ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

In these exercises, you need to take the information in the first sentence
and re-write it, using the word in bold so that the second sentence has
exactly the same meaning. You cannot change the word in bold in ANY
way. You can use a minimum of THREE and a maximum of SIX words for
each space.

1. It was very windy, but we really enjoyed the picnic.

fact
We really enjoyed the picnic _______________________________ was
very windy.

2. I couldn’t believe it when Jackie came back to work.

aback
I ______________________________ the speed of Jackie’s return to
work.

3. It’s very probable that this dog will win the competition.
highly
It’s ____________________________________ will win the competition.

4. Mary didn’t seem to be at all scared when she drove the motorbike.
disregard
Mary showed ____________________________ own safety when she
drove the motorbike.

5. Jane said it was Sarah’s fault that the dinner party was a disaster.
placed
Jane _____________________________ Sarah for the disastrous
dinner party.

6. Even when I did very badly, my teacher always gave me encouragement.

matter
_____________________________ I did, my teacher always gave me
encouragement.

7. Hannah was preparing to send an email to Richard when she saw his
email.
point
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

Hannah was ____________________________ Richard an email when

she saw his email.

8. “It’s not a good idea to invest in that company,” Philip told John.
against
Philip ______________________________ in that company.

9. “The manager broke the computer,” Tina said.

it
Tina said ______________________________________ the computer.

10. The flawed diamond was much cheaper than the perfect one.
lot
The perfect diamond cost ____________________________ flawed
one.

11. Someone was driving the car very erratically, the police confirmed.
being
The police confirmed that the car ___________________________
erratically.

12. “I really should have studied more for the exam,” Jed thought.
studied
“If ________________________________ for the exam,” Jed thought.

13. Any time you see Clara, ask her about her husband.
happen
If ______________________________ Clara, ask her about her
husband.

14. The major revealed everything about the old scandal after he left office.
did
Only after leaving office __________________________________
everything about the old scandal.

15. “I’d like to know who thought of that horrible name for the new company.”
came
Who ______________________________ name for the new company?
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

16. Some have said that the government is ignoring the problem of inflation.
accused
The government ______________________________ the problem of
inflation.

17. None of the phones were left when we got to the shop.
time
___________________________ the shop, all the phones had been
sold.

18. I didn’t know it was Carl until he took off his hat.
when
Only _________________________________ his hat did I recognise
Carl.

19. Don’t waste your time asking Bryan to come with us.
worth
It’s _________________________________ to come with us.

20. Perhaps John heard the story from Pippa.

have
Pippa might ___________________________________ story.

21. Until they fire me as manager here, I’ll run the company my way.
long
___________________________ the boss, I’ll run the company my way.

22. It’s not possible that you saw Mary last night, she was with us!
have
You _____________________________ last night, she was with us!

23. The beach was fun even though it was too cold.
fact
_______________________________ too cold, the beach was fun.

24. Many delegates stole pens from the conference room.

ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

were
A lot of _______________________________ the conference room by
delegates.
25. Immediately after Bess arrived home, the phone rang.
sooner
No ________________________________ the phone rang.

26. If his expensive divorce hadn’t happened, Bill would still be a rich man.
for
If it ____________________________ divorce, Bill would still be a rich
man.

27. “You won’t get lost along the country lanes if you always have the map
open.”
long
He told them they wouldn’t get lost _____________________________
had the map open.

28. My brother has great ideas all the time.

comes
My brother always ______________________________ ideas.

29. If that passing woman hadn’t arrived, we would have been completely
lost.
for
Had it _____________________________, we would have got
completely lost.

30. If I lose this job, nobody will let me forget it.

live
I’ll ___________________________________ if I lose this job.

31. They’ll have to cancel the show if the audience doesn’t increase.
mean
A continued low audience for the show ___________________________
cancellation.

32. A phone call was the first heard about them withdrawing from the
concert.
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

pulling
The first we heard about _________________________________ of the
concert was a phone call.

33. We need to run or the train will leave before we get there.
time
Unless we run, the train _____________________________ we get
there.

34. “You really must stay for dessert,” Kate’s brother said to him.
staying
Kate’s brother ______________________________ for dessert.

35. “A massage would do you a lot of good,” Jake told Amy.

from
“You __________________________ a massage,” Jake told Amy.

36. Even if it’s very far, they want to go to Paris for a weekend break.
may
Far ___________________________, they want to go to Paris for a
weekend break.

37. The town’s population surrendered as soon as the enemy arrived.

than
No sooner __________________________________ the town’s
population surrendered.

38. This building stands a very good chance of being closed as unsafe by
the council.
highly
It’s __________________________________ will be closed by the
council due to being unsafe.

39. Another student stole Carol’s watch from the classroom.

had
Carol _____________________________ by another student from the
classroom.
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

40. I’m just about to give up this diet because it’s not working at all.
point
I’m ______________________________ this diet up because it’s not
working at all.

41. Please do those photocopies whenever you have the time.

happen
Please do those photocopies if __________________________ the
time.

42. If you really want to spend the whole night studying, there’s nothing I
can do.
insist
If you ____________________________ the whole night, there’s nothing
I can do.

43. The match will be postponed if it keeps raining.

mean
Further rain __________________________ postponement of the
match.

44. “I can’t stand what his assistant said about me,” said Barbara.
objected
Barbara __________________________ the assistant said about her.

45. “Ian took the money, not his brother Dylan,” Susan said.
it
According to Susan, ____________________________ took the money,
not Dylan.

46. The shop was closed for a week while they decorated it.
done
While it __________________________, the shop was closed for a
week.

47. If Phil is having so many problems at school, maybe some private tuition
would help him.
from
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

Maybe Phil would _________________________ tuition if he’s having so

many problems at school.

48. They’ll blame the failure of the festival on the weather.

down
The failure of the festival __________________________ the weather.

49. When people speak down to my sister, she hates it.

being
My sister hates __________________________ to like that.

50. I know it’s dangerous, but I love hang gliding.

may
Dangerous ______________________________, I love hang gliding.

51. I’d prefer you not to stay out so late.

rather
I’d ______________________________ stay out so late.

52. I don’t think it’s important how fast we drive, we’re going to be late.
matter
We’re going to be late ________________________________ drive.

53. We paid someone to fix the roof for us last summer.

had
Last summer, we __________________________________.

54. You should have spoken to Meg sooner.

spoken
If ___________________________________ to Meg sooner.

55. “You played your music too loud last night,” Jan said to Ben angrily.
accused
Jan ________________________________ his music too loud the
previous night.

56. John said he almost never went out on a Wednesday night.

ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

rarely
“_________________________ out on a Wednesday night,” John said.

57. Megan apologised to Harry for saying he was a coward.

back
Megan __________________________ she said about Harry being a
coward.

58. I don’t think Mike hitting your car was an accident.

purpose
I think Mike _________________________________.

59. “It’s not the overtime I resent, it’s the pay freeze,” said Trevor.
objected
Trevor ___________________________ pay freeze than the overtime.

60. “Don’t tell Chris too much or you’ll regret it,” Sally told June.
against
Sally ______________________________ too much to Chris.

61. You’re not ever allowed in this laboratory.

time
At ______________________________ permitted to be in this
laboratory.

62. Don’t ever open this door.

account
_________________________________ should you open this door.

63. Daniel regretted speaking so rudely to his landlord.

more
Daniel ___________________________________ politely to his
landlord.

64. If your sister didn’t work so hard, your family would starve!
for
Were it _______________________________ working so hard, your
family would starve!
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

65. Margaret told her daughter never to touch the vase.

circumstances
“Under _____________________________ this vase to be touched,”
Margaret told her daughter.

66. We get on well with both of Jack’s parents.

terms
We _______________________________ with both of Jack’s parents.

67. If we could choose, we’d prefer to go to Paris.

rather
We’d ______________________________ Paris if given the choice.

68. “Have you considered the cost of this project?” Beth asked.
account
Beth wanted to know if they had _________________________ of the
project.

69. “You might have to drive a lot in this job,” Greg said to Kathy.
involve
Greg told Kathy that the job _________________________ of driving.

70. The airline never said anything about having overbooked the plane.
time
At __________________________ tell us they had overbooked the
plane.

71. If you left the bank at 3pm, it’s possible you saw the thief.
have
You _____________________________ you were in the bank at 3pm.

72. Jenny isn’t a bad accountant, but I don’t think it is a very suitable
occupation for her.
cut
I just don’t think Jenny ____________________________ an
accountant.
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

73. Don’t you think insurance is getting very costly these days?
cost
Don’t you think the _________________________ higher and higher
these days?

74. We had no problems at all during our holiday in Turkey.

plan
Everything __________________________ during our holiday in Turkey.

75. It’s possible Claire phoned while we were out.

may
Claire ______________________________ while we were out.

76. Our class has won the History Quiz for the third year running.
succession
For the __________________________, our class has won the History
Quiz.

77. The thunderstorm brought their tennis match to an abrupt end.

cut
They had to _________________________ because of the
thunderstorm.

78. What used to be my workplace is now a Thai restaurant.

turned
My old workplace ___________________________ Thai restaurant.

79. I don’t mind at all if you film my wedding speech.

objection
I have ______________________________ my wedding speech.

80. Carol should have worked harder if she wanted a promotion.

succeeded
Had Carol worked harder, __________________________ getting a
promotion.

81. The manager will give us a bonus to the best employee of the year.
awarded
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

The _______________________________ a bonus by the manager.

82. Don’t tell a soul what I said to you about Margaret.

keep
_______________________________ what I said to you about
Margaret.

83. I forbid you to go to stay out so late.

question
It’s ____________________________ for you to stay out so late.

84. You can’t tell Sophie that you saw me today.

account
On ______________________________ Sophie that you saw me today.

85. This revolutionary new engine won’t work unless it’s carefully planned.
crucial
Careful planning ______________________________ of this
revolutionary new engine.

86. It’s very unlikely that we will promote Barbara this month.
chance
There is very little _________________________________ this month.

87. They tried very hard to finish the painting by the end of the day.
best
They __________________________ the painting by the end of the day.

88. My dog tends to bark a lot when it’s left alone.

habit
My dog is _______________________________ a lot when it’s left
alone.

89. Clara could only afford that dress because of the loan you gave her.
lent
Had __________________________ money, she wouldn’t have been
able to afford that dress.
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

90. He lost the race as he didn’t run as quickly as the rest of the boys.
pace
His loss was blamed on his inability
______________________________ rest of the boys.

91. You must try to accept that you will never run your own company.
terms
You must __________________________ fact that you will never run
your own company.

92. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t dismantle the watch.
apart
Don’t ____________________________ you know what you’re doing.

93. The weather seems to be improving this afternoon.

signs
The weather ____________________________________ this
afternoon.

94. James said the reason for his poor exam performance was his illness.
blamed
James _____________________________________ on his illness.

95. You won’t be able to come into this club without a shirt.
prevented
You ____________________________ into this club without a shirt.
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

1. despite the fact that it was

2. was taken aback by
3. highly likely that this dog
4. a disregard for her
5. placed the blame on
6. no matter how badly
7. on the point of sending
8. advised John against investing
9. it was the manager who broke
10. a lot more than the
11. was being driven very
12. only I’d studied more
13. you happen to see
14. did the major reveal
15. came up with that horrible
16. has been accused of ignoring
17. by the time we got to
18. when he took off
19. not worth asking Bryan
20. have told John the
21. as long as I’m
22. can’t have seen Mary
23. despite the fact that it was
24. pens were stolen from
25. sooner had Bess arrived home than
26. hadn’t been for his expensive
27. as long as they
28. comes up with great
29. not been for that passing woman
30. never live it down
31. will mean its
32. them pulling out
33. will have left by the time
34. insisted on him staying
35. would really benefit from
36. though it may be
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

37. had the enemy arrived than

38. highly likely that this building
39. had her watch stolen
40. on the point of giving
41. you happen to have
42. insist on studying
43. will mean the
44. objected to what
45. it was Ian who
46. was being done up
47. benefit from some private
48. will be put down to
49. being spoken down
50. though it may be
51. rather you didn’t
52. no matter how fast we
53. had the roof fixed
54. only you’d spoken
55. accused Ben of playing
56. rarely do I go
57. took back what
58. hit your car on purpose
59. objected more to the
60. advised June against saying
61. no time are you
62. on no account
63. wished he had spoken more
64. not for your sister
65. no circumstances is
66. are on good terms
67. rather go to
68. taken into account the cost
69. might involve a lot
70. no time did the airline
71. may have seen the thief if
72. is cut out to be
73. cost of insurance is getting
74. went to plan
75. may have phoned
76. third year in succession
77. cut short their tennis match
78. has been turned into a
79. no objection to you filming
80. she would have succeeded in
81. best employee will be awarded
82. keep to yourself
83. out of the question
84. no account can you tell
85. is crucial to the success
86. chance of Barbara being promoted
87. did their best to finish
88. in the habit of barking
89. you not lent Clara the
90. to keep pace with
91. come to terms with the
92. take the watch apart unless
ADVANCED KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

93. is showing signs of improving

94. blamed his poor exam performance
95. will be prevented from coming