SENTENCE TRANSFORMATIONS AN INTRODUCTION

Sentence Transformations focus on grammar and vocabulary. What they test is your ability to
paraphrase messages in English. The language tested may include:

Verb Tenses
Modal Verbs
Verb Patterns
Reported Speech
Passive Voice
Impersonal Passives
Conditionals
Unreal Forms

Causatives
Comparisons and Superlatives
Phrasal Verbs
Linkers
So and Such
Too and Enough
Used
Idioms

EXERCISES
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must
use between two and five words, including the word given.
VERB TENSES
(Tip: Notice that the tenses generally tested are the Perfect ones.)
1) My neighbour began to learn English ten years ago. (learning)
My neighbour has ___________________________________ ten years.
2) We haven't seen each other for ages. (last)
Its ages ___________________________________ each other.
3) That was the first time I ate mangoes. (never)
I ___________________________________ before.
4) The last time I went sailing was last month. (gone)
I ___________________________________ a month.
5) He left for England a year ago. (for)
He ___________________________________ a year.

MODALS
(Tip: In what way is ought different from the other modals? Cannot count as one word, cant as
two.)
6) My advice is to buy a new computer. (ought)
You ___________________________________ a new computer.
7) It is possible that he is Italian. (may)
He ___________________________________ Italian.
8) You are not allowed to park here. (must)
You ___________________________________ here.
9) You need a ticket to go on the train. (without)
You ___________________________________ a ticket.
VERB PATTERNS: GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

(Tip: Feel should be followed by another word before the gerund.)

10) He didnt want to take the books back to the library. (feel)
He ___________________________________ the books back to the library.
11) Do you think you will pass the exam? (expect)
Do you ___________________________________ the exam?
12) Do you think I should buy a bilingual dictionary? (suggest)
Would you ___________________________________ a bilingual dictionary?
13) He hates it if he has to study on Saturday afternoon. (stand)
He ___________________________________ on Saturday afternoon.
14) That overcoat costs too much for me to buy. (afford)
I ___________________________________ that overcoat.

REPORTED SPEECH
(Tip: Make sure you also know the verb pattern that follows the reporting verb.)
15) You should go to the dentist for a check-up, Lorna, said Martin. (advised)
Martin ___________________________________ the dentist for a check-up.
16) I went out last night, said Greg. (had)
Greg said ___________________________________ the previous night.
17) Elena asked the waitress for another knife. (could)
Elena said to the waitress: ___________________________________, please?
18) Do you know whats on at the cinema, James? said Pam. (knew)
Pam asked James ___________________________________ on at the cinema.
19) I didnt see anything the boy said. (denied)
The boy ___________________________________ anything.

PASSIVE VOICE
(Tip: Make sure you use the same tense used in the active voice. Also, do not mix singular with
plural)
20) A mechanical breakdown caused the delay. (by)
The delay ___________________________________ a mechanical breakdown.
21) They freeze pizzas in batches of twelve. (are)
The pizzas ___________________________________ batches of twelve.
22) Children are going to eat most of the ice cream. (be)
Most of the ice cream ___________________________________ by children.

IMPERSONAL PASSIVES
(Tip: This is the kind of language you find in newspapers: In Portuguese it is something like:
supe-se que, acredita-se que, etc. Also, notice that the Passive structure is always followed by the
infinitive. For instance, for the verb SEE we have the Present Infinitive to see; the Continuous

Infinitive to be seeing; the Perfect Infinitive to have seen; or the Passive Infinitive to be seen /
to have been seen)
23) Forecasters announced that the weather will be good tomorrow. (expected)
The weather ___________________________________ tomorrow.
24) Many people think that the thief escaped by climbing over the wall. (believed)
The thief ___________________________________ by climbing over the wall.
25) Observers say the company is losing a lot of money. (said)
The company ___________________________________ a lot of money.
26) It is reported that the building was badly damaged by the fire. (have)
The building ___________________________________ badly damaged by the fire.

CONDITIONALS
(Tip: Make sure you know the four basic Conditionals.)
27) I arrived late because I missed the train. (caught)
If I had caught the train ___________________________________ time.
28) Missing breakfast always gives me a headache. (get)
If I ___________________________________ a headache.
29) If I dont feel better tomorrow, Ill go to the doctor. (unless)
Ill go to the doctor ___________________________________ tomorrow.
30) You should go immediately to the doctor. (you)
If I ___________________________________ go to the doctor immediately.

UNREAL FORMS
(Tip: Unreal means hypothetical. If I were a millionaire implies I am not a millionaire this is the
reality. If I had gone means I did not go. For hypothetical, or unreal, situations in the Present we
use the Past - Simple or Continuous; for unreal situations in the Past we use the Past Perfect Simple or Continuous)
31) This room hasnt been cleaned for ages. (time)
It ___________________________________ cleaned.
32) Rosemary hasnt been on holiday for years. (high)
It is ___________________________________ on holiday.
33) I would love to have enough money to go to Rome. (wish)
I ___________________________________ to go to Rome.
34) I regret not booking the seats in advance. (only)
If ___________________________________ the tickets in advance.
35) He looks German but he is not. (though)
He ___________________________________ German.
36) I missed the goal because I was daydreaming when Beckham scored. (not)
If only ___________________________________ when Beckham scored.

CAUSATIVES (have / need / make / let / allow)

(Tip: Make sure you get the right verb pattern for each verb used. Two of the verbs needed are
followed by the bare infinitive.)
37) A shop mended my vacuum cleaner for me. (had)
I ___________________________________ mended.
38) That dog is too thin, someone must feed him properly. (needs)
That dog is too thin, ___________________________________ properly.
39) We had to wear a tie when we were at school. (us)
The principal ___________________________________ a tie when we were at school.
40) They are not free to come back home at whatever time they want. (allowed)
They ___________________________________ come back home at whatever time they want.
41) He wasnt stopped from smoking by his parents when he was young. (him)
His parents ___________________________________ when he was young.

COMPARISONS AND SUPERLATIVES

(Tip: Do you know how to use the structure as ... as?)
42) Mandy has more experience than Sally. (as)
Sally doesnt ___________________________________ Mandy.
43) My interview lasted much longer than yours. (long)
Your interview ___________________________________ my interview.
44) Steves clothes werent as smart as Marks. (than)
Marks clothes ___________________________________ Steves.
45) I have never seen a better film than this. (ever)
This is the ___________________________________ seen.
46) There wasnt any other student more enthusiastic than Peter in class. (was)
Peter ___________________________________ in class.

PHRASAL VERBS
47) Todays meeting is postponed and it will be held next week. (put)
Todays meeting has ___________________________________ until next week.
48) We discussed the problem but nobody had a solution. (came)
We discussed the problem but ___________________________________ a solution.
49) The manager had the respect of everyone in the office. (up)
Everyone in the office ___________________________________ the manager.
50) He deceived everyone with his disguise. (in)
Everyone ___________________________________ his disguise.
51) Do you have a good relationship with your neighbours? (well)
Do you ___________________________________ your neighbours?

LINKERS
52) You should take a towel because you may want to give swimming. (in)
Take a towel ___________________________________ go swimming.
53) Although he is already at university he is still very childish. (despite)
He is very childish ___________________________________ university.
54) Although he comes from a poor background, he became a leading figure in his field. (spite)
He became a leading figure in his field ___________________________________ a poor
background.
55) In spite of the freezing weather, we had a great holiday in Canada. (even)
We had a great holiday in Canada, ___________________________________ was freezing.
56) During the walk home from work, my dad always makes phone calls. (as)
My dad always makes phone calls ___________________________________ from work.

SO / SUCH
57) Her voice was so quiet that I couldnt hear her. (a)
She had ___________________________________ that I couldnt hear her.
58) We had such a dirty room that we checked out of the hotel. (so)
Our room ___________________________________ that we checked out of the hotel.

TOO / ENOUGH
59) This salad is too oily. (oil)
There ___________________________________ on this salad.
60) There is little sugar in this coffee for me. (sweet)
This coffee ___________________________________ for me.
61) Its not warm enough to eat outside this evening. (too)
Its ___________________________________ this evening.

USED
(Tips: Remember that to can be the particle of the infinitive (to play) or a preposition (go to
school). Used needs sometimes a preposition; what happens to the verb that follows a
preposition?)
62) Originally, tennis was an indoor game. (to)
Tennis ___________________________________ an indoor game.
63) It was difficult for Craig to adjust to living in Spain. (used)
Craig couldnt ___________________________________ living in Spain.
64) He doesnt find speaking Italian very familiar. (not)
He ___________________________________ Italian.

IDIOMS
65) Stubborn people often find it difficult to apologise for their mistakes. (sorry)
Stubborn people often find it difficult ___________________________________ their
mistakes.
66) Will you promise that you wont tell anybody? (word)
Will you ___________________________________ that you wont tell anybody?
67) In all probability he will arrive late for class. (bound)
He ___________________________________ arrive late for class.
68) My views on this subject are exactly the same as yours. (difference)
There ___________________________________ my views on this subject and yours.
69) Jack found it difficult to control his skis on the steep slope. (control)
Jack found it difficult to ___________________________________ on the steep slope.

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION KEY

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
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8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
20)
21)
22)
23)
24)
25)
26)
27)
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29)
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31)
32)
33)
34)
35)
36)
37)

My neighbour has been learning English for

ten years.
Its ages since we last saw each other.
I had never eaten mangoes before.
I havent gone sailing for a month.
He has been in England for a year.
You ought to buy a new computer.
He may be Italian.
You must not park here.
You cannot board the train without a ticket.
He did not feel like taking the books back to
the library.
Do you expect to pass the exam.
Would you suggest (my) buying a bilingual
dictionary?
He cant stand studying on Saturday
afternoon.
I cant afford to buy that overcoat.
Martin advised Lorna to go to the dentist for a
check-up.
Greg said he had gone out the previous night.
Elena said to the waitress: Could you bring
another knife, please?
Pam asked James if / whether he knew what
was on at the cinema.
The boy denied seeing / having seen
anything.
The delay was caused by a mechanical
breakdown.
The pizzas are frozen in batches of twelve.
Most of the ice cream is going to be eaten by
children.
The weather is expected to be good tomorrow.
The thief is believed to have escaped by
climbing over the wall.
The company is said to be losing a lot of
money.
The building is reported to have been badly
damaged by the fire.
If I had caught the train Id have arrived on
time.
If I miss breakfast, I always get a headache.
Ill go to the doctor unless I feel better
tomorrow.
If I were you, I would go to the doctor
immediately.
It is time this room was cleaned.
It is high time Rosemary went on holiday.
I wish I had enough money to go to Rome.
If only I had booked the tickets in advance.
He looks as though he were German.
If only I had not been daydreaming when
Beckham scored.
I had my vacuum cleaner mended.

38) That dog is too thin, it needs feeding properly.

39) The principal made us wear a tie when we
were at school.
40) They are not allowed to come back home at
whatever time they want.
41) His parents let him smoke when he was young.
42) Sally doesnt have as much experience as
Mandy.
43) Your interview was not as long as my
interview.
44) Marks clothes were smarter than Steves.
45) This is the best film I have ever seen.
46) Peter was the most enthusiastic student in
class.
47) Todays meeting has been put off until next
week.
48) We discussed the problem but nobody came
up with a solution.
49) Everyone in the office looked up to the
manager.
50) Everyone was taken in by his disguise.
51) Do you get on well with your neighbours?
52) Take a towel in case you want to go
swimming.
53) He is very childish despite being already at
university.
54) He became a leading figure in his field in spite
of coming from a poor background.
55) We had a great holiday in Canada, even
though the weather was freezing.
56) My dad always makes phone calls as he walks
home from work.
57) She had such a quiet voice that I couldnt hear
her.
58) Our room was so dirty that we checked out of
the hotel.
59) There is too much oil on this salad.
60) This coffee is not sweet enough for me.
61) Its too cold to eat outside this evening.
62) Tennis used to be an indoor game.
63) Craig couldnt get used to living in Spain.
64) He is not used to speaking Italian.
65) Stubborn people often find it difficult to say
sorry for their mistakes.
66) Will you give your word that you wont tell
anybody?
67) He is bound to arrive late for class.
68) There is no difference between my views on
this subject and yours.
69) Jack found it difficult to keep his skis under
control on the steep slope.