Sentence transformations

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.
1.

Marisa hadnt sung in public for over 10 years.

more
It was ................................................................................... Marisa had sung on stage.

2.

My cousins all speak French very well.

good
My cousins are all ................................................................................... French.

3.

People say that football has become more about money than sport.
said
Football is ................................................................................... more about money
than sport.

4.

The teachers didnt let us wear make-up at school.

allowed
We ................................................................................... wear make-up at school.

5.

They told the passengers they had to continue the journey by taxi.
necessary
They said that ................................................................................... the passengers to
continue the journey by taxi.

6.

He carried on working despite feeling ill.

although
He carried on working ................................................................................... ill.

7.

I wish Id done more sport when I was younger.

having
I regret ................................................................................... more sport when I was
younger.

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Sentence transformations
8.

He prefers travelling on his own than with others.

rather
He ................................................................................... on his own than with others.

9.

The burglar couldnt get into the house because of the dog.
prevented
The dog ................................................................................... into the house.

10. Have you seen the latest Simpsons film? Jack asked Kate.
whether
Jack asked Kate ................................................................................... the latest
Simpsons film.
11. The opera singer couldnt sing because of a sore throat.
able
The opera singer ................................................................................... because of a
sore throat.
12. The athlete ran faster last year than this year.
as
The athlete ................................................................................... this year as last
year.

Check list 9
1.

Do you know which language structure is being tested in each question?

2.

Does your sentence make sense?

3.

Is your spelling correct?

4.

Have you used no more than five words?

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Sentence transformations
Teachers notes and answer key
Level: FCE
Aim: To practise sentence transformations and develop good exam skills for correcting
and checking mistakes.
Duration: 1 hour
This is straightforward practise of sentence transformations that students have to do in Paper 3,
the Use of English part of the FCE exam.
Lesson plan
If students arent familiar with this type of exercise have them read the instructions at the top of
the worksheet then write the following example on the board.
Example:
Shes too young to walk home on her own.
not
First ask students to underline the information they have to rewrite. too young
Then ask if they can think of another way of saying this.
Write the correct answer on the board.
Shes not old enough to walk home on her own.
Explain that the word given is not always the first word they need to use.
Now ask students to work in pairs for the first 6 so that they can pool ideas. Check the answers
together.
Answer key:
1. more than 10 years since
2. good at speaking
3. said to be
4. werent allowed to
5. it was necessary for
6. although he felt
For questions 6 12 ask students to work on their own so that its more like an exam. Then check
answers with them.

7. not having done

8. would rather travel/d rather travel
9. prevented the burglar from getting
10. whether she had/shed seen
11. was not/wasnt able to sing
12. did not/didnt run as fast
Follow up
A good idea after doing this exercise is to collect in the students worksheets and look at some of
the common mistakes that they have made. Copy out some of their mistakes and ask them to
correct them a week or so later.

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