KEY WORD TRANSFORMATION

1
-be bound to: chắc chắn xảy ra
-make it up to sb for sth: compensate sb for sth
It is certain that he will compensate you for the damage he has done
 He is bound to make it up to you for the damage he has done.
-at one’s disposal: tùy ý cho ai sử dụng
My boss says I can use his car whenever I want to, so long as I’m careful
 My boss says his car is at my disposal, so long as I’m careful.
She was going to hand in her notice when the boss decided to promote her
She was on the point of handing in her notice when the boss decided to
promote her.
He has tried to lose weight before
It’s not the first time he has gone on a diet.
France hasn’t won a gold medal in this sport for ages
 It has been IS a long time since France won a medal in this sport.
Stephen realised something terrible had happened as soon as he saw May
crying
Stephen was aware what something terrible had happened as soon as he saw
May crying.
I believe the man you’re looking for is standing right next to us
I have a feeling that the man standing right next to us is the one you’re
looking for.
It was proposed that a new orphanage should be built
They put forward a proposal that a new orphanage should be built to build a
new orphanage.
The election takes place next Sunday
The election are scheduled FOR next Sunday.
I believe there will be an economic crisis soon
IN MY ESTIMATION (in my opinion), an economic crisis is imminent (sắp
xảy ra).
The final question in Part 6 wasn’t answered correctly by anyone
Noone had the correct answer TO the final question in Part 6.
Mozart started composing music during his early childhood
Mozart had composed music since he was a young child
According to Dr Donovan, Rosie is bound to be offered the position
According to Dr Donovan, there is no doubt that Rosie will be offered the
position.
Jame realised that he could never be an architect
Jame realised that he wasn’t cut out to be an architect.
They chose not to drive because they thought there would be too much
snow.
They chose not to drive for fear of too much snow.
2
-to whet one’s appetite for sth: to increase the feeling that you want to have or
to do a particular thing
What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the story
 What he told me wheted my appetite for (hearing) the rest of the story.
-be averse to sth = be opposed to sth
I don’t mind staying in on a Saturday night if I have good company
 I am not averse to staying on a Saturday night if I have good company.
-acquaint sb/oneself with sth: make sb/oneself familiar with sth, familiarize sb
with sth
Miss Hayes will explain the day-to-day running of the office to you
 Miss Hayes will acquaint you with the day-to-day running of the office.
-make amends for ~ compensate for ~ make it up to sb for sth: đền bù do lỗi lầm
mình gây ra
I don’t know how I can make it up to you for spoiling your plans
 I don’t know how I can make amends for spoiling your plans.
-It is a foregone conclusion that = It goes without saying that
-to (dis)approve of sth (lưu ý approve, disapprove là ĐỘNG TỪ)
-to make allowances for sb/sth: xem xét, tính đến cái gì khi đưa ra quyết định;
chiếu cố, tha thứ, chấp nhận ai trong một số TH đặc biệt
You need to consider the fact that he hasn’t spoken French for years
 You should make allowances for the fact that he hasn’t spoken French for
years.
-apparently (adv):
+ used to say that you have heard or read that something is true, although you
are not completely sure about it
e.g: I wasn’t there, but apparently the plan went well.
+ used when the real situation is different from what you thought it was
e.g: I thought they were married but apparently not.
I was surprised not to see Meg at the party but I later heard she was ill.
 I was surprised that Meg didn’t come to the party but apparently she was ill.
I know this route looks dangerous but I can’t think of a better option
I know this route looks dangerous but this is the only alternative I can think
of.
Helen won’t be happy till she gets a full refund
Nothing other than (except for) a full refund will satisfy Helen.
-be presented with ~ confront, come up against
How would you deal with such a challenge?
What would you do if you were presented with such a challenge?
3
I never have enough time these days
I am always short of time these days.
The trapped fireman finally got away through the back window
The trapped fireman finally managed to escape through the back window.
It is very possible that he’ll be promoted
There is every likelihood that he’ll be promoted.
It is certain that he will return this afternoon
He is bound to return this afternoon.
Why haven’t you signed this form at the bottom?
Weren’t you supposed to sign this form at the bottom?
Could he have been telling the truth?
Is it likely that he was telling the truth?
Could you come on Saturday?
How does coming on Saturday suit you?
Is it likely that you will move before July?
What are the chances of your leaving before July?
4
-to blow one’s top/lid/stack ~ hit the roof ~ fly off the handle ~ lose one’s
temper
His father was very angry with him when he heard he had damaged the car
His father blew his top when he heard he had damaged the car.
-to coincide with sth: trùng hợp với
Jenny’s birthday is on the same day as the Queen’s
Jenny’s birthday coincides with the Queen’s.
-on the spur of the moment: dùng để chỉ hành động, quyết định được đưa ra tức
thời, bất ngờ, bộc phát, spontaneously
He bought a new jacket without having planned to
He bought a new jacket on the spur of the moment.
-on the verge of doing sth ~ on the point of doing sth ~ be about to do sth
-on the verge/brink/edge of: sắp, trên bờ vực
She was just about to pass out when someone offered her a seat
She was on the verge of passing out when someone offered her a seat.
-to drive a hard bargain (in sth): to argue with determination to get advantage
He’s a pleasant man socially, but he’s a tough businessman
He’s a pleasant man socially, but drives a hard bargain in business.
-I can’t recollect = I can’t remember
He didn’t seem to consider anything to be as important as winning that
medal
Nothing seems to matter to him more than winning that medal.
The conference will now take place at a later date
The conference will be postponed until a later date.
-diplomat (n): nhà ngoại giao
-on suspicion of sth: due to being suspected of a crime
The diplomat has been arrested because it is believed he had been spying for his
government
The diplomat has been arrested on the suspicion of spying for his
government.
-have no regrets ABOUT sth
Ian is sure he was right to turn down the job
Ian has no regrets about having turned down the job.
They have decided to go to Crete for summer
It is their intention to go to Crete for summer.
5
Would you please keep your mobile phone switched off during the flight
Would you mind keeping your mobile phone switched off while the plane is
airborne (trên không).
We waited on the bus for an hour before the engine was fixed
They took an hour to fix the engine while we waited on the bus.
-slip my mind: tôi quên béng mất
I apologise but I completely forgot about our appointment
I must confess that our appointment completely slipped my mind.
-merger (n): sự hợp nhất
-go through with sth: to do something unpleasant or difficult that has already
been agreed or promised
It is believed that the two rival companies have agreed to the merger
The two rival companies are believed to be going through with the merger.
-take offence at sth: to be offended by sth
Nadia said nothing because she was afraid of offending them
Nadia remained silent for fear of them taking offence.
He didn’t have a clue what it would be like to live in the country
He couldn’t envisage (/ɪnˈvɪz.ɪdʒ/) what life could be like out of town.
If you invest all your savings in this scheme you may lose them
You run the risk of losing all your savings if you invest them in this scheme.
 6
Have you ever thought of changing jobs?
Has it ever crossed your mind to change jobs?
These 2 cars are not in the same class at all
There is no comparison between these 2 cars.
He never stops criticising people
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO his criticism of people.
-be devoid of sth: be completely lacking of sth
That man has no pity whatsoever
That man is totally devoid of pity
-It is on the cards that: It is likely that
He is likely to be promoted
It is on the cards that he will be promoted
I don’t mind whether you come in the morning or the afternoon
It makes no difference to me whether you come in the morning or the
afternoon.
Notes:

1. So sánh gấp bội - Cấu trúc Twice as...as

Twice = two times: hai lần

Chúng ta dùng twice với cấu trúc as...as để chỉ sự gấp bội trong tiếng Anh.
e.g:

 Petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago. (Xăng đắt gấp đôi

cách đây vài năm)
 Mary types twice as fast as I do.  

2. So sánh gấp nhiều lần - Cấu trúc three/four... times as...as

Để diễn tả cái gì đó là gấp nhiều lần (hơn hai lần) cái kia, bạn sử dụng three
times (ba lần) hoặc four times (bốn lần), ... cùng với cấu trúc as...as

S + V + multiple numbers + as + much/many/adj/adv + (N) + as + N/pronoun.

e.g:

 Their house is about three times as big as ours is. (Nhà họ to gấp ba
nhà chúng tôi)
  The bicycle costs three times as much as the other one.

Women outnumber man by two to one in Greece

There are twice as many women as man in Greece.
It’s quite likely he will resign soon
There’s a good chance that he will resign soon.
-take (an instant) dislike to sb: có ác cảm với ai (ngay từ đầu)
As soon as she saw my flatmate, my mother decided she didn’t like him
My mother took an instant dislike to my flatmate.
-cast/run an eye OVER sth: read/plough through/look at sth quickly
Could you have a quick look at my essay before I give it in?
Could you cast an eye OVER my essay before I hand it in?
The puclic reacted angrily to the minister’s remarks
The minister’s remarks DREW AN ANGRY RESPONSE from the public.
Frances is unlikely to be promoted
There is LITTLE prospect OF Frances BEING promoted.
-conform(v)+ to: phù hợp với
The minister’s actions do not conform at all to his pre-election promises
The minister’s actions are IN COMPLETE CONTRAST TO his pre-election
promises.
7
-escape my notice: thoát khỏi tầm mắt, sự chú ý của tôi
I couldn’t help noticing how friendly he’s been towards you recently
His friendliness towards you recently hasn’t escaped my notice.
-commit yourself to doing sth = be committed to doing sth
They have definitely agreed to lend us the money
They are committed to lending us the money.
8
-behind closed doors: in secret, kín, không công khai
The board had a secret meeting in order to discuss changes in company policy
The board met behind closed doors in order to discuss changes in company
policy.
-be apt to do sth: have a tendency to do sth
Young children often ask ridiculous questions.
Young children are apt to ask ridiculous questions.
-impose on sb: ép buộc, áp đặt
I won’t stay overnight because I don’t want to put you to any trouble
I won’t stay overnight because I don’t want to impose on you.
-one’s face lights up: used to say that someone looks pleased and happy
She smiled with delight when she saw him
Her face lit up when she saw him.
-out of keeping with sth: not suitable, not agreeing with sth
-in keeping with sth: suitable, agreeing with sth
His outburst (cơn giận bộc phát) was not consistent with his character
His outburst was out of keeping with his character.
9
-be resigned to
-deter(v): ngăn cản
deter sb from doing sth ~ hinder sb from doing sth
Virtue is of little value in a corrupt government
Virtue counts for little in a corrupt government.
-have a reputation for: renowned for
e.g: She has a reputation for being a good cook.
-flavour of the month: the most popular thing/person at a particular time
e.g: Reality shows on TV are flavor of the month at the moment.