FCE : Keyword Transformation Use of English

There's no point asking Lynda to help as she's really busy. (WASTE) It's ___________________ asking Lynda to help as she's really busy.

A WASTE OF TIME

There's no point going to the market today. (WASTE) It's ________________ going to the market today.

A WASTE OF TIME

I'm excited about the holiday. (LOOKING) I ___________________ the holiday.

AM LOOKING FORWARD TO (Phrasal Verbs)

I'm not as good at maths as you. (BETTER) You ___________________ me.

ARE BETTER AT MATHS THAN (Comparative/Superlative)

The examiner tells candidates the regulations at the beginning of the exam. (TOLD) At the beginning of the exam candidates ___________________ the regulations.

ARE TOLD (ABOUT) (Passive)

I'm afraid you can't smoke in here. (ALLOWED) You ___________________ in here.

AREN'T ALLOWED TO SMOKE (Auxiliary Verbs)

I won't organise the party unless you arrange the food. (LONG) I'll organise the party ___________________ arrange the food.

AS LONG AS YOU (Conditionals)

He behaves like the President of the company.(THOUGH) He acts ___________________ the President of the company.

AS THOUGH HE (WERE) (WAS) ('Unreal' past tenses)

'What do you think of the college?' she asked me. (ASKED) She ___________________ of the college.

ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT (Direct and Indirect Speech)

I don't think it's a good idea to get married too early. (IN) I don't ___________________ too early.

BELIEVE IN [GETTING MARRIED | MARRYING (Verb change + verb form)

His parents raised him very strictly. (UP) His parents ___________________ very strictly.

BROUGHT HIM UP (Phrasal Verbs)

They've cancelled the wedding. (OFF) They have ___________________ the wedding.

CALLED OFF (Phrasal Verbs)

Steve definitely didn't write that essay. (HAVE) That essay ___________________ by Steve.

CAN'T HAVE BEEN WRITTEN (Passive)

I've got to reduce the amount of sweets I eat. (DOWN) I must ___________________ the number of sweets I eat.

CUT DOWN ON (Phrasal Verbs)

'I didn't break the window,' said the boy. (DENIED) The boy ___________________ the window

DENIED BREAKING (Direct and Indirect Speech)

The computer was too expensive for me to buy. (ENOUGH) I ___________________ money to buy the computer.

DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH (Comparative/Superlative)

3. Meeting John in town was really surprising. (EXPECT) I ___________________ John in town.

DIDN'T EXPECT TO MEET (Verb Patterns)

We got a table at the restaurant without a reservation. (NEED) We ___________________ book a table at the restaurant.

DIDN'T NEED TO (Auxiliary Verbs)

I don't think they should abolish military service. (AWAY) They shouldn't ___________________ military service.

DO AWAY WITH (Phrasal Verbs)

5. I'll help you with your homework. (MIND) I ___________________ you with your homework.

DON'T MIND HELPING (Verb Patterns)

It really would best if you reported it to the police right away. (BETTER) You really ____________________ to the police right away.

HAD BETTER REPORT IT

You should take an umbrella with you. (BETTER) You ___________________ an umbrella with you.

HAD BETTER TAKE ('Unreal' past tenses)

Thieves have burgled our house. (INTO) Our house ___________________ .

HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO (Passive + phrasal verb)

The police have cancelled the demonstration. (HAS) The demonstration ___________________ by the police.

HAS BEEN CANCELLED (Passive)

We haven't arranged a date for the wedding yet. (BEEN) A date for the wedding ___________________ yet.

HAS NOT BEEN ARRANGED (Passive)

The boss wouldn't object to you going early today. (OBJECTION) The boss would not ___________________ you going early today.

HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO

It's the most beautiful painting I've ever seen. (SEEN) I ___________________ beautiful painting.

HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A (Comparative/Superlative)

'I don't share your views on politics' he said. (AGREE) He told me ___________________ my views on politics.

HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH (Reported speech + verb change)

'I'll call you later tonight,' Keith promised. (WOULD) Keith promised that ___________________ night.

HE WOULD CALL LATER THAT (Direct and Indirect Speech)

He was late because of a traffic jam in the City Centre. (BEEN) If he hadn't got stuck in a traffic jam in the City Centre ________________________ late.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN (SO)

I think it would be a good idea to speak to the manager first. (WERE) If ___________________ speak to the manager first.

I [WERE | WAS] YOU I WOULD (Conditionals)

"Have you ever been to China, Lilly?" asked Maria. (BEEN) Maria asked Lilly ___________________ to China.

IF SHE HAD EVER BEEN

There have been more redundancies this year than before. (NUMBER) There has been a rise ___________________ redundancies this year.

IN THE NUMBER OF (Preposition x 2)

'I might be late for dinner.' he told me. (INFORMED) He ..... might be late for dinner.

INFORMED ME (THAT) HE (Direct and Indirect Speech)

The manager told me I had to take off my shoes before I entered the restaurant. (INSISTED) The manager _______________ my shoes before I entered the restaurant.

INSISTED ON ME TAKING OFF

We demanded to see the hotel manager to make our complaint. (SEEING) We ___________________ the hotel manager to make our complaint.

INSISTED [ON | UPON] SEEING

I want to see you next month. (INTERESTED) I am___________________ next month.

INTERESTED IN SEEING YOU

7. Don't bother to apply for the job. (POINT) There ___________________ for the job.

IS NO POINT (IN) APPLYING (Verb Patterns)

This exercise is easier than the last one. (HARD) This exercise ___________________ the last one.

IS NOT AS HARD AS (Comparative/Superlative)

I think taxes should be increased. (TIME) It ___________________ increased

IS TIME TAXES WERE ('Unreal' past tenses)

This car isn't safe enough to drive. (DANGEROUS) This car ___________________ drive.

IS TOO DANGEROUS TO (Comparative/Superlative)

Businesses are said to be worried about interest rates. (CONCERN) There ___________________ amongst businesses about interest rates.

IS [SAID TO BE | APPARENTLY] CONCERN (Passive + change from adjective to noun)

Experts estimate that most people now have access to the Internet. (IS) ___________________ That most people now have access to the Internet.

IT IS ESTIMATED BY EXPERTS (Passive)

Our teacher told us to enjoy the sunshine as much as possible while the weather was nice. (MOST) Our teacher told us to ________________ the sunshine while the weather was nice.

MAKE THE MOST OF

I've been so happy since I met you. (MIGHT) I ___________________ so happy if I hadn't met you.

MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN (Conditionals)

Perhaps we missed the correct turning. (MIGHT) We ___________________ the correct turning.

MIGHT'VE MISSED (Auxiliary Verbs)

I'm sure it was Ana I saw in town as I recognised her coat. (MUST) It ___________________ Ana I saw in town as I recognised her coat.

MUST HAVE BEEN

I'm sure it was Charlie I saw in town as I recognized his jacket. (MUST) It ________________ Charlie I saw in town as I recognized his jacket.

MUST HAVE BEEN

Loans must be repaid in full. (BACK) You ___________________ all the money.

MUST PAY BACK (Passive to active + phrasal verb)

I went to the office then remembered it was my day off. (HAVE) I ___________________ to the office as it was my day off.

NEEDN'T HAVE GONE (Auxiliary Verbs)

I regret not inviting Cathy to the party. (ONLY) If ___________________ Cathy

ONLY I HAD INVITED ('Unreal' past tenses)

I'd see a doctor if I were you. (OUGHT) You ___________________ a doctor.

OUGHT TO SEE (Auxiliary Verbs)

People in Britain used to have more dogs than any other pet. (ANY) Dogs are not the most _____________________ in the UK

POPULAR PET ANY MORE

If you do the washing up I'll make the coffee. (PROVIDED) I'll make the coffee ___________________ the washing up.

PROVIDED YOU DO (Conditionals)

My host family will let you stay with us. (UP) My host family will ___________________ .

PUT YOU UP (Phrasal Verbs)

1. It's really important that you pay the bill today. (REMEMBER) You must ___________________ the bill today.

REMEMBER TO PAY (Verb Patterns)

'You look really tired,' he told her. (SAID) He ___________________ really tired.

SAID (THAT) SHE LOOKED (Direct and Indirect Speech)

You were expected to answer all the questions on the exam paper. (ANSWERED) You ___________________ all the questions on the examination paper.

SHOULD'VE ANSWERED (Auxiliary Verbs)

I'm sorry but you must not smoke here. (FORBIDDEN) I'm afraid ___________________ here.

SMOKING IS FORBIDDEN (Noun to verb + verb change)

He was too tired to work any more. (THAT) He was ___________________ he couldn't work any more.

SO TIRED THAT

I was too tired to go to the party. (THAT) I was ___________________ I couldn't go to the party.

SO [TIRED | EXHAUSTED] THAT

It will be better for you to come alone. (SOONER) I would ___________________ on your own.

SOONER YOU CAME ('Unreal' past tenses)

Did you manage to convince him? (IN) Did you ___________________ him?

SUCCEED IN CONVINCING (Verb change + verb form)

2. I think it would be a good idea if you joined the beginner's class. (SUGGEST) I ___________________ the beginners class.

SUGGEST [THAT JOIN | YOU JOIN| JOINING] (Verb Patterns)

Why don't you start doing a sport? (TAKING) Have you thought about ___________________ a sport?

TAKING UP (Phrasal Verbs)

I think generally, women are better than men at learning languages. (WHOLE) I think on______________________ successful than women at learning languages.

THE WHOLE MEN ARE LESS

Every morning, I have to to go to the paper shop and collect the newspapers. (FETCH) Every morning it's my job ________________________ the paper shop.

TO FETCH THE NEWSPAPERS FROM

'You must do your homework tonight.' the teacher said. (TOLD) The teacher ___________________ my homework that night.

TOLD ME TO DO (Direct and Indirect Speech)

Walter sits in front of the television for too many hours a day. (SITTING) Every day, Walter spends _____________________ in front of the television.

TOO MANY HOURS SITTING / TOO MUCH TIME SITTING

The garage on the corner usually repairs my car. (HAVE) I ___________________ by the garage on the corner.

USUALLY HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED (Passive)

'What's your name?' he asked. (KNOW) He ___________________ what my name was.

WANTED TO KNOW (Direct and Indirect Speech)

The course wasn't as easy as I'd expected. (MORE) The course ___________________ I'd expected.

WAS MORE DIFFICULT THAN (Comparative/Superlative)

This summer has been much cooler than last year. (COOL) Last summer ___________________ this year.

WAS NOT AS COOL AS (Comparative/Superlative)

The food was so good we had to leave a tip. (SUCH) It ___________________ that we had to leave a tip.

WAS SUCH GOOD FOOD (Comparative/Superlative)

He couldn't swim until he was in his twenties. (ABLE) He ___________________ until he was in his twenties.

WASN'T ABLE TO SWIM (Auxiliary Verbs)

The bomb exploded early this morning (OFF) The bomb ___________________ early this morning.

WENT OFF (Phrasal Verbs)

4. In the future she became a successful business woman. (WENT) She ___________________ a successful business woman.

WENT ON TO BECOME (Verb Patterns)

They will have given him the news by now. (TOLD) He ___________________ the news by now.

WILL HAVE BEEN TOLD (Passive)

They will expect you to wear a suit for the interview. (HAVE) You ___________________ a suit for the interview.

WILL HAVE TO WEAR (Auxiliary Verbs)

The doctor will only see you if you have an appointment. (NOT) The doctor ________________ you have an appointment.

WILL NOT SEE YOU UNLESS

I'd love to know how John is getting on. (KNEW) I ___________________ how John was getting on.

WISH I KNEW ('Unreal' past tenses)

It's a pity the car is so expensive. (WISH) I ___________________ so expensive.

WISH THE CAR [WEREN'T | WASN'T] ('Unreal' past tenses)

I'd prefer you to get home early tonight. (RATHER) I ___________________ home early tonight.

WOULD RATHER YOU GOT ('Unreal' past tenses)

The reason I haven't got much money is because they didn't give me promotion. (POOR) If they had given me promotion I ___________________ now.

WOULDN'T BE SO POOR (Conditionals)

I only told you because I thought you would be interested. (TOLD) I ___________________ you if I thought you weren't interested.

WOULDN'T HAVE TOLD (Conditionals)

In my opinion you need to put more salt in this stew. (ASK) If ________________ isn't enough salt in this stew.

YOU ASK ME THERE

8. Were you successful in passing the exam? (MANAGE) Did ___________________ the exam?

YOU MANAGE TO PASS (Verb Patterns)

You never enter competitions so you'll never win anything. (MIGHT) If you entered competions ___________________ something.

YOU MIGHT WIN (Conditionals)

You're tired because you keep staying up late. (WERE) If ___________________ to bed earlier, you wouldn't be so tired.

YOU WERE TO GO (Conditionals)

6. I hated driving on the left at first but now it's OK. (USED) I ___________________ on the left now.

[AM |'VE GOT] USED TO DRIVING (Verb Patterns)

"Have you been on holiday recently, Jane?" asked Tony. (BEEN) Tony asked Jane ___________________ on holiday recently.

[IF | WHETHER] SHE HAD BEEN

'Why don't you come this evening?' (SUGGESTED) She ___________________ that evening.

[SUGGESTED COMING | SUGGESTED THAT I COME] (Direct and Indirect Speech)

Did we send that letter to Mr Thomas? (WAS) Do you know if ___________________ to Mr Thomas?

[THAT | THE] LETTER WAS SENT (Passive)