. The fire spread very quickly but the firemen were able to _________ it _______.

12. Orkun __________ a lot of suggestions at the meeting but none of them were accepted.

13. If we invite all your friends, the food will __________ and we will have no food for the next week.

14. It was very easy to ________ Aylin ________ in the crowd because she was wearing a bright green jumper.

15. The soldiers tried to __________ the bridge ________ but there weren’t enough explosives.

16. While I was walking down the main street I __________ one of my old friends. We talked about old days for hours.

17. Jack is really very attractive and he __________ from the rest among other people because of his appearance.

18. Kate got fed up with working for other people. As a result, she decided to __________ her own business.

19. They had to __________ all the flights ________ because of the thick fog.

20. It’s freezing outside. You’d better _________ a jacket __________.

21. I finish work at 5 but I’ll __________ until half past five to meet you.

22. Lugano fell a sleep after the plane __________ because he had taken some sleeping bills.

23. Veronica __________ in a village near Manchester. Since her parents died in an accident when she was two, her uncle and aunt ________ her ________.

KEY

1. looking for  2. see me off  3. set off 4. fill in  5. pulled up / broken down  6. turn it up  7. takes after  8. call me up  9. told Kerim off  10. puy you up11. put it out  12. put forward  13. run out  14. pick Aylin out  15. blow the bridge up  16. bumped into  17. stands out  18. set up  19. put the concert off  20. put a jacket on 21. hang on  22. took off  23. grew up / brought her up