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 hadn’t 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 didn’t 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 I’d 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 couldn’t get into the house because of the dog.

prevented

The dog ................................................................................... into the house.

10. ‘Have you seen the latest Simpson’s film?’ Jack asked Kate.

whether

Jack asked Kate ................................................................................... the latest

Simpson’s film.

11. The opera singer couldn’t 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 aren’t 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:
She’s 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.
She’s 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. weren’t allowed to
5. it was necessary for
6. although he felt

For questions 6 – 12 ask students to work on their own so that it’s 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/she’d seen
11. was not/wasn’t able to sing
12. did not/didn’t 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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