KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

1. Was it necessary for ther to spend so much money on it? (HAVE)

Did she have to spend so mucho money on it?
2. Shes driving too fast for me to keep up with her. (ENOUGH)
She is not driving slowly enough for me to keep up with her.
COMPARISON (DEGREE)
TOO | ENOUGH are used with adjectives and adverbs. Too means more than necessary, and it
precedes the adjective.
Similar Conversions
She is too young to drink alcohol. => She isn't old enough to drink alcohol. TOO + ADJECTIVE => NOT
+ ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH

Tom is more handsome than Mark. => Mark isn't as handsome as Tom.

MORE + ADJECTIVE + THAN

=> NOT AS + ADJECIVE + AS

I've never seen such a bad film before. => It's the worst film I've ever seen.

IT'S + SUPERLATIVE ...

EVER ...

3. Susan and Frank dont like each other. (WELL)

Susan and Frank dont get ton well with each other.
4. Its posible that he hasnt been informed about his uncle death. (MIGHT)
He might not have been informed about his uncles death.
5. Mark is very patient, hell never give up. (TOO)
Mark is too patient to give up
COMPARISON (DEGREE)
TOO + ADJECTIVE + TO + VERB
Similar Conversions
She is too young to drink alcohol. => She isn't old enough to drink alcohol.

TOO + ADJECTIVE => NOT

+ ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH

Tom is more handsome than Mark. => Mark isn't as handsome as Tom.

MORE + ADJECTIVE + THAN

=> NOT AS + ADJECIVE + AS

I've never seen such a bad film before. => It's the worst film I've ever seen.

IT'S + SUPERLATIVE ...

EVER ...

6. I am sorry I didnt go to college. (REGRET)

I regret not having gone to college.
VERB PATTERN
REGRET + GERUND
Similar Conversions
Would you like to go to the cinema with me? => Do you fancy going to the cinema with
me? WOULD LIKE TO + INFINITIVE => FANCY + GERUND
Could you help me with that suitcase? => Would you mind helping with that suitcase? COULD +
INFINITIVE => WOULD ... MIND + GERUND

She prefers reading books to watching films. => She prefers to read books rather
than watch films. PREFER + GERUND + TO + GERUND

7. Somebody is coming to repair the computer the day after tomorrow.

(REPAIRED)
I am having/getting the computer repaired the day after tomorrow.
8. Mary studied a lot. She wanted to pass the exam. (VIEW)
Mary studied a lot with a view to passing the exam.
PURPOSE
WITH A VIEW TO + GERUND => with the intention or hope of doing something.
Similar Conversions
She went into town with a view to visiting her aunt. => She went into town with the intention
of visiting her aunt. WITH THE INTENTION OF
She got up early to be ready to leave by 10. => She got up early so that she could leave by
10. SO THAT + MODAL VERB + VERB
They spoke quietly so as not to wake the baby. => They spoke quietly in order not to wake the
baby. SO AS NOT TO => IN ORDER NOT TO

9. Thats the most stupid excuse Ive ever heard. (SUCH)

Ive never heard such as stupid excuse.
COMPARISON
NEVER ... SUCH A + ADJECTIVE + NOUN
Similar Conversions
I've never seen such a bad film before. => It's the worst film I've ever seen.

IT'S + SUPERLATIVE ...

EVER ...

This car is too expensive for me to buy. => This car isn't cheap enough for me to buy.

TOO +

ADJECTIVE => NOT + ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH

Tom is more handsome than Mark. => Mark isn't as handsome as Tom.

MORE + ADJECTIVE + THAN

=> NOT AS + ADJECIVE + AS

10.

Please dont go to that conference next week. (RATHER)

Id rather you didnt go to that conference next week.

11.

Even though he tried hard, he couldnt do anything about it. (MATTER)

No matter how hard he tried, he couldnt do anything about it.

CONCESSION
NO MATTER HOW => used to say that something is true or that something happens whatever the
situation is.
Similar Conversions
Jim isn't very tall, but he can run very fast. => Although Jim isn't very tall, he can run very
fast. BUT => ALTHOUGH
Although he tried hard, he couldn't save her. => No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't
save her. ALTHOUGH => NO MATTER HOW
In spite of all her money, she still feels very poor. => For all her money, she still feels very
poor. IN SPITE OF => FOR ALL

12.

Whats the depth of the lake? Martha asked her mother (HOW)

Martha asked her mother how deep the lake was

WH-QUESTION
WHAT IS THE + NOUN => HOW + ADJECTIVE + IS

Similar Conversions
What is the length of this river? => How long is this river? WHAT IS THE + NOUN => HOW + ADJECTIVE + IS
Who owns that car? => Who does that car belong to? WHO + VERB => WHO + AUXILIARY VERB + VERB
For what other purpose can this be used? => What else can this be used for? FOR WHAT => WHAT ...
FOR

13.

The boss didnt really like the employee. (IMPRESSION)

The employee didnt really make an impression on the boss.

14.

Martin inherited the house after his mothers death. (INTO)

Martin came into the house after his mothers death.

15.

It was a mistake to go to that pub. (HAVE)

We shouldnt have gone to that pub.

16.

Robert borrowed my car yesterday. (TO)

I lend my car to Robert yesterday.

17.

Please send me some more information. (GRATEFUL)

I would be grateful if you would send me some more information.

18.

Why did you sell such a great car? (MADE)

What made you sell such a great car?

19.
Why dont you come over for dinner at the weekend? He asked her.
(SUGGESTED)
He suggested coming over for dinner at the weekend.
20.

The school I studied at las year was better than this one. (GOOD)

This school isnt as good as my last one.

21.

Although the weather was terrible we had a good time. (SPITE)

We had a good time in spite of the terrible weather.

22.

Being rude is inexcusable. (EXCUSE)

There is no excuse for being rude.

23.

I regret taking up smoking. (WISH)

I wish I hadnt taken up smoking.

24.

The plice are interviewing the suspects. (INTERVIEWED).

The suspects are being interviewed by the plice.

25.

May we borrow your ladder for half an hour? (MIND)

Would you mind if we borrow your ladder for half an hour?

26.

Im not frightened, he said, in fact, he was frightened (BE)

He pretended not to be frightened

27.

The majestic is better than this hotel (GOOD)

This hotel is not as good as the Majestic

28.

To enjoy travel, you must go on your own (ONLY)

You can only enjoy travelling if you go on your own.

29.

You were very generous, giving us all that money (OF)

It was very generous of you to lend/give us all that money.

30.

He was sorry he had asked the bank to lend him the money. (WISHED).

He wished he had not asked the bank to lend him the money.
31.

I havent owned a car for five years now. (SINCE)

It is five years since I owned a car.

32.

Why didnt you warn me it was going to rain? (HAVE)

You should have warned me it was going to rain.

33.
Heavy smokers are more likely to suffer serious illness than non-smokers.
(RUNS)
A heavy smoker runs more/a greater risk of serious illness than a nonsmoker.
34.
Even though she knew she had to get up early, Mary still went to the
disco. (DESPITE)
Mary still went to the disco despite knowing/the fact that she had to get up
early.
35.

The do gis wagging its tail because it is trying to be friendly (FRIENDS)

The do gis wagging its tail because its wants make friends with you
36.

It is good habit to save in case of hard times (ASIDE)

It is a good habit to put money aside for a rainy day.

37.

My mother-in-law has invited us to share her house (MOVING)

We are moving in with my mother-in-law

38. His lack of interest suprised me. (SURPRISING)
I found it surprising that he showed so little interest.

39.

I am sorry that I cannot come to the party. (MISS)

I am sorry I shall have to miss the party.

40.

It is pointless to carry samovars to Samarkand. (POINT)

There is not point to carrying samovars to Samarkand.

41. The path was so narrow they had to walk one behind the other along it.
(SINGLE)
The path was so narrow they had to walk in single file along it.
42.

Small children are full of mischief. (SORTS)

Small children get upt to all sorts of tricks.

43.

Can you help me? The old lady asked. (COULD)

The old lady asked if I could help her

44.

When he was much older, he understood. (UNTIL)

It was not until he was much older that he understood.

45.

Ken does not work half as much as he used to. (HARD)

Ken used to work twice as hard as he does now

46. The experts thought that the cost of petrol would rise next year.
(EXPECTED)
The cost of petrol is expected to rise next year.
47.

Some people who start smoking find it difficult to stop (ALWAYS)

IT is not always easy to stop smoking once you have started.

48.

If he isnt careful, he is bound to end up in hospital. (HIM)

His carelessness is bound to put him in hospital.

49.

Because of his illness he could not work effectively. (IMPOSSIBLE)

His illness made it imposible for him to work effectively

50.

Scotsmen will never give anything to waiters. (TIP)

No Scotsman will (ever) trip a waiter.

51.

Mary said, I do not want to get married yet. (RATHER).

Mary protested that she would rather not get married yet.

52.

Mothers must try hard to understand. (BEST)

Mothers must do their best to be understanding.

53. The younger you marry, the greater the chance you will be unhuppy.
(LIKELY)
The younger you marry, the more likely you are to be unhappy.
54.

I was wrong to argue with him. (MISTAKE).

It was a mistake/ I made to argue with him.

55.

She had not bought so much for a long time. (SINCE)

It was a long time since se had done so much shopping.

56.

Ken arrived there twelve months ago. (FOR)

Ken has been there for a year.

57.

If Mary hadnt failed her driving test, she wouldnt be unhappy. (PASS)

Mary is unhappy that/because she did not pass her driving test.
58.

Rabbits used to be more numerous. (NOT)

Rabbits are not as numerous as they used to be.

59.

His new book has been widely criticised. (LOT)

His new book has come in for a lot of criticism.

60.

His secretary updated the list. (BOUGHT)

His secretary brought the list up todate.

61.

I couldnt have managed it without your help. (NOT)

If It had not been for your help, I couldnt have managed it.
62.

Regular exercise kept him healthy. (OWED)

He owned his health to regular exercise.

63.

He couldnt lend us the car because it didnt belong to him. (HIS)

The car was not his to lend.

64.

We were not surprised when he won. (CAME)

His winning came as no surprise.

65. It was difficult for the yactsman to steer into the wind. (GOT)
The yachtsman got into difficulties steering into the wind.
65.

I couldnt have managed without your help. (BEEN)

If it had not been for your help, I couldnt have managed.

66.

We had just arrived when it started to rain. (THAN)

Hardly had we arrived than it started to rain.

67.

He only did the work after he had been paid. (DID).

Not until he had been paid did he do the work.

68.

The idea that the Scots are miserly is simply not true. (TRUTH).

There is no truth in the idea that the Scots are miserly.

69.

She was too busy to see us. (SO)

She was so busy she did not see us.

70.

It is quite pointless to complain. (POINT)

There was no point in complaining

71.

Ive never met anyone who works as hard as he does. (MAN).

He is the most hard-working man I have met

72.

A long speec is unlikely to be interesting. (LITTLE)

There is little likelihood a long speec being interesting.

73. It was difficult to hear the speaker from the back of the room.
(DIFFICULTY).
From the back of the room, we had difficulty hearing the speaker.

74.

I dont really want to go out. (RATHER)

I would rather stay at home.

75.

I did it entirely by myself. (ALL)

I did it all on my own.

76.

You should not be so shy. (SPEAK).

You should speak up for yourself.

77. He has been in hospital for six months. (WENT)

It is six months since he went into hospital.
77.

If only he had been taken to hospital sooner. (PITY)

What a pity he was not taken to hospital earlier.

78.

The doctors tried very hard to sabe him. (BEST)

The doctors did their best to save him.

79.

She was surprised to find there was little she could do. (SURPRISE)

She found to her surprise there was little she could do.
80.

Only Holland permits the smoking of marijuana. (PERMITTED)

The smoking of marijuana is permitted only in Holland

81. The salesman said he was sorry he was late for the meeting.
(APOLOGISED)
The salesman apologised for being late for the meeting.
82, Our decisin has not yet been confirmed by head office. (CONFIRMATION)
We havent received confirmation from head office.
83.
Theyre going to get rid of all these small shops when they build the new
supermarket (WITH)
Theyre going to do away with all these small shops when they build the
new supermarket.
84.

Its your decisin wether we stay in or go out. (UP)

Its up to you wether we stay in or go out

85.

I know Ive done really bad in that test. (MESS)

I know ive really made a mess of that test

86.

Jerry and his boss work really well together. (RELATIONSHIP)

Jerry has a really good relationship with his colleagues.

87.

I think that Im going to win this competition. (FEELING)

I have a/the feeling that im going to win this competition

88.

My parents dont think my ideas are important at all. (SERIOUSLY)

My parents dont take my ideas seriously at all

89.

Jill doesnt often walk to college. (UNUSUAL)

Its unusual for Jill to walk to college.

90. My grandmother always found the new coins strange when the euro was
introduced. (USED)
My grandmother never got used to the new coins when the euro was
introduced.
91. My dad always talks when Im watching my favourite TV programme.
(HABIT)
My dad has a habit of talking when Im watching my favourite TV
programme.
92.

I usually say exactly what Im thinking. (TENDENCY)

I have a tendency tos ay exactly what im thinking

93. Dont sit in front of the computer for too long, our teacher told us
(WARNED)
Our teacher warned us not to sit in front of the computer for too long.
94.

We got lost coming home from the leisure centre. (WAY)

We couldnt find our the way from the leisure centre

95.

Mary didnt find it difficult to pass her driving test. (DIFICULTY)

Mary had no difficulty passing her driving test.

96.

I always trust Carlas advice (SOMEBODY)

Carla is somebody whose advice I always trust.

97.

We appear to have been given the wrong adress. (AS)

It appears as if/though we have been given the wrong adress.

98.

I couldnt understand the instructions for my new DVD player. (SENSE)

The instructions for my new DVD player didnt make any sense to me.
99.

Its a pity we didnt do more sport when i was at school. (COULD)

I wish that we could have done more sport when I was at school.
100. He described the hotel to us in detail. (DETAILED)
He gave us a detailed description of the hotel.