Keyword Transfromations Tips and Activities

Keyword Transfromations Tips and Activities

Exam Tip!

Each question is marked in two halves and it's perfectly possible to get one whole point in the exam just for getting a single word correctly, even if you don't know the other words to put in the gap. So you should always give every question a try.

The important thing in key word transformations is that you keep the meaning the same - EXACTLY the same. So it's important that you read through the first sentence and your second sentence to ensure you have kept the meaning the same. Look at these two sentences:

Tommy said he was ready for his driving test and would take it in July.Tommy said he was ready for his driving test and could take it in July.

One letter has been changed, from "would" to "could" but it changes the meaning of the sentence totally. Be careful of this!

The most common grammatical topics covered in Key Word Transformations are:

modal verbs and semi-modal verbs verb patterns such as verb/infinitive, verb/gerund/ verb + preposition + gerund, etc active voice to the passive voice direct speech to reported speech phrasal verbs and multi-word verbs common idioms third conditional look like and seem / do and make / regret and wish

A good way to practise this part of the FCE exam is to get used to writing and re-writing sentences using different structures and without changing the meaning.

How many ways can you write this sentence:

Mr. Jones made us stay late because we arrived late.

Here are a few:

We were made to stay late by Mr. Jones because we arrived late.Mr. Jones forced us to stay late because we arrived late.We were forced to stay late by Mr. Jones because we arrived late.Mr. Jones made us stay late because of our lateness.and so on...

Key Word Transformations Exercise 1

In these exercises, you need to take the information in the first sentence and re-write it, using the word in bold so that the second sentence has exactly the same meaning. You cannot change the word in bold in ANY way. You can use only a maximum of FIVE words for each space. Only use contractions for negatives: e.g. don't / hadn't / wouldn't, etc.

1. Many people think Steve stole the money.believed

Steve the money.

2. The strong winds blew down the two ancient trees during the storm.blown

The two ancient trees the storm.

3. He doesn't have enough money to buy the computer.too

The computer to buy.

4. "You should start a new hobby, Mr. Jenkins", the doctor said.take

The Doctor advised a new hobby.

5. We have been waiting here since half past ten.for

We have been waiting one hour.

6. The man suddenly realised that the neighbor was watching him.watched

The man suddenly realised that he the neighbor.

7. I could never have passed that exam without your help.you

I could never have passed that exam me.

8. We paid some people to landscape the garden for us last year.had

We last year.


1. "How about going to the cinema tonight?", said Annesuggested

Ann to the cinema.

2. My advice to you is to talk to your parents.would

If talk to my parents.

3. Barry wasn't strong enough to lift the box.have

Barry didn't to lift the box

4. They started the company in 1997.set

The company 1997

5. I think Jean really likes Simon.keen

Jean Simon.

6. I was made responsible for foreign sales.charge

They put foreign sales.

7. The brothers really enjoyed themselves in Spain last summer.time

The brothers really in Spain last summer.

8. The Queen is opening the new school tomorrow afternoon.opened

The new school Queen tomorrow afternoon.


1. Marcus started learning French two years ago.learning

Marcus has two years.

2. Harry isn't here. He went to lunch twenty minutes ago.gone

Harry isn't here. He lunch.

3. Do you own that stereo?yours

Is ?

4. Look at how black the sky is! There is rain arriving.going

Look at how black the sky is! It .

5. What a shame. There is no food left!wish

I left!

6. What a shame. They ate all the food.wish

I all the food.

7. The teenagers were stealing my car when I arrived.being

My car teenagers when I arrived.

8. You use that little hammer to crack the stones.for

This little hammer .


1. The last time John came to my house was in 1999.since

John hasn't 1999.

2. No dinner for me, thanks. I ate half an hour ago.already

Thanks, but I .

3. I haven't been swimming for nearly a year.last

The was nearly a year ago.

4. I regret not speaking to Marge sooner.had

I wish sooner.

5. Yesterday, they cut down two old trees in the local park.were

Yesterday, two in the local park.

6. The army were treating the prisoners well.were

The prisoners the army.

7. I walked quietly because I didn't want to wake the baby.so

I walked quietly wake the baby.

8. I think we will arrive at 7pm if the weather remains good.should

We if the weather remains good.


1. This is the first time I have ever drunk rum.never

I rum before.

2. The bank closed before I arrived.already

When I got to the bank, it .

3. You press the green button to start the mixer.starts

If you press the green .

4. Do you know how many letters are delivered by the post office every year?delivers

Do you know how many letters year?

5. Stop interrupting me all the time!would

I wish all the time.

6. We should leave for the disco now.left

It's disco.

7. "Remember to give Alan the card," Beryl shouted at me.reminded

Beryl the card.

8. He locked the door to prevent the prisoner escaping.so

He locked the door escape.


1. How long have you had your new car?get

When your new car?

2. Is this your first time driving a Volvo?ever

Have before?

3. Leave the shop or I will call the police.unless

I'll call the police .

4. I would like to be able to speak Arabic.could

I wish .

5. The Lord of Brecon built this castle in 1286.by

This castle of Brecon in 1286.

6. Our teachers never let us leave the school.to

We were not by our teachers.

7. I graduated from college a year ago today!time

I graduated from college year!

8. I couldn't reach the shelf. It was too high.to

The shelf .

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Keyword Transfromations Tips and Activities