FCE Use of English   Return to Spotlight Paper 3

Part 3: 'Key' Word Transformation

5) Conditionals
Any type of conditional sentence is likely to appear in this part of Paper 3.
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. I only told you because I thought you would be interested.
TOLD
I ................................................. you if I thought you weren't interested.

2. I won't organise the party unless you arrange the food.

LONG
I'll organise the party ....................................................... arrange the food.

3. I think it would be a good idea to speak to the manager first.

WERE
If ......................................................... speak to the manager first.

4. If you do the washing up I'll make the coffee.

PROVIDED
I'll make the coffee .......................................................... the washing up.

5. Your tired because you keep staying up late.

WERE
If ............................................................. to bed earlier, you wouldn't be so tired.

6. You never enter competitions so you'll never win anything.

MIGHT
If you entered competions ...................................................... something.

7. The reason I haven't got much money is because they didn't give me promotion.
POOR
If they had given me promotion I ............................................................... now.

8. I've been so happy since I met you.

MIGHT
I ................................................................ so happy if I hadn't met you

9. Declan was angry because Claire arrived late.

TIME
If Claire ....... ...... ... .. ............. .. ..... ......... . ...... ... ... , Declan would not have
been angry.
10. I think you should complain about that horrible meal.
WERE
If I .. ................................... ................... .. .. a complaint about that horrible
meal.
11Oliver says he will only play football if he can be team captain.
UNLESS
Oliver says that he ................. ........................................... he can be team
captain.
12. He failed the test because he hadn`t studied. have
He ……………………………………………. if he had studies.
13. It was so hot that she fainted. If
She ……………………………………………………. it hadn`t been so hot.
14. I didn`t buy the camera because it was so expensive. been
I would have bought the camera …………………………… so expensive

15. Fallen trees are blocking the main road, so we can’t go into town by car. ABLE
We go into town by car if the main road wasn’t blocked………………by fallen trees.
2 The Australian government passed the new environment laws because it believes
they are necessary. NOT
If the Australian government didn’t believe the new environmental laws were necessary,……..
it them.
3 Without scientific proof, people won’t take any notice of the warning. THERE
People won’t take any notice of the warning ……………..scientific proof.
4 The explorer lost two fingers and two toes because he suffered from severe frostbite. STILl
If the explorer hadn’t suffered from severe frostbite, he
all his fingers and toes.
5 One possibility for the failure of the expedition was that they didn’t take enough supplies with them. IF
The expedition might not have been a failure enough
supplies with them.
6 These new air conditioners need to be serviced regularly in order to remain effi cient. LOnG
These new air conditioners will remain efficient
serviced regularly.
7 Alison wasn’t listening to the guide’s instructions, so she got lost in the forest. HAD
Alison wouldn’t have got lost in the forest to the guide’s
instructions.
8 The only reason polar ice is melting so fast is that global temperatures are rising quickly. BE
If global temperatures weren’t rising quickly, polar ice……………………………………
so fast.
9 We didn’t have enough time to see the glacier because the weather cut our excursion short. HAVE
If the weather hadn’t cut our excursion short, enough
time to see the glacier.
10 You can’t go up to the rim of the crater without an offi cial guide. UNLESS
You can’t go up to the rim of the crater …………………………….you there.
11. I got the job because I knew the manager. Would
If I had not known the manager, I ……………………..
FCE Use of English   Return to Spotlight Paper 3

Part 3: 'Key' Word Transformation

6) 'Unreal' Pasts
You will sometimes find sentences using 'If only ...', 'I wish ...', I'd rather ...'
etc that require the use of past tenses.

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. I'd love to know how John is getting on.

KNEW
I ................................................. how John was getting on.

2. You should take an umbrella with you.

BETTER
You ................................................ an umbrella with you.

3. I think taxes should be increased.

TIME
It .................................................. increased

4. He behaves like the President of the company.

THOUGH
He acts ....................................................... the President of the company.

5. I regret not inviting Cathy to the party.

ONLY
If ................................................... Cathy

6. I'd prefer you to get home early tonight.

RATHER
I .................................................... home early tonight.

7. It's a pity the car is so expensive.

WISH
I .................................................... so expensive.

8. It will be better for you to come alone.

SOONER
I would ...................................................... on your own.