TENSES

1. I've never been given such a nice present before. 12. While I was walking down the street, I saw Mary.
It's the nicest present I've ever been given. While walking down the street, I saw Mary.
2. He's never flown by Concorde before. When I was walking down the street, I saw Mary.
It's the first time he's (ever) flown by Concorde. It was while I was walking down the street that I saw Mary.
3. It's a long time since he visited us. 13. Was there any response to his appeal?
He hasn't visited us for a long time. Did anyone respond to his appeal?
4. When did you leave school? 14. The race takes place tomorrow.
How long ago did you leave school? The race will/ is going to be held/take place tomorrow.
How long is it since you left school? The race is scheduled to take place/for tomorrow.
5. The last time I saw her was a month ago. 15. She started doing her homework as soon as her brother had left
I haven't seen her for a month. for school.
6. He joined the golf club ten months ago. She started doing her homework when her brother had left for
He has been a member of the golf club for ten months. school.
7. It's a month since she moved to Austria. She didn't start (doing) her homework until her brother had left
She moved to Austria a month ago. for school.
8. She started English lessons a year ago. She waited until her brother had left for school before she
She has been taking/having English lessons for a year. started (doing) her homework/or before starting to do ....
It's a year since she started taking/having English lessons. Not until her brother had left for school did she start (doing) her
9. Having had dinner, I went to bed. homework.
After having dinner, I went to bed. 16. When did you last have a haircut?
After I had had dinner, I went to bed. When was the last time you had a haircut?
10. I think there will be a war soon. 17. She wrote the book while she was on holiday.
In my opinion, there is going to be a war soon. She wrote the book during her holiday.
If you ask me, there's bound to be a war soon. 18. I only slept for an hour last night.
In my estimation, war is imminent. I only had an hour's sleep last night.
11. I don't believe that he'll agree. 19. It is certain that he'll pass his exams.
It's my belief that he won't agree. There is no doubt that he'll pass his exams.
I have a feeling that he won't agree. He is bound to pass his exams.
There's no reason to believe that he'll agree.
 MODALS

1. Perhaps she is abroad. 16. He isn't obliged to tell you the truth.
She may be abroad. He needn't tell you the truth.
2. Perhaps she wasn't taking a bath. He doesn't need/have to tell you the truth.
She may not have been taking a bath. 17. It is important for you to learn to drive.
3. Perhaps he has been/was studying. You need/have to learn to drive.
He may have been studying. 18. Are exams compulsory at this school?
4. I think she has lost her way. Do you have to sit for exams at this school?
She must have lost her way. 19. Senior students don't have to take tests.
5. I suppose he has left Austria. It's optional for senior students to take tests.
He must have left Austria. It's not compulsory for senior students to take tests.
6. I think he was in Germany. 20. It is against the rules to write your answers in ink.
He must have been in Germany. You mustn't write your answers in ink.
7. It is certain that he'll fail. 21. It is forbidden to speed in the city centre.
He is bound to fail. You mustn't speed in the city centre.
8. It is certain that she (has) attended the ceremony. Under no circumstances should/must you drive fast in the city
She is certain to have attended the ceremony. centre.
She must have attended the ceremony. 22. He couldn't go out because it was raining.
9. I must reject this plan. The rain prevented him from going out.
I have no option but to reject this plan. 23. It is advisable to speak politely to your teachers.
I will have to reject this plan. You should speak politely to your teachers.
10. I don't think she's forgotten. You had better speak politely to your teachers.
She can't have forgotten. 24. It would be a good idea to go on a diet.
11. I'm sure he isn't lying to us. You had better go on a diet.
He can't be lying to us. You should/ought to go on a diet.
12. It wasn't necessary for you to buy so many roses as you did. It is advisable to go on a diet.
You needn't have bought so many roses. It's a good idea to go on a diet.
13. Was it necessary for her to behave like that? 25. Why didn't you consult your lawyer?
Did she need/have to behave like that? You should have consulted your lawyer.
14. It wasn't necessary for me to walk to work as he gave me a lift. 26. Let's work out the details.
I didn't need to walk to work as he gave me a lift. Shall we work out the details?
15. There's no need to correct the tests today. Why don't we work out the details?
Don't bother to correct the tests today. 27. Shall I help you with the dishes?
It isn't necessary to correct the tests today. Would you like me to help you with the dishes?
You needn't correct the tests today. 28. Could you come on Monday?
You don't need to correct the tests today. Would Monday be convenient for you?
How does Monday suit you?
29. May I borrow your car? 31. She is unlikely to pass her exams.
Do you mind if I borrow your car? It is unlikely/not likely that she'll pass her exams.
Would you mind if I borrowed your car? There's little likelihood/possibility of her passing her exams/that
Could I borrow your car, please? she'll pass her exams.
I was wondering if I could borrow your car. It's doubtful whether she'll pass her exams.
30. Would you like to open an account? 32. He is likely to win the prize.
Would it interest you to open an account? It is likely that he will win the prize.
Would you be interested in opening an account? It is very possible that he will win the prize.
How would you/do you feel about opening an account? He could certainly win the prize.
How about opening an account? There is every likelihood that he will win the prize.
 INFINITIVE –ING FORM

1. Driving fast is dangerous. 10. It's out of the question to expect me to apologise.
It is dangerous to drive fast. I have no intention of apologising.
2. She is too young to get married. Fancy even suggesting that I apologise!
She isn't old enough to get married. I don't mean/intend to apologise.
3. He couldn't help noticing that she was upset. I most certainly won't apologise.
It didn't escape his attention that she was upset. 11. Mary objects to lying.
4. The prospect of a short holiday fills me with pleasure. Lying is something that Mary objects to/hates/loathes.
I look forward to (having) a short holiday. 12. I'm not in the habit of waking up early.
5. It's quite unnecessary to answer his letter. I'm not used to waking up early.
Answering his letter is quite unnecessary/pointless. 13. He made me open my suitcase.
There's no point (in) answering his letter. I was made to open my suitcase.
It's no use/need answering his letter. 14. I can't remember reading this novel.
6. It was difficult for her to believe that she had won. I have no recollection of reading this novel.
She had difficulty (in) believing that she had won. 15. It's a waste of time trying to make yourself understood.
She could hardly believe that she had won. It's not worth trying to make yourself understood.
She found it difficult to believe that she had won.
7. Would you be so kind as to pass the salad?
Do/Would you mind passing the salad?
Could you pass the salad, please?
8. It took me an hour to do my hair.
I took an hour to do my hair.
Doing my hair took (me) an hour.
I spent an hour doing/on my hair.
9. Do you intend to go/going to her party, tomorrow?
Will you be going to her party tomorrow?
Are you thinking of going to her party tomorrow?
 PASSIVE VOICE

1. It is said that this poem was written by Elytis.

This poem was written by Elytis, so it is said.
Elytis is said to have written this poem.
This poem is said to have been written by Elytis.
They say (that) this poem was written by Elytis.
They say that Elytis wrote this poem.
2. Nothing more can be done about this matter.
There's nothing more to be done about this matter.
With regard to this matter, there's nothing more to be done.
3. Someone fitted her new costume.
Her new costume was fitted.
She was fitted for her new costume.
She had her new costume fitted.
4. They don't allow speeding in the city.
Speeding isn't allowed in the city.
Speeding is forbidden in the city.
5. I'd love you to take me out.
I'd love to be taken out (by you).
6. He lets people laugh at him.
He lets himself be laughed at.
7. Your contract says that you are to be present by 8 am every day.
You are expected to be present by 8 am every day, according to your contract.
8. Her story didn't deceive me.
I wasn't taken in by her story.
9. He wore a hat so that no one would recognise him.
He wore a hat to avoid being recognised.
10. I love people asking for my autograph.
I love being asked for my autograph.
I love it when I'm asked for my autograph.
11. They couldn't hear him.
He couldn't make himself heard.
12. They saw him enter the building.
He was seen to enter/entering the building.
13. Who made this dress?
Who was this dress made by?
14. No actor can be expected to remember all the names of the plays he has acted in.
No one can expect an actor to remember all the plays he has acted in.
 ADJECTIVES – ADVERBS

1. I've never tasted such a delicious dish.

It's the most delicious dish I've ever tasted.
2. If you buy a big house, you'll pay a lot of money.
The bigger the house you buy, the more money you 'II pay.
3. She is more helpful than her sister.
Her sister isn't as helpful as she is/her.
4. Can't you find an easier exercise than this?
Is this the easiest exercise you can find?
5. That dress is like Jane's.
That dress is similar to Jane's.
6. That skirt is the same as this one.
That skirt and this one are alike.
7. The German car is much better than this one.
This car can't compare to the German one.
There is no comparison between this car and the German one.
8. Can you describe your cousin to me?
Can you tell me what your cousin looks like?
9. He is the fastest runner of all.
No other runner is as fast as he is/him.
10. Tony has the same number of pens as Chris.
Chris has as many pens as Tony.
11. A DVD player is much more expensive than a TV set.
A DVD player is far/a lot more expensive than a TV set.
A TV set is much/far less expensive than a DVD player.
12. A new car is twice as expensive as a second-hand one.
A new car is twice the price of a second-hand one.
A second-hand car is half the price of/ half as expensive as a new one.
13. She gave an ironic smile.
She smiled ironically.
14. Sheila has a friendly smile.
Sheila smiles in a friendly way.
15. I'd prefer to go home now.
I'd sooner go home now.
 CONDITIONALS

1. If you don't drive carefully, you'll have an accident. 8. If you help me, I'll help you.
Unless you drive carefully, you'll have an accident. I'll help you provided (that) you help me.
You won't have an accident provided that you drive carefully. 9. Suppose he marries her?
As long as you drive carefully, you won't have an accident. What if he marries her?
Drive carefully or else you'll have an accident. 10. Suppose the teacher caught you cheating in the test?
2. You had better take his advice. What would you do if the teacher caught you cheating in the test?
If I were you, I'd take his advice. 11. If he had been on time, we wouldn't have missed the bus.
Were I you, I'd take his advice. Had he been on time, we wouldn't have missed the bus.
You should take his advice. 12. If you won the lottery, what would you do?
3. Should she come, tell her to wait for me. Should you win the lottery, what would you do?
If she should come, tell her to wait for me. If you were to win the lottery, what would you do?
4. As he couldn't afford a holiday, he stayed at home. 13. If she were rich, she would buy a villa.
He couldn't afford a holiday, so he stayed at home. Were she rich, she would buy a villa.
If he had been able to afford a holiday, he wouldn't have stayed at 14. If I had been you, I wouldn't have accepted his offer.
home. If I had been in your shoes, I wouldn't have accepted his offer.
He stayed at home because he couldn't afford a holiday. If I had been in your position, I wouldn't have accepted his offer.
5. Since he doesn't have any qualifications, he can't find a job. 15. I'm not rich, so I can't afford a long holiday abroad.
If he had qualifications, he could find a job. If I were rich, I could afford a long holiday abroad.
As he doesn't have any qualifications, he can't find a job. 16. I didn't go out because I had a lot of work to do.
6. If if hadn't been for my mother's generosity, I wouldn't have my If I hadn't had a lot of work to do, I would have gone out.
car now. 17. She must be out since she didn't answer the phone.
But for my mother's generosity I wouldn't have my car now. If she were in, she would have answered the phone.
7. Suppose he phoned you, what would you tell him? 18. She must have lived in France because she has a perfect French
If he phoned you, what would you tell him? accent.
What would you tell him if he phoned you? If she hadn't lived in France, she wouldn't have a perfect French
accent.
 WISHES – UNREAL PAST

1. I wish I hadn't read the letter. 1. If you don't tell the truth, he'll punish you.
If only I hadn't read the letter. You'd better tell the truth or else he'll punish you.
I regret reading/having read the letter. 2. If I were you, I would accept his proposal.
I'm sorry I read the letter. You should accept his proposal.
It's a pity I read the letter. You'd better accept his proposal.
2. "I wish he would be more patient," she said. 3. "You'd better take a nap,” Mother said.
She complained that he wasn't patient. Mother advised me to take a nap.
She complained that he was impatient. 4. "You shouldn't be rude to her,” he said to me.
3. I would love to travel abroad. He advised me not to be rude to her.
If only I could travel abroad. He suggested that I shouldn't be rude to her.
I wish I could travel abroad. 5. They asked for a spare key. Why didn't you give them one?
4. Why don't you drive more carefully? They asked for a spare key. You should have given them one.
I wish you would drive more carefully. 6. There'll be trouble if he behaves like that again.
Please drive more carefully. He'd better not behave like that again or (else) there will be trouble.
I'd rather you drove more carefully. 7. Why didn't you tell him so?
You'd better drive more carefully. It would have been better if you had told him so.
It's time you started driving more carefully. If I were you, I would have told him so.
You would be better off driving more carefully. I'd rather/sooner you had told him so.
5. It's a pity I am not wealthy. I wish you had told him so.
I wish I were wealthy. 8. I'd rather watch TV than listen to music.
If only I were wealthy. I prefer (watching) TV to (listening to) music.
6. I want to see you in my office. 9. I'd rather stay indoors than go to the party.
I wish to see you in my office. I'd prefer to stay indoors rather than go to the party.
10. I prefer to play tennis rather than play polo.
I'd rather play tennis than (play) polo.
I'd sooner play tennis than (play) polo.
11. I'd rather you left now.
I'd prefer you to leave now.
12. It's time you learnt how to cook.
It's time for you to learn how to cook.
You should learn how to cook.
You must learn how to cook.
 RELATIVES

1. This is the building where the meeting will take place.

This is the building in which the meeting will take place.
This is the building the meeting will take place in.
2. She sent her kindest regards, which was thoughtful of her.
It was thoughtful of her to send her kindest regards.
3. She is rather childish, which can be irritating.
It can be irritating that she's rather childish.
4. It was a shame that you weren't able to attend the performance.
You weren't able to attend the performance, which was a shame.
5. She received a gift which was totally useless.
The gift she received was totally useless.
6. The actor I met was extremely talented.
I met an actor who was extremely talented.
7. That's the Queen. Her reign began in 1953.
That's the Queen whose reign began in 1953.
8. Whose pen is this?
Who does this pen belong to?
To whom does this pen belong?
Who is the owner of this pen?
9. He spoke quickly and I got confused.
He spoke quickly, which confused me.
10. Many students graduate every year. Most of them come from abroad.
Many students, most of whom come from abroad, graduate every year.
11. Shakespeare wrote the play Othello.
Othello is a play (which/that) Shakespeare wrote.
12. Dante was born in that house.
That's the house Dante was born in.
That's the house where Dante was born.
13. I can't see any reason for their behaving like that.
I can't see any reason why they behaved like that.
14. The day when I got married was the happiest of my life.
The day on which I got married was the happiest of my life.
The day I got married was the happiest of my life.
 CAUSATIVE FORM

1. Somebody is going to water the flowers for her.

She's going to have the flowers watered.
2. Your hair needs cutting.
You'll have to have your hair cut.
You should have your hair cut.
3. I'm having my house decorated.
My house is being decorated.
Someone is decorating my house.
4. Is anyone checking your answers?
Are you having your answers checked?
5. The dentist filled her tooth.
She had her tooth filled.
She got her tooth filled.
Her tooth was filled.
6. I hate her asking someone else to do her homework.
I hate her having her homework done by someone else.
7. I'd love it if someone cut the grass for me.
I'd love to have the grass cut.
8. The hairdresser permed my hair.
I got my hair permed at the hairdresser's.
 CLAUSES

1. He put on a mask to avoid being recognized by his wife. 5. The trousers were so tight that he couldn't put them on.
He put on a mask to prevent his wife (from) recognizing him. The trousers were too tight for him to put on.
He put on a mask for fear his wife might recognize him. So tight were the trousers that he couldn't put them on.
He put on a mask so that his wife wouldn't recognize him. 6. The snow was so deep that they couldn't leave the house.
He put on a mask in case his wife recognized/should recognize It was such deep snow that they couldn't leave the house.
him. So deep was the snow that they couldn't leave the house.
He put on a mask because he didn't want his wife to recognize 7. The exercise was so hard that I couldn't do it.
him. It was such a hard exercise that I couldn't do it.
2. I didn't go out because I didn't want to catch cold. The exercise was too hard for me to do.
I didn't go out so that I wouldn't catch cold. 8. It was such an expensive dress that I couldn't buy it.
I didn't go out to avoid catching cold. The dress was too expensive for me to buy.
I didn't go out in case I caught/should catch cold. The dress wasn't cheap enough for me to buy.
3. I'd better wait because it's possible he'll come back. 9. He was so tired that he couldn't work any more.
I'd better wait in case he comes back. He was too tired to work any more.
4. I daren't make a noise because John might hear me. So tired was he that he couldn't work any more.
I daren't make a noise for fear (that) John might/should hear me. 10. His fear was such that he almost fainted.
Such was his fear that he almost fainted.
He was so afraid that he almost fainted.
11. There was so much dirt in the room that she couldn't clean it.
The room was so dirty that she couldn't clean it.
So dirty was the room that she couldn't clean it.
It was such a dirty room that she couldn't clean it.
12. She wasn't fat; nevertheless, she went on a diet. 21. What reason did he give for acting that way?
She went on a diet. She wasn't fat, though. What reason did he give for his actions?
Even though she wasn't fat, she went on a diet. Did he give any reason why he acted that way?
Although she wasn't fat, she went on a diet. Was there any reason given why he acted that way?
In spite of not being fat, she went on a diet. 22. They thought it was going to be hot, so they went to the beach.
13. Despite the fact that he was afraid, he climbed the mountain. They went to the beach because they thought it was going to be
He was afraid. He climbed the mountain, though. hot.
Even though he was afraid, he climbed the mountain. If they hadn’t thought it was going to be hot, they wouldn't have
In spite of his) being afraid, he climbed the mountain. gone to the beach.
Although he was afraid, he climbed the mountain. 23. Being unable to fix the tap, I was forced to call a plumber.
14. Although he spoke loudly, he could not make himself heard. As I didn't know how to fix the tap, I was forced to call a plumber.
Loudly as/though he spoke, he could not make himself heard. Not being able to fix the tap, I was forced to call a plumber.
15. Apart from Paul, we all have cars. I was forced to call a plumber because I couldn't fix the tap.
We all have cars, with the exception of Paul. 24. Didn't he say why he hadn't turned up at the meeting?
We all have cars except (for) Paul. Didn't he give any reason for not turning up at the meeting?
16. Although she is talented, she is too shy to perform in public. Did he give any reason why he hadn't turned up at the meeting?
Even though she is talented, she is too shy to perform in public. 25. He's ill so he won't be coming to the party.
In spite of her talent, she is too shy to perform in public. He won't be coming to the party because he's ill.
She is talented. She is too shy to perform in public, though. 26. "I'm sorry I didn't buy you a birthday present," he said.
She is talented, though too shy to perform in public. He apologized for not buying/having bought me a birthday
17. Whatever they do, they do it well. present.
No matter what they do, they do it well. He said he was sorry for not buying/having bought me a birthday
18. No matter how carefully you do it, it's bound to be difficult. present.
However carefully you do it, it's bound to be difficult.
It's bound to be difficult, however carefully you do it.
19. The film was awful but we went on watching it.
Despite the film being awful, we went on watching it.
20. Although it seemed to be harmless, the dog was in fact
dangerous.
Although it seemed to be harmless, on the contrary, the dog was
dangerous.