1. She wasn’t the least bit surprised to find out that her husband had an affair.

(SURPRISE)

It wasn’t a surprise for her to find out that her husband had an affair.

2. People don’t play any board games today. (POPULAR)

Board games are not very popular today.

3. It isn’t my fault that the bus is late. (BLAME)

I’m not to blame for the bus being so late.

4. It is said that Beethoven wrote that symphony. (CREDITED)

Beethoven has been credited with writing that symphony.

5. My uncle was driving the lorry when it crashed. (DRIVEN)

The lorry was driven by my uncle when it crashed.

6. Ecologists around the world are worried about the problem. (CONCERNED)

Ecologists around the world are concerned about the problem.

7. You can try to open the safe with that key, but it won’t work. (POINT)

There’s no point in opening the safe with that key.

8. The accused refused to answer questions without his lawyer. (INSISTED)

The accused insisted on his lawyer being present before answering any questions.

9. The letter has nothing to do with you (CONCERN).

The letter is of no concern to you.

10.The company would benefit from hiring new workers. (INTERESTS)

It would be in the company’s interests to hire new workers.

11.John and his wife seem to have no similarities. (COMMON)

John and his wife seem to have nothing in common with each other.

12.He doesn’t appreciate anything. (GRANTED)

He takes everything for granted.

13.When I studied at university, I never had enough money. (SHORT)

When I studied at university, I was always short on/of money.

Everyone came to the party with the exception of Cathy.

15.They are building some new apartments in the suburbs. (CONSTRUCTION)

New apartments are under construction in the suburbs.

1. He couldn't concentrate on his exam because of the noise. (SO)

It was so loud/noisy that he couldn't concentrate on his exam.

2. I haven't received an answer yet. (STILL)

I still haven't received an answer.

3. He has always found cooking easy. (GOOD)

He has always been good at cooking.

4. This is the strangest music I have ever heard. (STRANGE)

I have never heard such strange music before.

5. I have only been to America once before. (TIME)

This is only the second time I have been to America.

6. Sam would rather not go to the cinema tonight. (FEEL)

Sam doesn't feel like going to the cinema tonight.

7. She looks just like she did when I last met her. (SAME)

She looks exactly the same as she did when I last met her.

8. Getting tickets for the concert is harder than I thought. (NOT)

Getting tickets for the concert is not as easy as I thought.

9. My friend said, " You took my schoolbag away from me!" (ACCUSED)

My friend accused me of taking her schoolbag away from her.

10.It's easy for the mayor to speak in public. (DIFFICULTY)

The mayor has no difficulty speaking in public.

11.We have not sat in the garden house since last summer. (LAST)

The last time we sat in the garden house was last summer.

12.Going home without saying goodbye wouldn't be right. (OUGHT)

I think we really ought to say goodbye before we leave.

I was told that I didn't need to worry about booking in advance.

14.My boss always criticises his staff. (TENDENCY)

My boss has the tendency to criticise his staff.

15.They will ask to see your documents at the border. (SHOW)

You will have to show your documents at the border.

16.At the end of the presentation Allen showed some slides. (FINISHED)

Allen finished the presentation by showing some slides.

1. Getting over a divorce can take some time. (RECOVER)

It can take a while to recover from a divorce.

2. I was able to solve the problem with the help of my dad. (SORT)

My dad helped me sort out the problem.

3. I wanted to buy a brand-new iPhone, but the store didn't have any in stock.
(RUN)

The store had run out of brand-new iPhones so I couldn't buy one.

4. It would be great if someone discovered a way to organise a test for all the
classes.

(COME)

Someone should come up with a way to organise a test for all the classes.

5. Herbie drove a car for the first time this year. (NEVER)

Herbie has never driven a car before this year.

6. My brother was too young to travel on his own. (ENOUGH)

My brother was not old enough to travel on his own.

7. After his visit, we would all say good-bye to him at the airport. (SEE)

After his visit, we would all see him off at the airport.

8. I don't understand the maths homework the teacher gave us. (FIGURE)

I can't figure out how to do the maths homework the teacher gave us.
9. The agency promised me the best holiday I had ever had but it was a total
disaster(LIFETIME)

I was promised the holiday of a lifetime, but it was a total disaster.

10.The teacher has tolerated the student's behaviour for a long time. (PUT)

The teacher has put up with the student's behaviour for a long time.

11.Mary grew up in Cleveland with her aunt and uncle. (RAISED)

Mary was raised by her aunt and uncle in Cleveland.

12.Did you discover who invented the computer? (FIND)

Did you find out who the inventor of the computer was?

13.In the past, people spent their holidays with their relatives. (USED)

In the past, people used to spend their holidays with their relatives.

14.We hardly ever think about how technology helps us in daily life. (GRANTED)

We often take (it) for granted how technology helps us in daily life.

15.Youngsters under 16 are not allowed into the club. (GET)

You can't get into the club if you are under 16.

1. Why didn't you tell me what time we were meeting? (SHOULD)

You should have told me what time we were meeting.

2. London is a great city, but it's so expensive. (SUCH)

London is great, but it's such an expensive city.

3. Perhaps she has forgotten that the performance was postponed. (MIGHT)

She might have forgotten that the performance was postponed.

4. Dinosaurs died out because of a meteorite crash. (EXTINCT)

Dinosaurs became extinct because of a meteorite crash.

5. The foundation has very little money left. (RUNNING)

The foundation is running out of money.

6. Why haven't they informed the people about the accident? (BEEN)

Why haven't the people been informed about the accident?

You had better do more research before you start writing the article.

8. Jack said that he wouldn't go with me to the meeting. (REFUSED)

Jack refused to go with me to the meeting.

9. Dad needs me if he wants to finish painting the house. (DEPENDS)

Dad depends on me to finish painting the house.

10.I suppose you were very happy when you saw the results. (MUST)

You must have been very happy when you saw the results.

11.If we don't look after our planet, everything could end in a catastrophe. (OF)

If we don't take care of our planet, everything could end in a catastrophe.

12.Don't use more paper than you really need. (AVOID)

Try to avoid using more paper than you really need.

13.I like my new job, even if I have to spend much time on the phone. (DESPITE)

Despite having to spend so much time on the phone, I like my new job.

14.You won't have any problems finding our house because it's at the end of the
street.(MISS)

You can't miss our house because it's at the end of the street.

15.James will manage to look after the children while she is away. (SUCCEED)

James will succeed in looking after the children while she is away.

1. I had not expected to find learning English so interesting. (IN)

I am more interested in learning English than I had expected.

2. I don't think we need to listen to what he has to say. (POINT)

There's no point in listening to what he has to say.

3. Joey would rather not go to the ballgame with us. (FEEL)

Joey doesn't feel like going to the ballgame with us.

4. When I started my speech I forgot everything I wanted to say. (ANYTHING)

When I started my speech I couldn't/didn't remember anything I wanted to say.

5. Maria couldn't eat her soup because it was very hot. (TOO)
The soup was too hot for Maria to eat.

6. He was the kindest person I had ever seen. (SUCH)

I had never seen such a kind person before.

7. He usually sleeps until noon. (USED)

He is used to sleeping until noon.

8. Computers are much cheaper than they were a few years ago. (USED)

Computers used to be more expensive a few years ago.

9. Famous people are always recognised no matter where they go. (AVOID)

Famous people can't avoid being recognised no matter where they go.

10.I asked her if she needed more information. (ELSE)

I asked her if there was anything else she needed to know.

11.She didn't get many people to sign the petition. (SUCCEED)

She didn't succeed in getting many people to sign the petition.

12.The teacher said he was sorry he was late for the lesson. (APOLOGISED)

The teacher apologised for being late for the lesson.

13.He didn't succeed in climbing to the top. (REACH)

He wasn't able to reach the top.

14.The office was too small for a meeting of the whole staff. (NOT)

The office was not big enough for a meeting of the whole staff.

15.Getting in shape will take longer than you think. (GET)

You won't be able to get in shape as fast as you think.

16.If I were you, I wouldn't buy an expensive camera. (WORTH)

In my opinion, it's not worth buying an expensive camera.