SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

1/ Richard only took over the family business because his father decided to retire early. → Had
2/ We would always take great care when flying at night. (WITS) → We used
3/ There haven’t been such long queues at the cinema since the
release of the last blockbuster. → Not
4/ I will only be satisfied if the manager apologises fully. → Nothing short
5/ She was concentrating so hard on her work that she didn’t notice when I came in. (WRAPPED) → She was so
6/ The price of the house has been reduced as much as possible
because the owner needs some money. (BONE) → The house
7/ The permit expires at the end of the month. → The permit is not
8/ The first sign of the disease is blurred vision. (ONSET) → The
9/ Don’t say anything negative about her hair because she’s very
sensitive and might be offended by your remarks. (OFFENCE) →
10/ The new teacher was so nervous that the class reacted mischievously. → The new teacher’s ANSWER KEY:
1/ Had it not been for his father’s early retirement, Richard
wouldn’t have taken over the family business.
2/ We always used to have/keep our wits about us when flying at night.
3/ Not since the release of the last blockbuster have there been
such long queues at the cinema.
4/ Nothing short of a full apology from the manager will satisfy me.
5/ She was so wrapped up in her work that she didn’t notice when I came in.
6/ The house has been cut/pared to the bone because the owner needs some money.
7/ The permit is not valid after the end of the month.
8/ The onset of the disease is blurred vision.
9/ Don’t say anything negative about her hair because she’s very
sensitive and might take offence at your remarks.
10/ The new teacher’s nervousness drew (a) mischievous reaction(s) from the class.
1/ Mr. Foster asked me to write this letter to you. → It is at
2/ The only thing that prevented the passing of the bill was the death of the Prime Minister. → Were it
3/ Jane persuaded the others to agree with her point of view. → Jane brought
4/ The inhabitants were far worse-off twenty years ago than they are now.
→ The inhabitants are nowhere
5/ They designed the stadium to make hooliganism impossible. (SUCH) → The stadium out hooliganism.
6/ My friend took no notice of my advice. (DEAF) →
7/ He didn’t think much of the musical show yesterday. (OPINION) → He
8/ He was finally able to adjust himself to the new working conditions. (SWING) → He finally
9/ Some airlines cheat people by charging them too much for tickets. (RIP) →
10/ They believe that the hotel was quite near the beach. (THROW) → The hotel is ANSWER KEY:
1/ It is at Mr. Foster’s request that I am writing this letter to you.
2/ Were it not to have been for the death of the Prime Minister,
the bill would have been passed/got through.
3/ Jane brought the others round to her point of view.
4/ The inhabitants are nowhere as badly-off as they were twenty years ago.
5/ The stadium was designed in such a way (as) to stamp/rule/iron out hooliganism.
6/ My friend turned a deaf ear to my advice.
7/ He had a low opinion of the musical show yesterday.
8/ He finally got into the swing of the new working conditions.
9/ Some airlines rip people off by charging them too much for tickets.
10/ The hotel is believed to have been just a stone’s throw (away) from the beach.
1/ He was too frightened to admit that he had broken the window. (OWN) → So
2/ I wish he would stop criticising my work. (FAULT) → I’d sooner
3/ Zoe always makes spontaneous decisions concerning her travel plans. (ACTS) → Zoe always
4/ He really disappointed me when breaking the promise to help me out. (TEETH) →
5/ If her father hadn’t retired, she wouldn’t have taken over his work/ (STEPPED) → But for
6/ His efforts to find a solution didn’t deserve such savage criticism. → He shouldn’t
7/ People became aware of the damage to the ozone layer when an
enormous hole was discovered over the South Pole. → It was the
8/ When I grow up, I’m going to be really important. (CAT) →
9/ I thought very hard but couldn’t remember the answer. (RACKED) → I
10/ Alex grimaced as he swallowed the foul-tasting medicine. (PULLED) → Alex ANSWER KEY:
1/ So frightened was he that he couldn’t own up to breaking/having broken the window.
2/ I’d sooner he didn’t find fault with my work.
I’d sooner he stopped finding fault with my work.
3/ Zoe always acts on impulse when she makes her travel plans.
Zoe always acts on impulse when making her travel plans.
4/ He really kicked me in the teeth when breaking the promise to help me out.
5/ But for her father’s retirement, she wouldn’t have stepped into his shoes.
6/ He shouldn’t have been savagely criticised for his efforts to find a solution.
7/ It was the discovery of an enormous hole over the South Pole
that made people aware of the damage to the ozone layer.
It was the discovery of an enormous hole over the South Pole
that raised people’s awareness of the damage to the ozone layer.
8/ When I grow up, I’m going to be a fat cat.
9/ I racked my brain(s) to remember the answer.
10/ Alex pulled a face as he swallowed the foul-tasting medicine.
1/ Linda was very nervous, which made her look like a bashful girl. (CAME) → Such
2/ As soon as the funds ran out, they had to abandon the scheme. (PETERED) → The instant
3/ Why did you reveal my plan to Kathy? (BREATHED) → I’d
4/ David was responsible for the family business as soon as his father retired. (CHARGE) → Scarcely
5/ Your encouragement helped to make things less grievous after such a heavy loss. (CUSHION) → It was
6/ Tina was crazy about stamps, so she spent lots of money on them every month. → Had it
7/ He tried hard but couldn’t compensate for what he had done. (AMENDS) → Try
8/ Experts think that all dogs evolved from wolves. (DESCENDED) → All dogs experts.
9/ We didn’t learn he still managed to live with very little money as a waiter until later. (EKED) → Not until
10/ Nobody is certain if the project will be permitted to continue. (GO-AHEAD) → It’s still touch or not. ANSWER KEY:
1/ Such was her nervousness that she came over as a bashful girl.
2/ The instant the funds petered out, they had to abandon the scheme.
3/ I’d rather/sooner you hadn’t breathed a word about my plan to Kathy.
4/ Scarcely had his father retired when took charge/was put in charge of the family business.
5/ It was your encouragement that helped cushion the blow after such a heavy loss.
6/ Had it not been for her craze for stamps, Tina wouldn’t have
splashed out on them every month.
7/ Try as he might, he couldn’t make amends for what he had done.
8/ All dogs are thought to have been descended from wolves according to experts.
9/ Not until later did we learn he (still) eked out a (miserable)
living/an existence as a waiter.
10/ It’s still touch and go whether the project will be given/will get the go-ahead or not.
1/ Two men stole the old lady’s handbag. → The old lady was
2/ “Without the rapid growth in population there would be fewer food shortages”. → He blamed
3/ Not many of the people in Britain speak a single word of my language. → Hardly
4/ I certainly won’t change my mind about resigning. (QUESTION) →
5/ Don’t tell the boss about the scheme. (BREATHE) →
6/ I really think my son is going to be a hugely successful businessman. → I have high
7/ I am sure that he missed the eleven o’clock train. (CAN’T) →
8/ My mother insisted on me wearing the dress. (PRESSED) →
9/ She decided to have five bowls of rice because she was hungry. (MUNCHIES) →
10/ Your empty promises won’t have any effect on her. (ICE) →
11/ He is becoming quite famous as an interviewer. (NAME) → ANSWER KEY:
1/ The old lady was robbed of her handbag.
2/ He blamed the food shortages on the rapid growth in population.
He blamed the rapid growth in population for the food shortages.
3/ Hardly anyone/any of the people in Britain speak(s) my language.
4/ There is no question of my/me changing my mind about resigning.
My changing my mind about resigning is out of the question.
5/ Don’t breathe a word about our scheme to the boss.
6/ I have high hopes of/for my son being a hugely successful businessman.
7/ He can’t possibly have caught the eleven o’clock train.
8/ My mother pressed the dress on me.
9/ Having the munchies, she decided to have five bowls of rice.
10/ Your empty promises will cut no ice with her.
11/ He is making a name for himself as an interviewer.
1/ He really upset everyone when he told his secret. (PIGEONS) → He
2/ Your attitude will have to change if you want to succeed. (LEAF) → You will
3/ You may think you are talented but horses will always show you are not. (PEG) →
4/ I avoided mentioning Jack’s demotion as I realised that it might upset him. (SLEEPING) → Realizing
5/ Susan is far superior to me in terms of technical knowledge. (MATCH) → When it
6/ It is important that we have to get the team to comply with the rules. → It is of
7/ Winning the prize has made him very conceited. (HEAD) → Winning
8/ Prompt action from the police helped to reduce the number of
people killed and injured in the fighting. (SUFFERED) → Were it
9/ His efforts to find a solution didn’t deserve such savage criticism. → He to find a solution.
10/ He did not succeed in reaching the top of the highest mountain in this area. → In vain ANSWER KEY:
1/ He really put the cat among the pigeons when he told them his secret.
2/ You will have to turn over a new leaf if you want to succeed.
3/ No matter how talented you think you are, horses will always
bring/take you down a peg (or two).
4/ Realizing that mentioning Jack’s demotion might upset him, I let sleeping dogs lie.
5/ When it comes to technical knowledge, I am no match for Susan.
6/ It is of importance that we have to get the team to toe the line.
7/ Winning the prize has gone to his head.
8/ Were it not to have been for prompt action from the police, the
fighting would have suffered heavy casualties.
9/ He shouldn’t have been savagely criticised for his efforts to find a solution.
10/ In vain did he reach the top of the highest mountain in this area.
1/ It’s possible that the last person to leave didn’t lock the door. → The last person
2/ The response to our appeal was so great that we had to take on more staff. → Such
3/ I will only be satisfied if the manager apologises fully. → Nothing short
4/ It is essential that you tell us everything. → It is of the
5/ Her arrival was completely unexpected. → She took it
6/ It’s much easier than everyone makes out. (NOTHING) →
7/ This should be returned to the sender of this letter as soon as possible. (UNDERSIGNED) → Please
8/ The police need to establish the vehicle’s precise speed at the moment of impact. (FAST) →
9/ Any correspondence from the Canberra office must be dealt with before other matters. PRIORITY →
10/ Don’t panic about something so trivial. MOUNTAIN → ANSWER KEY:
1/ The last person to leave might have left the door unlocked.
2/ Such was the (great) response to our appeal that we had to take on more staff.
3/ Nothing short of a full apology from the manager will satisfy me.
4/ It is of the utmost importance that we (should) be kept fully informed.
5/ She took it on herself to come here/there.
6/ It is nothing like as difficult as everyone makes out.
7/ Please return this letter to the undersigned without delay.
8/ The police need to establish precisely how fast the vehicle was going at the moment of impact.
9/ Any correspondence from the Canberra office must take priority
(be given priority) over other matters.
10/ Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
1/ In order to make a profit the new leisure centre needs at least 2000 visitors a month. →
2/ John took my place while I was at the dentist’s. → John stood
3/ I don’t think Patrick has ever been camping. → To the
4/ Philip’s inability to make decisions dates from his accident. → Ever
5/ Something must be done to solve this problem. → Urgent
6/ It is a foregone conclusion that Mark will get the job. SAYING → It
7/ Being her only niece, Ann is very precious to her. APPLE → Being her only niece,
8/ Most people know that becoming an actor is difficult. COMMON → It
9/ In my opinion, computers are more trouble than they’re worth. HINDRANCE → In my opinion,
10/ Fiona said she was against the proposal. EXPRESSED → Fiona ANSWER KEY:
1/ No fewer than 2000 visitors a month must visit the new leisure centre to make a profit.
2/ John stood in for me while I was at the dentist’s.
3/ To the best of my knowledge, Patrick has never been camping.
4/ Ever since his accident, Philip has been unable to make decisions.
5/ Urgent action is necessary/essential to solve this problem.
6/ It goes without saying that Mark will get the job.
7/ Being her only niece, Ann is the apple of her eye.
8/ It is common knowledge that becoming an actor is difficult.
9/ In my opinion, computers are more of a hindrance than a help.
10/ Fiona expressed her opposition to / disapproval of the proposal.
1/ I arrived late because I missed the 10:30 train. (TURNED)
→ If I’d caught the 10:30 train, I
2/ In my opinion, these two kinds of music are completely different from each other. (COMPARISON) → In my opinion, there
3/ According to the report, the driver of the car was a policeman. (BEING)
→ According to the report, the car
4/ “It’s not worth worrying about the past”, I told him. (POINT) → I told him that
5/ The author describes his childhood vividly in the book. (ACCOUNT) → The author’s book
6/ This plant often gets attacked by insects. (PRONE) → This plant
7/ None of the other team members supported Terry’s idea. (SUPPORT) → Terry’s idea
8/ Mr. Conrad’s son is becoming quite well-known as an artist. (NAME) → Mr. Conrad’s son
9/ Those terrapins which survive their first year may live to be twenty. → Should
10/ Does he know enough English to work as a translator? → Is his ANSWER KEY:
1/ If I’d caught the 10:30 train, I would have turned up on time.
2/ In my opinion, there is no comparison between these two kinds of music.
3/ According to the report, the car was being driven by a policeman.
4/ I told him that there was no point in worrying about the past.
5/ The author’s book gives a vivid account of his childhood.
6/ This plant is prone to being attacked by insects.
7/ Terry’s idea met with no support from the other members of the team.
8/ Mr. Conrad’s son is making a name for himself as an artist.
9/ Should terrapins survive their first year, they may live to be twenty.
10/ Is his knowledge of English good enough for him to work as a translator?
1/ We had a long discussion about the problem, but we couldn’t solve it. (COME) → We discussed
2/ The reason why my son has been studying hard is that he wants
to apply for a scholarship. (EYE) → My son has been pulling
3/ Mimi knew for sure that her friend was making fun of her. (SHADOW / LEG) →
4/ To put it bluntly, we are making no progress with this
rehabilitation scheme. (STANDSTILL) → In a
5/ You may be dismissed if you fail to observe the rules. (LINE) → Failure
6/ The manufacturing process was delayed by problems no one had foreseen. (HELD) → The manufacturing process
7/ Many species of wildlife are threatened with extinction. (TEETERING) →
8/ We would like you to give us a copy of your new prospectus. (PROCURE) → Would you be
9/ Why should anybody be proud of the fact that they were unemployed? (ON) → Why should anybody take
10/ You’ve eaten so much that it is logical you feel sick. (STANDS) → You’ve made
11/ We suppose the new models are about ten thousand dollars. (VICINITY) → The new models
12/ My advice is that you get straight to the point in the next report. (BUSH) →
13/ Many people refuse to change because they always seek the easiest solution. (RESISTANCE) → Many people refuse to turn
14/ Fancy you and I meeting in the middle of Africa like this! (ODD) →
15/ Redundancy has caused a lot of domestic problems. → Many a
16/ Tommy is not a very nice guy as he is so self-absorbed. (IF / HIMSELF) → Tommy
17/ All of a sudden, the thief attacked me and took my purse away. (DID) → In a
18/ The success of that new pop star is only short-lived, and we
won’t even remember her name in a couple of years. (PAN)
→That new pop star ________________________________ into
obscurity in a couple of years.
19/ Jane didn’t get the job because she wasn’t experienced enough. (DOWN / LACK) → Jane’s
20/ Tim liked Mary so much that he was willing to help her with anything. (FELL)
→ Tim was so enamoured ___________________to help her with anything.