TRANSFORMATIONS

CONTRASTS AND COMPARISONS

1. Mary is fifteen. Jane is fifteen.

OLD
Mary is ________________________________ Jane.

2. Peter is very handsome. You are very handsome too.

AS
Peter is ________________________________ you.

3. I play football very well. You play football very well.

AS
You play __________________________________ as I.

4. He loves her very much. She loves him very much.

MUCH
She loves him _____________________________ loves her.

5. Your car is bigger than mine.

SO
My car is ____________________________________ yours.

6. We spent more money in January than in February.

MUCH
We did not ____________________________________ as in January.

7. George could not swim as well as Peter.

BETTER
Peter was ________________________________ than George.

8. The letter was so old that I couldn’t read it.

SUCH
It was __________________________________ letter that I couldn’t read it.

9. The book was so boring that I couldn’t finish it.

SUCH
It was ___________________________________ book that I couldn’t finish it.

10. She was such a beautiful girl that it was a pleasure to look at her.
SO
She was ___________________________________ was a pleasure to look at her.

11. The weather was so nice that we had to go for a walk.

SUCH
It was ______________________________________ we had to go for a walk.
12. Mary has fewer books than me.
 MORE
I _______________________________________ Mary.

13. This test is not as easy as I had expected.

HARDER
This test __________________________________ I had expected.

14. There aren’t as many books in your library as in mine.

MORE
There are ___________________________________________ in yours.

15. The actress was not as beautiful as we had thought.

LESS
The actress was __________________________________ we had thought.

16. Mary is far more responsible than Peter.

MUCH
Peter is _______________________________________ than Mary.

17. I earned not so much money as I expected.

LESS
I earned _______________________________ I expected.

18. We did not spend as long as we had planned on writing this essay.
TIME
We spent __________________________________ had planned on writing this essay.

19. Can’t your car go any faster?

THE
Is this _______________________________________ car will go?

20. I am smaller than the other boys in the class.

ALL
I am ____________________________________________ the boys in the class.

21. I have never seen such a beautiful view before.

MOST
It is the ____________________________________________ ever seen.

22. It is the most difficult exam I have ever taken.

SUCH
I have never _______________________________________ exam before.

23. I have never seen such a boring film before.

EVER
It is the most __________________________________________ seen.
24. I have never eaten such good ice-cream before.
 THE
It _______________________________________ I have ever eaten.

25. I have never come across anyone more intelligent than Mary.
PERSON
Mary _________________________________________ I have ever come across.

26. It is the worst concert I have ever heard.

NEVER
I have _________________________________________________ concert before.

27. I have never written a letter longer than this.

SUCH
I have never written ________________________________________________.

28. It is the most difficult exam I have ever taken.

MORE
I have ___________________________________________________ exam.

29. It is the funniest joke I have ever heard.

NEVER
I have ____________________________________________________ joke.

30. This car is too expensive for me.

CHEAP
This car ___________________________________________ for me.

31. Their flat is too small for their family.

BIG
Their flat ____________________________________________ their family.

32. The weather is not warm enough to go for a walk.

COLD
The weather _______________________________________________ go for a walk.

33. We aren’t rich enough to go to Florida.

POOR
We are ______________________________ go to Florida.

34. Your shoes are too muddy to let you into the room without taking them off.
CLEAN
Your shoes _____________________________________________ let you into the room without
taking them off.
TRANSFORMATIONS
CONCESSION

1. The car is not very nice, but it serves its purpose.

ALTHOUGH
_____________________________________, it serves its purpose.

2. He is a hard worker. However, he can never save enough to buy a car.

ALTHOUGH
_____________________________________________, he can never save enough to buy a car.

3. Even though she was unattractive, she still had many friends.
BUT
She was __________________________________ had many friends.

4. He doesn’t have much money, but he wants to buy a car.

DESPITE
He wants to buy a car _____________________________________ much money.

5. We all enjoyed the walk even though it rained.

SPITE
_______________________________________ we all enjoyed the walk.

6. We managed to talk seriously although there were a lot of people around.

BEING
In ________________________________ a number of pleople around, we managed to talk seriously.

7. The bag was heavy but she managed to carry it herself.

WEIGHT
Despite ___________________________________________ the bag, she managed to carry it herself.

8. His mother refused to let him go to the party but he went anyway.
REFUSAL
He went to the party in spite ________________________________________ to let him go.

9. It might be cold, but we will still go for a walk.

EVEN
__________________________________, we shall still go for a walk.

10. I am not going to accept their offer, although they might give me a big salary.
EVEN
________________________________________ me a big salary, I am not going to accept their offer.

11. She may be beautiful and intelligent, but I am not going to marry her.
IF
I am not going to marry her, ___________________________________ beautiful and intelligent.
12. In spite of being tired, we went to the museum.
 THOUGH
___________________________________________ tired, we went to the museum.

13. In spite of the rain, the competition took place as planned.

RAINED
Even _____________________________________, the competition took place as planned.

14. He went bankrupt, even though he had worked very hard.

FACT
He went bankrupt, in ________________________________________ he had worked very hard.

15. In spite of her loving family, she wasn’t happy.

HAD
__________________________________ a loving family, she wasn’t happy.
TRANSFORMATIONS
PURPOSE, CAUSE AND RESULT

1. I will work longer today because I want to have tomorrow off.

ORDER
I will work longer today ______________________________________ tomorrow off.

2. They spoke quietly so as not to wake their parents.

BECAUSE
They spoke quietly ______________________________________ to wake their parents.

3. He didn’t switch the light on because he didn’t want to disturb the baby.
AVOID
To _______________________________________________, he did not switch the light on.

4. Always proofread your composition to avoid making silly mistakes.

NOT
Always proofread your composition _____________________________________ make silly mistakes.

5. He picked up the vase very carefully, because he didn’t want to break it.
SO
He picked up the vase very carefully, ____________________________________________ break it.

6. Be nice to your father to prevent him from changing his mind about letting you go to the party.
WILL
Be nice to your father so ________________________________________ change his mind about letting
you go to the party.

7. We hid the box because we didn’t want anyone to see it.

COULD
We hid the box so that ___________________________________________ see it.

8. I got up early so that I could leave by 8 o’clock.

READY
I got up early ____________________________________ to leave by 8 o’clock.

9. I’ll leave some money so that you can buy some fruit.
TO
I’ll leave some money _____________________________________ some fruit.

10. I put the message up on the board so that everyone could see it.
FOR
I put the message up on the board _____________________________________ see.

11. I’ve brought a cake my mother made for my friends to try.

SO
I’ve brought a cake my mother made ___________________________________ could try it.
12. I have bought this book for you to study English structures.
CAN
I have bought this book ______________________________________ study English structures.

13. She arrived too late to catch the train.

EARLY
She did _____________________________________________ to catch the train.

14. It was too cold to swim in the lake.

WARM
It __________________________________________________ to swim in the lake.

15. The room is not big enough to put all the furniture in.
SMALL
The room is _____________________________________ put all the furniture in.

16. Would you be so kind as to open the window?

ENOUGH
Would you be ________________________________________ as to open the window?

17. We are too poor to throw away all these clothes.

RICH
We are _____________________________________________ to throw away all these clothes.

18. The lecturer spoke so fast that I couldn’t take any notes.
FOR
The lecturer didn’t _____________________________________________ me to take notes.

19. The coffee was too weak for me.

ENOUGH
The coffee ______________________________________________ for me.

20. The lake was so shallow that I couldn’t swim in it.

DEEP
The lake ___________________________________________________ me to swim in.

21. Mathematics is too difficult for me to understand.

NOT
Mathematics ________________________________________________ for me to understand.

22. The stick was very thick. I couldn’t break it. I wasn’t strong enough.
SO
The stick _______________________________________ that I couldn’t break it.

23. This tea is so hot that I cannot drink it.

TOO
This tea ______________________________ me to drink.
24. This water is so cold that we couldn’t swim in it.
US
This water was ___________________________________________ to swim in it.

25. The examination questions were too difficult for me to answer.

SO
The examination questions were _______________________________________ could not answer.

26. This box is very heavy. I can hardly move it.

THAT
This box is ____________________________________________ I can hardly move it.

27. He didn’t speak loudly enough for me to hear him.

SO
He ______________________________________________ that I couldn’t hear him.

28. He is not handsome enough for me to have a date with.

UGLY
He is ___________________________________________ won’t have a date with him.

29. I was so hungry that I couldn’t wait for the lunch.

TO
I was _________________________________________ wait for the lunch.

30. The ice cream was too tasty to stop eating it.
COULD
The ice cream was so ___________________________________________ not stop eating it.

31. I was so ill that I couldn’t get up.

TOO
I was ________________________________________ get up.

32. He was a very good swimmer. He always won first prize.

SUCH
He was __________________________________________ that he always won first prize.

33. The fur coat is so expensive that I can’t afford to buy it.
THAT
It is such _______________________________________________ I can’t afford to buy it.

34. The cake is so nice that I think I’ll have another piece.
A
It ___________________________________________ that I think I’ll have another piece.

35. She is extremely bright. She is always the first to solve all the maths problems.
STUDENT
 She is _________________________________________________that she is always the first to solve all
the maths problems.

CAUSE, REASON AND RESULT

Examples:

- Because it was raining, we stayed at home.

- Because of the rain, we stayed at home.
- As it was raining, we stayed at home.
- Since it was raining, we stayed at home.
- Seeing that it was raining, we stayed at home.
- The rain was the reason for our staying at home.
- The reason why we stayed at home was the rain.
- The reason why we stayed at home was that it was raining.
- We stayed at home by reason of the rain.

1. He was absent because of his illness.

FOR
The ___________________________________ absence was his illness.

2. He was absent because of his illness.

BECAUSE
He was absent ______________________________________ ill.

3. My brother was fired because of his dishonesty.

SINCE
My brother was fired ______________________________________ dishonest.

4. The reason why I couldn’t come was that I was ill.

OF
I couldn’t come _______________________________________ illness.

5. As it was dark, I couldn’t see anything.

REASON
The darkness __________________________________________ my not seeing anything.

6. Being poor, he couldn’t afford a car.

WAS
__________________________________________, he couldn’t afford a car.

7. As there were a lot of people at the theatre, we were lucky to find seats.
SO
There were a lot of people at the theatre, ____________________ were lucky to find seats.

8. Not knowing our way to London, we often got lost.

 BECAUSE
We often got lost ____________________________________________ our way to London.

9. Not having learned Chinese, I couldn’t understand what the people were saying.
AS
I couldn’t understand what the people were saying ___________________________ learned Chinese.

10. Never having tried sea food before, we had to watch our stomachs.
HAD
We had to watch our stomachs __________________________________ sea food before.
TRANSFORMATIONS
ADJECTIVES, DETERMINERS AND ADVERBIALS

Adjective patterns

1. It is difficult to answer this question.

DIFFICULT
This question ______________________________ answer.

2. It is hard to please our teacher.

IS
To please _________________________________________ hard.

3. Your house is pleasant to live in.

PLEASANT
It is ___________________________ in your house.

4. Peter has always been easy to get on with.

HAS
It ______________________________________________ get on with Peter.

5. This is the restaurant at which I had my dinner.

WHERE
This is the _______________________________ had my dinner.

6. The reason for which we came here is to meet Mary.

WHY
The reason ________________________________ here is to meet Mary.

7. I hate the pop group you are speaking about.

You are ___________________________________ a pop group (that) I hate.

8. Here is the bank I have worked in since 1970.

WHERE
Here is the ____________________________________________ worked since 1970.

9. This is the city I was born in.

WHERE
This is ___________________________________________________ born.

10. Washing up is the thing I detest doing most.

WHAT
__________________________________ doing most is whasing up.

11. Buying some new shoes is what I have to do.

HAVE
______________________________________________ is (to) buy some new shoes.
12. Good advice is the thing which I need the most.
MOST
__________________________________________________ good advice.

13. I am really looking for something a bit cheaper.

FOR
What I am ______________________________________ something a bit cheaper.
14. She’d really like a cup of hot chocolate.
WOULD
What ______________________________________________ a cup of hot chocolate.

15. What my grandma needs is a sleeping pill.

ALL
______________________________________ needs is a sleeping pill.

16. I want nothing else but a good book.

WANT
_______________________________________ is a good book.

17. I need nothing else but some more time to finish this article.
IS
__________________________________________ some more time to finish this article.

18. The only thing I want is to see you more often.

ALL
__________________________________________________ see you more often.

19. My mother does nothing else but baking cakes all day long.
TO
All my mother _____________________________________________ cakes all day long.

Determiners

- Little/few - Small/large - Either… or… - Wh- pronouns + else

- Many/much - Both - Any/some/no… - Adverbs vs. adjectives
- Many/few - Neither… nor… …one/thing/body

20. I didn’t manage to save much money last month.

LITTLE
I managed to save _________________________________ last month.

21. There are very few people I like as much as I like Mary.
MANY
There are _________________________________ I like as much as Mary.

22. Give me all the advice you can on how to solve this problem.
MUCH
I need _______________________________________ you can give me on how to solve this
problem.

23. Not many books are as good as this one.

BETTER
Few __________________________________________ this one.

24. They didn’t give us very much information about the trip.
HARDLY
They gave us ____________________________________ information about the trip.

25. The class was so large that we had to move to a bigger room.
STUDENTS
 There were _________________________________________ in the class that we had to move to a
bigger room.

26. There were so many cattle that they had to hire another hand to mind them.
LARGE
The herd of cattle __________________________________________ that they had to hire another
hand to mind them.

27. The pack of wolves was so large that they started to be a danger to the village.
SO
There ____________________________________________ in the pack that it started to be a
danger to the village.

28. There were so many geese on the hill that it looked as if it were covered with snow.
DENSE
The flock of geese ______________________________________ that the hill looked as if it were
covered with snow.

29. Neither of my two brothers is single.

BOTH
____________________________________________ are married.

30. Mary wants to swim and Peter wants to swim.

THEY
_________________________________________ to swim.

31. I am learning Spanish and I am learning Italian too.

AND
I am learning _______________________________________________.

32. They like not only apples but oranges as well.

BOTH
They like _____________________________________________________.

33. Neither of you is taller than me.

BOTH
_____________________________________________________ than me.

34. We don’t like oranges. We don’t like apples.

NEITHER
We like _____________________________________________________ apples.

35. Both my sisters are older than me.

THEM
Neither ___________________________________ younger than me.

36. I’d like some tea or coffee.

EITHER
I’d like __________________________________________ coffee.

37. I don’t speak French. I don’t speak German.

SPEAK
I ___________________________________________________ German.

38. There is nothing I can do to help. There is nothing you can do to help.
NOTHING
There is __________________________________________ can do to help.
39. There isn’t anybody who could do it better.
NOBODY
__________________________ do it better.

40. On a hot day, nothing is better than a glass of cold orange juice.
ANYTHING
On a hot day, there ______________________________________ a glass of cold orange juice.

41. There wasn’t anyone to go there with me.

ONE
There was _________________________________ go there with me.

42. There isn’t anything I’d dream of more than a beautiful and intelligent wife.
IS
There __________________________ I’d dream of more than a beautiful and intellingent wife.

43. The McDonald’s claim that no one does it better.

NOBODY
The McDonald’s claim ________________________________ does it better.

44. At what other place could we stay overnight?

ELSE
_______________________________________ could we stay overnight?
45. If not today, at what other time could we meet?
ELSE
If not today, _______________________________________ could we meet?

46. In what other way could I help you if you don’t want any money?
ELSE
If you don’t want any money, _____________________________________ could I help you?

47. For what other purpose can this be used?

ELSE
________________________________ can this be used for?

48. If this isn’t yours, which other person’s could it be?

ELSE
If this isn’t yours, _______________________________ could it be?

(Note: vebs of appearance and of the senses –look, sound, smell, taste, feel, seem, appear– take adjectives, not
adverbs.)

49. Seeing your daughter, I had a rather peculiar feeling.

FELT
Seeing your daughter __________________________________________ peculiar.

50. This coffee has an extremely unpleasant taste!

EXTREMELY
This coffee _______________________________________________________.

51. She is a very quick speaker.

SPEAKS
She ____________________________________________________________.

52. He writes rather carelessly.

IS
He ___________________________________________________ writer.
53. My father is normally an early riser.
EARLY
My fahter _________________________________________________________.

Adverbials

- ago - still / yet - rarely / not very often /

- by the time - since / for / from / to / till / hardly ever / seldom
- when / how long ago ? until - some/any/no + where
- hardly … before / when

54. I haven’t written any letters for a year.

AGO
The last time I wrote a letter ______________________________________.

55. We last visited Oxford four years ago.

FOR
We haven’t visited Oxford ______________________________________ years.

56. I haven’t been mountain climbing for two years.

WENT
I ________________________________________________________ two years ago.

57. I’ve worked in this bank for seven years.

WORKING
Seven years _________________________________________________ in this bank.

58. It’s a week since I started to revise for my exams.

AGO
I started revising for my exams____________________________________________.

59. You finished dinner before I got home.

HAD
By the time I got home, ______________________________________________ dinner.

60. I’ve been living in this flat for two years, and next year will make it three.
BEEN
By next year, I will _________________________________________________ in this flat for
three years.

61. He’s likely to leave before the message arrives.

PROBABLY
By the time the message arrives, he _____________________________________________ left.

62. I’ll be ready as soon as you finish your dinner.

By the __________________________________________ your dinner, I shall be ready.

63. We got married 14 years ago.

YEAR
By ____________________________________________________ have been married for 15
years.

64. When was this palace built?

AGO
How _______________________________________ was this palace built?
65. How long ago did you have your breakfast?
WHEN
_________________________________________ have your breakfast?
66. I caught flu almost before I had recovered from measles.
HARDLY
________________________________________ recovered from measles, when I caught flu.

67. Hardly had I had my car repaired before it broke down again.
AS
As ________________________________________ had my car repaired it broke down again.

68. Haven’t you finished your composition yet?

STILL
Are ___________________________________________ your composition?

69. I don’t think they have finished their game yet.

PLAYING
I think they __________________________________________________ their game.

70. I still haven’t sent the letter.

YET
I have ________________________________________________________________.

71. Have you done your homework yet?

STILL
Are ________________________________________________ your homework?

72. It’s many years since we had a really snowy winter.

NOT
We _____________________________________ a really snowy winter for years.

73. I didn’t hear the news until the next day.

HEARD
It wasn’t until the next ______________________________________ the news.

74. It’s two weeks since Betty went to India.

WENT
Betty _______________________________________________ two weeks ago.

75. You moved here in January, didn’t you?

SINCE
You _________________________________________________ January, havent’ you?

76. The last time they visited us was two months ago.
FOR
They haven’t __________________________________________________ two months.

77. I don’t go to the opera very often.

EVER
I ___________________________________________ to the opera.

78. I hardly ever watch TV.

VERY
I don’t watch TV _____________________________________.
79. I hardly ever eat sweets.
SELDOM
I _____________________________________________ sweets.

80. We rarely spend our holidays abroad.

HARDLY
______________________________________________________________ our holidays
abroad.

81. There is nowhere for me to go.

ANYWHERE
There is __________________________________________ for me to go.

82. Nowhere have I seen so many bicycles as in China.

DID
I haven’t seen so many bycicles ________________________________________ in China.

83. Nowhere in my room could I find my glasses.

ANYWHERE
I couldn’t find my glasses ____________________________________________________ room.

84. I’m sorry but there aren’t any vacant rooms anywhere in town.
NOWHERE
I’m sorry but ____________________________________________________ there any vacant
rooms.