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.

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.

Rewrite the following sentences by the words given. Do not change the meaning.

1. They’ll finish writing all the letters by tonight.  (will)

All ___________________________________________by tonight.

2. Nobody can deny that his left foot is strong.  (denied)

It____________________________________ has a strong left foot.

3. Somebody has fixed her motorbike for $50. (repaired)

She _____________________________________ for $50.

4. They’re going to demolish that old football stadium. (pulled)

That old football stadium ____________________________ down.

5. Everybody says that Prague is a romantic city. (supposed)

Prague __________________________________ a romantic city.

6. You are not allowed to bring your children to the office. (must)

Your children ______________________________ to the office.

7. My car really needs to be serviced soon. (get)

I really ______________________________________ soon.

Rewrite the following sentences using USED TO keeping the meaning the same.

1. Mert never smoked at all when he was at the university but now he smokes ten cigarettes a day.

________________________________________________________________.

2. Mr.Carlos travelled a lot when he was young but now he writes books for travellers.

________________________________________________________________:

3. Aylin worked here for five years but now she works for an international oil company.

________________________________________________________________.

4. My grandparents told me a lot of interesting things about the Independance War but they can’t do it now because both of them died years ago.

_________________________________________________________________:

5. Women didn’t vote in elections in the past but now they have the right to be a member of the parliament.

_________________________________________________________________.

6. How did people get news before the invention of radio and television?

__________________________________________________________________.

7. Did people wear fashionable clothes in earlier ages?

_________________________________________________________________:

8. There weren’t so many robberies in my childhood.

__________________________________________________________________.

9. There was a lonely woman in that house before it was knocked down.

__________________________________________________________________.

10. The number of people living in this city was much less than it is now.

__________________________________________________________________.

KEY

1. Mert didn’t use to smoke when he was at the university.

2. Mr.Carlos used to travel a lot when he was young………….

3. Aylin used to work here for five years…………………….

4. My grandparents used to tell me a lot of interesting stories about the Independance War……

5. Women didn’t use to vote in elections in the past……..

6. How did people use to get the news before the invention of the radio and TV?

7. Did people use to wear fashionable clothes in earlier ages?

8 There didn’t use to be so many robberies in my childhood.

9. There used to be a lonely woman in that house…………………..

10. The number of people living in this city used to be much less than………

SEND AWAY

Check these sentences

I sent away the cook because he was really slow and impractical.

Mike is thinking about sending away the driver as he is very old and incapable of driving.

MEANING

Send away: make somebody leave place, often because he isn’t needed or welcomed.

TRY ON

Check these sentences.

I must try this on to see if it fits me.

A: Can I try on this shirt?     B: Certainly. The changing rooms are over there.

MEANING

TRY ON: put on clothing to see if it fits.

GET OVER

Check these sentences

After I had a traffic accident, it took me a long time to get over its negative effects.

As she’s very weak, she can’t get over the flu easily.

I couldn’t get over the divorce for a long time. However, I’m fine now.

Once you get over the first shock, everything will be OK.

Murat couldn’t get over the tragedies in his life and he decided to commit a suicide.

MEANING

get over = to recover from, release from stress or something bad.

GET OFF something

Check these sentences

• As my motorbike has got a flat tyre, it is better for me to get off and walk.
• Don’t forget you’re going to get off the train when you arrive the fifth station.
• While I was sitting at a cafe, a black car stopped and three people got off it.

MEANING: leave a vehicle ( araçtan inmek )

OPPOSITE ( X )

get off something X get on something

TAKE UP something ( 1)

Check these sentences.

• You should take up doing exercises if you want to lose weight.
• As I haven’t driven a car for nearly 20 years, it will be better for me to take up driving lessons.
• Although he is 60, he has taken up tennis.
• My sister took up the guitar when she was 6.

MEANING

take up something: to start to do a new activity. ( ba?lamak )

OPPOSITE ( X )

take up something X give up something