FCE Key Word Transformation

Index

For questions 1-6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. EXAM DESCRIPTION

1) It wasn't Mark that you met in the shop.
HAVE

2) She was just going to have her breakfast when the phone rang.
ABOUT

3) Steve didn't manage to complete his work.
FAILED

4) How long has she been studying English?
BEGIN

5) George wrote his last novel five years ago.
WAS

6) Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.
ATTENTION

Test Answers!

ANSWERS 1: COULDN'T HAVE BEEN | COULD NOT HAVE BEEN | CAN'T HAVE BEEN
NEGATIVE LOGICAL ASSUMPTION
COULDN'T/CAN'T + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE is used to say that we believe something was impossible.
Similar Conversions
I'm sure he's not German. => He can't be German. CAN'T + INFINITIVE (PRESENT INFINITIVE)
I'm sure he isn't playing football now. => He can't be playing football now. CAN'T + BE + GERUND (PRESENT CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE)
I'm sure he didn't do it. => He couldn't/can't have done it. COULDN'T/CAN"T + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (PERFECT INFINITIVE)

ANSWERS 2: ABOUT TO HAVE HER
IDIOM
BE + ABOUT TO + INFINITIVE => to be going to do something very soon.
Similar Conversions
I was almost falling asleep when I heard a crash. => I was about to fall asleep when I heard a crash. BE + ABOUT TO + INFINITIVE
He is about to go mad, I'm afraid. => He is on the point of going mad, I'm afraid. BE + ON THE POINT OF + GERUND
Our company is on the point of going bankrupt. => Our company is on the verge of going bankrupt. BE + ON THE VERGE OF + GERUND

ANSWERS 3: FAILED TO COMPLETE
ACHIEVEMENT
FAIL + TO + INFINITIVE => to not succeed in achieving something.
Similar Conversions
Susan managed to beat him at tennis yesterday. => Susan succeeded in beating him at tennis yesterday. SUCCEED + IN + GERUND
He failed to get into art college. => He didn't manage to get into art college. MANAGE + TO + INFINITIVE
John didn't manage to write the essay for tomorrow. => John wasn't able to write the essay for tomorrow. BE + ABLE TO + INFINITIVE

ANSWERS 4: DID SHE BEGIN
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS => PAST SIMPLE
HOW LONG (HAVE YOU) => WHEN (DID YOU)
Similar Conversions
When did you leave university? => How long ago did you leave university? WHEN + PAST SIMPLE => HOW LONG AGO + PAST SIMPLE
When did you leave university? => How long is it since you left university? WHEN + PAST SIMPLE => HOW LONG IS IT SINCE + PAST SIMPLE
When did you begin playing football? => How long have you been playing football? PAST SIMPLE => PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

ANSWERS 5: WAS FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN | WAS FIVE YEARS AGO THAT
CLEFT SENTENCE
Cleft sentences are used to help us focus on a particular part of the sentence and to emphasise what we want to say.
Similar Conversions
Jim took Pam to the theatre last week. => It was Jim who took Pam to the theatre last week. EMPHASIS ON THE SUBJECT
Jim took Pam to the theatre last week. => It was last week when Jim took Pam to the theatre. EMPHASIS ON THE ADVERBIAL
Jim took Pam to the theatre last week. => It was Pam that Jim took to the theatre last week. EMPHASIS ON THE OBJECT

ANSWERS 6: PAID ANY ATTENTION TO | PAID ATTENTION TO
IDIOM
Pay attention to => to watch, listen to, or think about someone or something carefully.
Similar Conversions
Boys, listen carefully to what I'm saying! => Boys, take notice of what I'm saying! TAKE NOTICE OF (IDIOM)
Boys, listen carefully to what I'm saying! => Boys, pay attention to what I'm saying! PAY ATTENTION TO (IDIOM)
Boys, listen carefully to what I'm saying! => Boys, concentrate on what I'm saying! CONCENTRATE ON (VERB + PREPOSITION)