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.

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.

PARAPHRASING / SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION / REWRITE QUESTIONS

Rewrite the sentences using too/enough keeping the meaning the same.

1. Don’t wear a T-shirt. It’s cold outside.

_________________________________________________.

2. It’s very hot today. Let’s go to the beach.

_________________________________________________.

3. We’re not going to work yet. It’s early.

_________________________________________________.

4. You can’t touch the ceiling. You’re short.

_________________________________________________.

5. You can buy this game. It’s cheap.

_________________________________________________.

6. Carlos can be a team leader. He isn’t very young.

_________________________________________________.

7. They can buy a private plane. They are rich.

_________________________________________________.

8. You can lift this TV. It’s light.

__________________________________________________.

9. Delgado is 18 years old. He can vote in the elections.

__________________________________________________.

10. This skirt is not my size. It’s not big enough.

___________________________________________________.

KEY

1. It’s too cold to wear a T-shirt.

2. It’s hot enough to go to the beach.

3. It’s too early to go to work.

4. You aren’t tall enough to touch the ceiling.

5. This game is cheap enough to buy.

6. Carlos is old enough to be a teamleader.

7. They are rich enough to buy a private plane.

8. This TV is light enough to lift.

9. Delgado is old enough to vote in the elections.

10. This skirt is too small for me.

PARAPHRASING / SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION / REWRITE QUESTIONS

TOO / ENOUGH

Rewrite each sentence keeping the meaning the same.

1. The shirt is so small that I can’t wear it.

__________________________________________________________.

2. This flat is too small for my parents to live in.

__________________________________________________________.

3. The road is so wet that I can’t control the car easily.

__________________________________________________________.

4. The bird is so weak that it can’t fly.

__________________________________________________________.

5. My sister is so busy that she can’t come to the cinema with us.

__________________________________________________________.

6. The watch is so expensive that he couldn’t buy it.

__________________________________________________________.

7. These sandals are so small that they don’t fit me.

__________________________________________________________.

8. The film is so boring that he can’t watch it.

__________________________________________________________.

9. I was so tired that I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

__________________________________________________________.

10. The coffee was so strong that she couldn’t drink it.

__________________________________________________________.

11. The boys are too young to watch that film.

__________________________________________________________.

12. Alex was so shocked that he couldn’t say a word.

__________________________________________________________.

13. Sinan is too short to be a basketball player.

__________________________________________________________.

14. Carlos was so excited that he couldn’t sleep.

__________________________________________________________.

15. That room is so hot that I can’t sit comfortably.

__________________________________________________________.

KEY 1. The shirt is too small (for me) to wear.

2. This flat isn’t big enough (for my parents) to live in.

3. The road is too wet to control the car easily.

4. The bird is too weak / isn’t strong enough to fly.

5. My sister is too busy to come to the cinema with us.

6. The watch was too expensive for him to buy.

7. These sandals are not big enough to fit me.

8. This film is too boring to watch.

9. I was too tired to keep my eyes open.

10. The coffee was too strong (for her) to drink.

11. The boys are not old enough to watch that film.

12. Alex was too shocked to say a word.

13. Sinan is not tall enough to be a basketball player.

14. Carlso is too excited to sleep.

15. The room is too hot to sit comfortably.

PARAPHRASING PRESENT PERFECT SENTENCES

Complete each sentence keeping the meaning the same.

1. He became a dogwalker five years ago.

He ______________________________ten years.

2. They visited their uncle two months ago.

They ___________________________ two months.

3. She has been a vet for eight years.

She_______________________________ago.

4. Alex hasn’t scored a goal for 3 weeks.

The last time _____________________________3 weeks ago.

5. We have never been to Athens before.

It’s the __________________________________ Athens.

6. I have never watched such an exciting match.

It’s _________________________________ever watched.

7. Roberto Carlos has never worked with such a friendly coach.

He’s ___________________________________ever worked.

8. She’s never eaten such a delicious cake.

_______________________________________ever eaten.

9. I’ve never driven such a fast car.

———————————-ever driven.

10. I’ve never seen such a lazy student.

———————————ever seen.

KEY: 1. …..has been a dog walker for ten years.

2. ….haven’t visited their uncle for two months.

3. She became a vet 8 years ago.

4. The last time Alex scored a goal was three weeks ago.

5. It’s the first time we’ve been to Athens.

6. It’s the most exciting match I’ve ever watched.

7. He’s the most friendly coach Carlos has ever worked.

8. It’s the most delicious cake she has ever eaten.

9. It’s the fastest car I’ve ever driven.

10. He’s the laziest student I’ve ever seen.

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………

GERUND / INFINITIVE

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

1. He should work harder to be a champion in Olympics. It’s worth it.

It’s worth _____________________________________________________.

2. “Let’s go to a hotel in Ayvalik this weekend” Cenk said.

Cenk suggested________________________________________________.

3. It’s not a good idea to borrow a lot of money from a bank.

It’s better to avoid______________________________________________.

4. Semih really loves to drive race cars so he’s going to join a racing club.

Semih really enjoys _________________________________________________.

5. I made an effort to reach that rope but I couldn’t.

I tried _____________________________________________________________.

6. Metin hates travelling by train.

Metin can’t stand ___________________________________________________:

7. Having a good night sleep is important for babies.

It’s important for babies______________________________________________.

8. Don’t miss seeing the Ephesus when you are in Turkey.

Don’t forget_________________________________________________________.

9. My father and I can’t wait to watch Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe match.

My father and I are looking forward to__________________________________.

10. Monitoring the workers is necessary in my job.

It’s necessary for me _________________________________________________.

Key

1. It’s woth working harder to be a champion in the Olympics.
2. Cenk suggested going to a hotel in Ayval?k this weekend.
3. It’s better to avoid borrowing a lot of money from a bank
4. Semih really enjoys driving racing cars so he’s going to koin a racing club.
5. I tried to reach that rope but I couldn’t.
6. Metin can’t stand travelling by train.
7. It’s important for babies to have a good night sleep.
8. Don’t forget to see Ephesus when you are in Turkey.
9. My father and I are looking forward to watch Galatasaray Fenerbahçe match.
10. It’s necessary for me to monitor the workers in my job.