FCE Key Word Transformations

For questions 1-6, 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.

[start-answers-block type=3]

1. [first=" Nobody spoke to Leslie at the wedding party." word="SPOKEN" beginning="Leslie " answer="wasn't spoken to at#was not spoken to at" ending=" the wedding party."]

2. [first=" I played football when I was at school but I don't do it any more." word="USED" beginning="I " answer="used to play football" ending=" when I was at school."]

3. [first=" This film isn't as interesting as the one I watched last week." word="THAN" beginning="The film I watched last week " answer="was more interesting than" ending=" this one."]

4. [first=" The conference began only at five." word="UNTIL" beginning="It " answer="wasn't until five that#was not until five that" ending=" the conference began."]

5. [first=" It seems Jack knows the Smiths well." word="IF" beginning="Jack talks " answer="as if he knew" ending=" the Smiths well."]

6. [first=" I can't eat pizza so late at night." word="TOO" beginning="It is " answer="too late for me to" ending=" eat pizza."]

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER KEYS

ANSWERS 1: WASN'T SPOKEN TO AT | WAS NOT SPOKEN TO AT
PASSIVE VOICE
PAST SIMPLE => (WAS, WERE) + PAST PARTICIPLE
Similar Conversions
They had cancelled the show => The show had been cancelled. PAST PERFECT => HAD + BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE
Gina showed us her new car. => We were shown her new car (by Gina). PAST SIMPLE => (WAS, WERE) + PAST PARTICIPLE
He will answer the question. => The question will be answered. FUTURE SIMPLE => WILL + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE

 

ANSWERS 2: USED TO PLAY FOOTBALL
MODAL VERB
USED TO + INFINITIVE => If something used to happen, it happened regularly or all the time in the past, but does not happen now. 
More Examples:
I use to smoke a lot of cigarettes. X 
I used to smoke a lot of cigarettes. V USED + TO + INFINITIVE

 

ANSWERS 3: WAS MORE INTERESTING THAN
COMPARISON
MORE + POSITIVE DEGREE + THAN
More Examples:
The book was more interesting than I'd expected. V MORE + POSITIVE DEGREE + THAN 
She spends more time with the children than her husband does. V MORE + NOUN + THAN

 

ANSWERS 4: WASN'T UNTIL FIVE THAT | WAS NOT UNTIL FIVE THAT 
CLEFT SENTENCE
IT WASN'T UNTIL ... THAT + PAST SIMPLE
More Examples:
It wasn't until Jack turned seventeen before he shaved his face. X 
It wasn't until Jack turned seventeen that he shaved his face. V IT WASN'T UNTIL ... THAT + PAST SIMPLE

 

ANSWERS 5: AS IF HE KNEW
UNREAL PAST
AS THOUGH/AS IF + PAST SIMPLE shows improbable, unreal or doubtful situations in the present.
More Examples:
She behaves as if/as though she had a million dollars. V She doesn't have a million dollar! (UNREAL SITUATION)
She behaves as if/as though she has a million dollars. V She has a million dollar! (REAL SITUATION)
He looks as if/as though he was/were ill. V WERE instead of WAS can be used in all persons!

 

ANSWERS 6: TOO LATE FOR ME TO
COMPARISON
TOO + ADJECTIVE/ADVERB + FOR + SB + TO + INFINITIVE
More Examples:
He isn't enough old to watch this program. X ENOUGH goes after an ADJECTIVE/ADVERB!
He isn't old enough to watch this program. V OLD + ENOUGH
He is too young to watch this program. V TOO + ADJECTIVE + TO + INFINITIVE

 

 

[end-answers-block]