The English Institute

A. Transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the given word.
Do not change the given word. You must write between two and five words including the given
word.
Example
I’m sorry but all the tickets have been sold.
ANY
I’m afraid THERE AREN’T ANY TICKETS left.
1. She hasn’t eaten Japanese food before.
FIRST
This is the _______________________________________________ Japanese food.
2. We were caught by surprise by the cold weather.
SUCH
We _______________________________________________weather.
3. John’s marks were too low for the university.
HIGH
John’s marks _______________________________________________ for the university.

4. If the soup was not so hot I could drink it now.

FOR
This soup is too _______________________________________________ drink now.
5. It’s possible that she didn’t hear what I said.
MIGHT
She _______________________________________________what I said.
6. The last time I saw Helen was before she left for Australia.
SINCE
I _______________________________________________ she left for Australia.
7. You’ve got a terrible cough. You ought to see a doctor.
BETTER
You’ve got a terrible cough. You
__________________________________________doctor.
8 Fortunately we had enough food at the party.
RUN
Fortunately, we _______________________________________________ food at the
party.
9. We didn’t go to the cinema because John was ill.
IF
We would have gone to the cinema _________________________________________ ill.
10. I’m sorry I didn’t write to him
WISH
_______________________________________________ to him.
 11. It’s impossible that she wrote the book.
HAVE
She _______________________________________________the book.

12.I would really like to be able to play the piano.

ONLY
If _______________________________________________ to play the piano.

B. Transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the given word.
Do not change the given word. You must write between two and five words including the given
word.
1. Perhaps the postman hasn’t come yet.
May
The postman…………………………………………………………………….. yet.
2. What a pity she didn’t get the job.
Wish
I wish…………………………………………………………………….. the job.
3. The house was too expensive for us.
Enough
We…………………………………………………………………….. to buy the house.
4. Take my advice and stop smoking.
Were
If…………………………………………………………………….. stop smoking.
5. The receipt is essential if you want a refund.
Provided
They will give you a refund………………………………………………………….. the
receipt.
6. Somebody has mended her car for 500 pounds.
Repaired
She…………………………………………………………………….. for 500 pounds.
7. You are not allowed to bring coffee into the classrooms.
Must
Coffee…………………………………………………………………….. into the classroom.
8. They don’t want to go on holiday at all this year.
Rather
They…………………………………………………………………….. holiday at all this year.
9. It’s possible she didn’t hear what you said.
Might
She…………………………………………………………………….. what you said.
10. He learned to drive when he was eighteen.
Been
He…………………………………………………………………….. since he was eighteen.
11. It was the best film I had ever seen.
Never
I…………………………………………………………………….. a good film before.
12. This ring is much more valuable than that one.
Far
That ring is…………………………………………………………………….. this one.
 13. She regrets leaving her job.
Wishes
She…………………………………………………………………….. her job.
14. I think you should leave early.
Better
You…………………………………………………………………….. early.
15. Could you switch on the air conditioner please?
Mind
Would…………………………………………………………………….. the air conditioner?
16. The police made him get out of his car.
Was
He…………………………………………………………………….. of his car by the police.
17. She hates it if she has to have extra classes.
Stand
She…………………………………………………………………….. to have extra classes.
18. Darren couldn’t complete his trip to the Pole because he wasn’t well enough.
Too
Darren…………………………………………………………………….. the trip to the Pole.
19. The police are investigating a number of recent car thefts.
Into
A number of recent car thefts……………………………………………………………… the
police.
20. Carmen plays the flute better than Sarah.
As
Susan doesn’t play the………………………………………………………………Carmen.

C. Transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the given word.
Do not change the given word. You must write between two and five words including the given
word.
1. She doesn’t smoke as much as she used to.
Less
She _______________________________________ she used to.

2. You must work harder.

Working
You _______________________________________ enough.

3. My sister takes care of the children while we go out to work.

After
My sister _______________________________________ while we go out to work.

4. If there had been fewer people in the queue we would have waited.
So
There _______________________________________ in the queue that we decided not to wait.

5. The shelf was too high for me to reach.

Tall
I _______________________________________ reach the shelf.
6. My car really needs to be serviced soon.
Have
I really must _______________________________________ soon.

7. Adrian regrets having asked such a rude question.

Should
Adrian realizes that he _______________________________________ such a rude question.

8. When Pam was at school, she often forgot to do her homework.

Used
Pam often _______________________________________ her homework when she was at school.

9. She is similar in appearance to Nicole Kidman.

Like
She _______________________________________ Nicole Kidman.

10. Isobel regrets canceling her concert in London.

Wishes
Isobel _______________________________________ her concert in London.

11. This is the worst production of this play I have ever seen.
Bad
I have _______________________________________ production of this play.

12. It’s possible that Ann is looking for a new job.

May
Ann _______________________________________ for a new job.

13. I ought to start saving for my summer holiday.

Better
I _______________________________________ for my summer holiday.

14. I prefer to go on sailing holidays than walking holidays.

Rather
I _______________________________________ sailing holidays than walking holidays.

15. I went to the bank but it wasn’t really necessary.

Gone
I _______________________________________ the bank.

16. Their car broke down, so they missed the concert.

Broken
If their car _______________________________________, they wouldn’t have missed the concert.

17. Could you help me tidy the room?

Mind
Would _______________________________________ tidy the room?

18. They are building a new shopping centre just outside the town.
Being
A new shopping centre _______________________________________ just outside the town.

19. They haven’t dealt with my complaint yet.

Still
They _______________________________________ my complaint.

20. I don’t think he is likely to come to work today.

Probably
He _______________________________________ to work today.
 D. Transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the given word.
Do not change the given word. You must write between two and five words including the given
word.
1. “I’m sorry I have to leave so early,” John said.
Apologized
John _____________________________________________________ leave so early.
2. Mary move here in 1987.
Living
Mary _____________________________________________________ 1987.
3. You are tired because you stayed up very late last night.
If
You wouldn’t be tired _____________________________________________________ to bed earlier
last night.
4. I probably forgot to mention that the deadline is Tuesday.
May
I _____________________________________________________ that the deadline is Tuesday.
5. Please don’t go there now.
Rather
I _____________________________________________________ there now.
6. Working outdoors is much nicer than working in an office.
Nice
Working in an office is not _____________________________________________________ outdoors.
7. Marina regrets not learning to swim.
Wishes
Marina _____________________________________________________ to swim.
8. I cried because the film was very sad.
So
The film was _____________________________________________________ cry.
9. He didn’t repair his house because he couldn’t afford it.
Have
He didn’t _____________________________________________________ because he couldn’t afford it.
10. They’ll catch all the prisoners again by tonight.
Will
All _____________________________________________________ again by tonight.
11. “Do you want to come out or not?” Jane asked Peter.
If
Jane asked _____________________________________________________ to come out or not.
12. “You’ve broken my radio, Frank!” said Jane.
Accused
Jane _____________________________________________________ her radio.
13. The bread was too old to eat.
Fresh
The bread _____________________________________________________ to eat.
14. Diane was supposed to write to her parent last week.
Ought
Diane _____________________________________________________ to her parents last week.
 15. He has too much free time since he retired.
Hands
He has too much _____________________________________________________ since he retired.
16. “Would you like to stay for dinner?” she asked.
Invited
She _____________________________________________________ for dinner.
17. “Alright I broke your bike” said Ivan.
Admitted
Ivan _____________________________________________________ bike.
18. Could you do me a favour please?
Mind
Would _____________________________________________________ me a favour please?
19. “I won’t apply for the job” she said
Refused
She _____________________________________________________ the job.
20. “I didn’t take part in the robbery” he said.
Denied
He _____________________________________________________ the robbery.

E. Transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the given word.
Do not change the given word. You must write between two and five words including the given
word.
1. This coffee is too hot to drink.
Not
This coffee _____________________________________ drink.

2. It is not worth keeping these empty bottles.

Point
There is ________________________________ these empty bottles.

3. It was wrong of you to speak to Octavio like that.

Have
You ________________________________ to Octavio like that.

4. I really regret inviting him to the party.

Only
If _____________________________________ him to the party.

5. Singing is something that Jasmina has always found difficult.

Good
Jasmina has never ______________________________ singing.

6. You ought to do something about this tap.

Time
It’s high _____________________________________ about this tap.

7. Please check this document for misprints.

Sure
Please ____________________________ misprints in this document.

8. Someone stole Adrian’s car last night.

Had
Adrian _____________________________________ last night.
9. I’d prefer to go to Rome on holiday this year.
Rather
I _________________________________ Rome on holiday this year.

10. It would be a good idea for you to leave early tomorrow.

Better
You___________________________________ leave early tomorrow.

11. Perhaps Natalia left the car unlocked.

May
Natalia ___________________________________ the car unlocked.

12. You are not allowed to leave until the exam is finished.
Must
You ______________________________ until the exam is finished.

13. The students organized a show but they postponed it because of lack of funds.
Put
The students organized a show but they________________________ because of lack of funds.

14. She made the children tidy their room.

Were
The children ____________________________________their room.

15. He said he was sorry he forgot their appointment.

Apologized
He _______________________________________ their appointment

16. I’d love to go on holiday in July, but that’s my busiest time.

Wish
I ___________________________ on holiday in July, but that’s my busiest time.

17. The reason Gloria didn’t tell us the truth is that she was afraid of our reaction.
If
Gloria would have told us the truth ___________________________ afraid of our reaction.

18. I find Robert’s taste in music very hard to tolerate.

Put
I find it hard to ________________________ Robert’s taste in music.

19. People say that there are bears living in these mountains.
Said
Bears_______________________________ in these mountains.

20. You aren’t nearly as tall as your sister.

Far
Your sister _____________________________________ than you.