SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION
(Conditional sentences)
1. We don’t visit you very often because you live so far away.
- If _____________________________ ___________________________.
2. He doesn’t speak very clearly – that’s why people don’t understand him.
- If ___________________________ ___________________________.
3. David is tired, so he can’t score any goal.
- If ____________________________ ___________________________.
4. That book is too expensive, so I’m not going to buy it.
- If ____________________________ ___________________________.
5. We don’t go out very often because we can’t afford it.
- If __________________________ ___________________________.
6. It’s raining, so we can’t have lunch in the garden.
- If __________________________ ___________________________.
7. I have to work tomorrow morning, so I can’t meet you.
- If ___________________________ ___________________________.
8. I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t eat anything.
- If ________________________ ___________________________.
9. The accident happened because the driver in front stopped so suddenly.
- If __________________________ ___________________________.
10. I didn’t know that George had to get up early, so I didn’t wake him up.
- If ________________________ ___________________________.
11. The orphans were ill treated and half starved; therefore they were very
unhappy.
- If ___________________________ ___________________________.
12. I was able to buy a car only because Jim lent me the money.
- If ________________________ ___________________________
13. Margaret wasn’t injured in the crash because she was wearing a seat bell.
- If ____________________________ ___________________________.
14. You didn’t have any breakfast – that’s why you’re hungry now.
- If ___________________________ ___________________________.

15. I didn’t get a taxi because I haven’t got any money on me.
- If _________________________ ___________________________.
16. Do these exercises carefully or you’ll get bad marks.
- Unless _____________________________________________________.
17. Write your paper more carefully or the teacher can’t read it.
- If _________________________________ ___________________________.
18. Behave yourself or everyone will dislike you.
- Unless __________________________________________________
_______________________.
19. I won’t help you if you don’t try your best.
- Unless ________________________ _______________________.
20. We’ll come to the meeting if we aren’t busy.


- Unless __________________________ _______________________.
21. Unless we have time, we won’t attend the party.
- If __________________________ ___________________________.
22. If she doesn’t come on time, we’ll go without her.
- Unless _________________________ _______________________.
Comparative/Superlative
Structures like so/such .., er/as ... as or too/enough often appear in this exercise.
For Questions 1-8, 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.
1. The food was so good we had to leave a tip.
SUCH
It ........................................... we had to leave a tip.
2. The computer was too expensive for me to buy.
ENOUGH
I ........................................... money to buy the computer.

3. It's the most beautiful painting I've ever seen.
SEEN
I ............................................ beautiful painting.
4. This summer has been much cooler than last year.
COOL
Last summer .................................. this year.
5. I'm not as good at maths as you.
BETTER
You ......................................... me.
6. The course wasn't as easy as I'd expected.
MORE
The course ........................................ I'd expected.
7. This car isn't safe enough to drive.
DANGEROUS
This car ........................................ drive.
8. This exercise is easier than the last one.
HARD
This exercise ....................................... the last one.
31.- Can you understand what this paper means?
sense
Can you ……make sense of…… this paper?


32.- It wasn’t necessary to meet me at the airport yesterday.
needn’t
You ……needn’t have met… me at the airport yesterday.
33.-It was unkind of you to talk to her like that.
not
You …should not have talked… to her like that.
34.-I saw the film although I strongly dislike thrillers.

spite
I saw the film in …spite of my strong dislike… of thrillers.
35.-It’s not possible to play tennis because of the rain.
makes
The rain ……makes it impossible…. to play tennis.
36.-I’ve never tasted such good food before.
ever
It is the …best food I’ve ever.. tasted.
37.-Do your parents allow you to watch TV late at night?
let
Do your parents …let you watch…. TV late at night?
38.-”Did you write a note for Anna?” I asked my mother.
she
I asked my mother …whether/if she had written…. a note for Anna.
39.-He gave me the money first, and then he left.
after
He left ……after he had given me/after giving me….. the money.


40.-I don’t find it difficult to get up early any more.
used
I ……am used to getting…. up early.
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Sentence transformation,16
January 23, 2007

31 He really likes correcting her English.
pleasure
He …takes pleasure in.. correcting her English.

32 It’s not necessary to take a lot of luggage when going on holiday.
much
You …don’t need much / needn’t take much / don’t have to take much… luggage when going on
holiday.
33 Perhaps he hasn’t received the doctor’s results yet.
may
He ..may not have received.. the doctor’s results yet.
34 All I want you to do is to look after my dog.
care
All I want you to do is to ……take care of….. my dog.
35 She was not certain about the trip.
decide
She ……could not decide….. about the trip.
36 He locked the gate so that the dog wouldn’t escape.
prevent
He locked the gate ……to prevent the dog (from).. escaping.


37 They did not like to pay extra taxes.
objected
They ……objected to paying………. extra taxes.
38 The day was so nice that we went on a picnic.
such
It was …such a nice day…. that we went on a picnic.
39 The only person I didn’t see was Jane.
except
I ………saw everyone except….. Jane.
40 She decided to visit her friend and tell her the news.
drop
She decided to …drop in on… her friend and tell her the news.

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Sentence transformation, 15
January 21, 2007

31 We have to reduce our expenses.
cut
We have to ………cut down on……….. our expenses.
32 “Can you please explain this to me?” she asked the teacher.
if
She asked the teacher ………if she could explain that……… to her.
33 Perhaps he’s working late.
may
He ……may be working…. late.
34 Nobody ever told me about it.


never
I ………was never told…. about it.
35 “I’ll pick him up from the airport,” she said.
offered
She …offered to pick him up….. from the airport.
36 I was so shocked that I couldn’t react.
wasn’t
I ………wasn’t calm enough to…… react.
37 People say Greek is a difficult language to learn.
said
Greek ……is said to be a……. difficult language to learn.
38 The police have investigated the crime.
by

The crime ……has been investigated by…… the police.
39 Without your help, I would never have managed.
you
If ……you hadn`t helped me……. , I would never have managed.
40 The manager made the employees stay late.
made
The employees ……were made to stay late… by the manager.
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Sentence Transformation,14
January 21, 2007

31 He knows everything about flowers.
expert


He …is an expert on… flowers.
32 If you are not old enough you cannot watch certain films.
age
If you …are under age….. you cannot watch certain films.
33 I regret that I gave him the money.
lent
If only ……I hadn’t lent…. him the money.
34 It was such a boring movie that we left.
so
The movie ….was so boring……..….. that we left.
35 People say that the pyramids are worth visiting.
supposed
The pyramids …are supposed to be…. worth visiting.
36 John cannot possibly borrow the car tonight.

question
It’s …out of the question… for John to borrow the car tonight.
37 Could I continue what I was doing?
get
Could I …get on with… what I was doing?
38 Mary is slower at doing things than Jill.
fast
Mary is …not as fast as…….. Jill at doing things.
39 I can’t make up my mind about the colour.
decide


I …cannot decide on….. the colour.
40 There are times when you have to do things by yourself.
own
There are times when you have to do things …on your own….
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Sentence transformation, 13
January 20, 2007

31 You were late, so you missed the match.
wouldn’t
If you hadn’t …been late you wouldn’t have…….. missed the match.
32 I am sorry I forgot your birthday.
wish
I …wish I hadn’t forgotten…. your birthday.
33 The burglar managed to escape without punishment.
get
The burglar managed to …get away without…. punishment.

34 He failed the test because he did not study enough.
attributed
His failure in the test …was attributed to his….. not studying enough.
35 I wonder if you can lend me something to wear tonight.
mind
Would …you mind lending me.. something to wear tonight?
36 We can’t decide where to go on holidays.
decision
We can’t …make a decision about…. where to go on holidays.


37 Can you take me to the station by car?
give
Can you …give me a lift…. to the station?
38 You will miss the bus if you don’t hurry up.
unless
You will miss the bus ……unless you hurry up…….
39 It is likely that they have already left.
may
They ……may have already.. left.
40 How much is the bus fare from London to Cambridge?
cost
How much …does it cost to go/travel…. from London to Cambridge by bus?
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Sentence transformation, 12
January 19, 2007

31 Sally has not come to school because she has been sick.
absent

Sally …has been absent from …. school because she has been sick.
32 It is often difficult to find an answer to a problem.
solution
Finding …a solution to… a problem is often difficult.
33 I was lucky you let me stay with you for the night.
put
I was lucky you ……put me up…. for the night.
34 I advised him to stop smoking.


suggested
I ……suggested (that) he….. stop smoking.
35 They are going to do up my room.
have
I’m going to…have my room……….…. decorated.
36 Jane doesn’t often see Mike.
seldom
Jane ……seldom sees…. Mike.
37 I can understand this quite well
easy
It’s …easy for me to….. understand this.
38 My mother doesn’t like us to stay out late.
approve
My mother doesn’t ……approve of us/our staying…… out late.
39 Mary is employed by IBM, isn’t she?
works
Mary …………works for IBM, doesn’t…… she?
40 They could not understand what she said.
difficulty
They ……had difficulty in understanding…. what she said.

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Sentence transformation, 11
January 18, 2007

31 There is no sugar left.
run


We have …run out of…. sugar.
32 ‘New World’ Advertising is considering your application.
is
Your application ……is being considered by…. ’New World’ Advertising.
33 The shelf was so high that he couldn’t reach it.
enough
The shelf was not … low enough for him to … reach.
34 I’ve never seen such a bad film.
ever
It’s the ……worst film I have ever.. seen.
35 “Don’t open it!” he said.
warned
He ……warned me not to.. open it.
36 She has never told me lies before.
first
It’s ……the first time she has….. told me lies.
“I didn’t start the fire!” he said.
denied
He …denied that he had started/ starting/ having started… the fire.
38 Study hard because you may write a test tomorrow.
case

Study hard …in case you write.. a test tomorrow.
39 I’m sure he took the cheque-book with him.
must


He …must have taken.. the cheque-book with him.
40 What a pity! don’t know how to dance.
wish
I ……wish I knew…. how to dance.
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Sentence transformation, 10
January 17, 2007

31 We would rather stop than continue in this manner.
prefer
We …‘d prefer to stop….. than to continue in this manner.
32 Mother told Tom that he had to go to bed early.
must
‘You to …must go……bed early,’ Mother told Tom.
33 I last saw her at the end of May.
since
I …haven’t seen her since….the end of May.
34 I’ll never be able to persuade her to agree with the idea.
bring
I’ll never …bring her round… to the idea.
35 She could not understand how they were related.
connection
She could not understand …their connection… to her.
36 I don’t think I can afford to buy this dress.

have
I don’t think I …have enough…. money to buy this dress.


37 He is helping his mother so that they can finish quickly.
order
He is helping his mother …in order to finish….. quickly.
38 I found my old diary by chance.
came
I ……came across.. my old diary by chance.
39 He was very rude when he spoke to the old man.
politely
He ……did not speak politely to… the old man.
40 She caught the early bus so that she would not be late for work.
avoid
She caught the early bus …to avoid being…. late for work.
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Sentence transformation, 9
January 17, 2007

31 despite his rude behaviour / despite behaving rudely
32 is to blame for
33 would rather order food than
34 time the government did
35 can’t have been
36 were you I would tidy
37 should have your hair
38 put up with
39 wasn’t as good as

40 congratulated him on getting
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Sentence transformation, 8
January 16, 2007

31 The football match was postponed due to the rain.
put


The football match was ______put off___ due to the rain.
32 There was no one here except John.
apart
There was no one here ______apart from____ John.
33 You will have to pay at least £500 to get that watch.
impossible
You’ll find it ____impossible to get/buy__ that watch for less than £500.
34 I don’t want to eat this now.
rather
I _______‘d rather not______ eat this now.
35 ‘Shall I turn on the light?’ Sue asked Jill.
wanted
Sue asked Jill __if/whether she wanted__ the light turned on.
36 Mother walked in quietly so as to avoid waking the baby.
order
Mother walked in quietly ____in order not to wake__ the baby.
37 It’s possible that she didn’t understand what I had said.
might
She ___might not have understood__what I had said.
38 I couldn’t concentrate fully because of the loud music.

difficult
The loud music __made it difficult to concentrate__ fully.
39 The tea is too hot to drink.
enough


The tea __ isn’t cool/cold enough_ to drink.
40 She is certain to have heard about it on the news.
must
She __must have heard__ about it on the news.