PET PRACTICE ON SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION.

Active and Passive voice.

1. They make cars in Oxford.

Cars ....................................................................................................................................................
2. The council has changed the road system.
The road system ...........................................................................................................................
3. Some exams are marked by a computer.
A computer .....................................................................................................................................
4. He has been changed by the experience.
The experience ..............................................................................................................................
5. Somebody will change the sign tomorrow.
Tomorrow .........................................................................................................................................

Reported / direct speech

1. Ive just seen a ghost! Arthur said.

Arthur said ......................................................................................................................................
2. She said to me, Were going for a walk at lunchtime.
She told me ....................................................................................................................................
3. The company is not recruiting any new staff, said the manager.
The manager said .........................................................................................................................
4. Im pregnant! Joanna told her husband.
Joanna said to ...............................................................................................................................
5. Jim said, I dont play golf any more.
Jim said .............................................................................................................................................

Changing yes / no questions

1. Do you play tennis? I asked the girl.

I asked the girl .............................................................................................................................
2. The asked me. Are you thinking of going abroad?
They asked ......................................................................................................................................
3. Have you studied French? The professor asked her.
The Professor asked ...................................................................................................................
4. Does Britain still have a Queen? the tourist asked the guide.
The tourist asked .........................................................................................................................
5. Have you seen the advertisement? the director asked me.
The director asked me ..............................................................................................................

Changing wh .............. questions.

1. How long have you been studying English? she asked him.
She asked
him ............................................................................................................................................
2. Where is London? The student asked the teacher
The student
asked ....................................................................................................................................
3. How much cheese do you need? She asked me.
She asked
me .............................................................................................................................................
4. Where are you living? the interviewer asked me.
The interviewer asked
me ....................................................................................................................
5. What do you think of English food?! The examiner asked.
The examiner asked
me .........................................................................................................................

Changing request / instructions

1. Sit down! Said the teacher to the class.

The teacher
told ........................................................................................................................................
2. Could you open the door? I asked the porter
I asked the
porter ....................................................................................................................................

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 1

3. Dont go swimming after a meal said the instructor to us.
The instructor advised
us ......................................................................................................................
4. Why dont you go to a doctor? said my mother.
My mother
suggested .............................................................................................................................
5. Put up your hands! said the police to the robber.
The police ordered
the .........................................................................................................................

Present perfect / simple past.

1. When did you start did job?

How
long ......................................................................................................................................................
2. My English studies started in 1991.
Ive ........................................................................................................................................................
...........
3. how long have you been a vegetarian?
When .....................................................................................................................................................
..........
4. Ive been waiting for the bus for 55 minutes!
I ..............................................................................................................................................................
..........
5. How long have you been studying English?
When .....................................................................................................................................................
..........

There is, there are, have (got)

1. This school has 135 students at present.

There .....................................................................................................................................................
.........
2. There are 16 classrooms in this building
This building
.............................................................................................................................................
3. The Main Hall has facilities for table tennis and badminton.
There
are ......................................................................................................................................................
4. Unfortunately, the table tennis table has a crack in it.
Unfortunately,
theres ................................................................................................................................
5. There is space for six people to play.
Six people
have .........................................................................................................................................

There is/are + some

Some + noun + is/are

1. Some students are playing table tennis in the Main Hall.

There .....................................................................................................................................................
.........
2. Theres some cheese in the fridge.
Some
cheese ................................................................................................................................................
3. There are 10.000 unemployed people in this city.
10.000 ...................................................................................................................................................
..........
4. Some people think that he is crazy.
There
are ......................................................................................................................................................
5. Theres a wasp on your head!
A
wasp ......................................................................................................................................................
.....

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 2

Can / cant / mustnt / not allowed to

Exam tip: the problem with these forms is one of grammar. Can, cant and mustnt are all
followed by the infinitive without to, whereas not allowed is followed by to. Also, we use the
verb to be before not allowed to (I am not allowed to, she is not allowed to, etc)

1. You can smoke in here.

You
are ..................................................................................................................................................

2. We mustnt copy during a test.

We
cant ...............................................................................................................................................
..
3. Passengers are not allowed to walk across the lines.
Passengers
must .................................................................................................................................
4. You cant do that!
You are
not .........................................................................................................................................
5. John mustnt eat butter.
John
cant .............................................................................................................................................

Comparatives

1. The Nile is longer than the Thames.

The Thames is
not ....................................................................................................................................
2. Keith is stronger than me.
I am
not .......................................................................................................................................................
3. Theyve lived here longer than us.
We
havent .................................................................................................................................................
..
4. Im not as young as Franck!
Frank
is .........................................................................................................................................................
5. Houses in Kent are not as expensive as in London.
Houses in London
are ..............................................................................................................................

If / Unless

1. If he doesnt come by five, Im going home.

Unless ...................................................................................................................................................
..........
2. Unless we find a solution to the problem soon, were going to lose a lot of money.
If ............................................................................................................................................................
..........
3. If you are not in bed in the next five minutes, no trip to the zoo for you!
Unless ...................................................................................................................................................
..........
4. If we cant open the door, we cant get it.
Unless ...................................................................................................................................................
..........
5. Unless Jackson starts playing better, we have no chance of winning.
If
Jackson .................................................................................................................................................
....

Had better

Exam tip: dont forget that had better, ought to, and must are followed by the infinitive
without to.
Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 3
1. Its late. Id better go.
Its late. I
must ......................................................................................................................................
2. Youd better talk to the police.
If I were you, Id ..................................................................................................................................
3. He should see a dentist.
Hed
better ..................................................................................................................................................
4. You ought to do your homework.
Youd .....................................................................................................................................................
..........
5. Take as aspirin.
Youd .....................................................................................................................................................
..........

Nearly all / most of the

1. Most of the trees have gone.

Nearly ...................................................................................................................................................
..........
2. Nearly all the beach was black from the oil.
Most
of ..........................................................................................................................................................

3. Most of the milk was too sour to drink.

Nearly ...................................................................................................................................................
..........
4. nearly all the crowd were Liverpool fans.
Most
of .........................................................................................................................................................
5. Nearly all the doctors went on strike.
Most ......................................................................................................................................................
..........

Remember / dont forget

1. Dont forget to tell Jack..

Remember ............................................................................................................................................
.........
2. Remember to pick up the bread.
Dont .....................................................................................................................................................
..........
3. Remember to make an appointment.
Dont .....................................................................................................................................................
..........

Too / enough
Exam tip: to make these transformation, you often need to write and adjective with the
opposite meaning to the one in the first sentence. Make sure you know the opposites of
common adjectives.

1. He was too short to reach the light switch.

He
wasnt ...................................................................................................................................................
...
2. They werent old enough to get in to see the film.
They
were ...................................................................................................................................................

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 4

3. The soup wasnt hot enough!
The soup
was ............................................................................................................................................
4. The bridge was too weak for lorries and buses to go across.
The bridge
wasnt ....................................................................................................................................
5. The table was too high for him.
The table
wasnt ........................................................................................................................................

Either / Neither

1. We wont go to either New York or LA.

We will go
to .............................................................................................................................................
2. He doesnt speak either French or Spanish.
He
speaks ..................................................................................................................................................
...
3. I like neither Chinese nor Indian food.
I
dont .....................................................................................................................................................
.......

But / although / however

1. Ive known him for a long time. I dont think of him as a friend, however.
Although ...............................................................................................................................................
.........
2. She wears very nice clothes, but I wouldnt say she was fashionable
Although ...............................................................................................................................................
.........
3. although many people believe sugar is bad for you, a lot of people still eat it.
Many people believe sugar is bad for you, but ..........................................................................
4. He left here last year, but nobody has forgotten him.
Although ...............................................................................................................................................
.........
5. You never see fishing on TV. However, it is the second most popular sport in Britain.
Although
fishing ........................................................................................................................................

On + noun / ing / when + verb

1. When King Olaf arrives in a new country, he always makes a speech.

On ..........................................................................................................................................................
..........
2. On parting, we shook hands.
When
we ......................................................................................................................................................
3. On seeing Jack, I laughed out loud.
When
I ...........................................................................................................................................................
4. when you receive this letter, perhaps you could reply immediately.
On ..........................................................................................................................................................
..........
5. On getting home I realized wed been burgled.
When .....................................................................................................................................................
..........

Might / it is possible / perhaps / maybe

1. It is possible that I will come.

I ..............................................................................................................................................................
..........
2. There might be a party on Saturday.
It is
possible ...............................................................................................................................................

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 5

3. Perhaps the plane will crash.
The
plane .....................................................................................................................................................
It is
possible ...............................................................................................................................................
4. Perhaps my prince will come one day.
My
prince ....................................................................................................................................................
..
It is
possible ...............................................................................................................................................
5. I might work abroad this summer.
It
is ............................................................................................................................................................
.....
Perhaps ................................................................................................................................................
..........

Sentence transformation Extra exercises

1. He gave a description of his new house in a letter.

His letter
2. the flats were advertised in the local newspaper.
There was
3. The received some advice from their neighbours.
Their neighbours
4. The weight of the package is 2.5 kilograms.
The package
5. There was an announcement about the winners.
Somebody
6. They discussed the problem for three hours.
Their
7. He received part of his education in France.
He was
8. There is going to be a new development-
Something new is
9. Catalogues are available at the desk.
You can
10. These paintings were done in France in 1926.
The artist
11. The last exhibition of the artists work was held by the Fine Arts society in 1966.
The Fine Arts Society
12. Private collectors lent some of the paintings in the exhibition.
Some of
13. All umbrellas must be left at the desk
You
14. There is a complete set of telephone directories in the Post Office.
The Post Office
15. A lot of customers have savings accounts at the Post Office.
There are
16. It is cheaper to send things by sea than by airmail.
It costs
17. Valuable or urgent parcels can be posted by special service.

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 6

 You
18. Parcels must be wrapped carefully and tied with string.
You
19. Details of courses are available from the secretary.
You can
20. The college has a new library with plenty of room to study.
There
21. Six different courses are offered by the science department
The science department
22. The computer courses are very popular with students from abroad.
Students from abroad
23. The advanced business course last longer than the ordinary business course.
The ordinary
24. Successful students will receive a certificate.
If
25. If you dont come at 6 o clock, the coach will leave without you.
Unless
26. Remember to get some milk.
Dont
27. Most of the students are studying for an exam.
Nearly
28. How long have you known Jim?
When
29. He advised me to go home immediately.
He said Id
30. The tea was very strong, but I drank it all!
Although
31. Unless you tell me the secret, I shall hit you!
If you
32. On getting to the hotel, we went straight to our room and fell asleep.
When we
33. This school has seven classrooms.
There
34. Walking on the grass is prohibited
You are
35. There is no kitchen in this building
This building
36. There are some people waiting in reception.
Some people
37. I didnt like either of the two men
I liked
38. The school was smaller last year.
The school wasnt
39. Some food will be available during the journey.
There
40. although he was a good applicant, we didnt choose him.
He was a good applicant
41. when you receive the paper, you should red it carefully.
On
42. The hospital has both private and National Health beds.

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 7

 There
43. This house is too small
This house is not
44. Tokyo is bigger than Bonn.
Bonn is not
45. It is possible that the company will close.
The company
46. We were attacked by a lion.
A lion
47. He said to the man, Go away!
He told
48. This park doesnt have many trees.
There
49. When did you start studying English?
How long
50. Unless we eat soon, well die.
If
51. Weve been here since February.
We came
52. A policeman saw them as they entered the building
They
53. He advised the tourist to go to the park.
He said
54. It is prohibited to swim without a swimming hat.
You are
55. There are 26 houses in this road.
This road
56. Ive been driving since six this morning.
I started
57. These cars are too expensive for me.
I
58. Most of the buildings in this town are over 100 years old.
Nearly
59. If you dont understand, you cant do the exercise.
Unless
60. This is more difficult that I thought.
This is not
61. Ive never been arrested by the police
The police
62. Do you like swimming? he asked me.
He asked me

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 8

Advice Prep School Practice for Preliminary English Test - Cambridge 9