40 Key Word Transformations Ex. | B2 First (FCE)
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!
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.
(FCE) 40 Key Word Transformation: Exercises
Complete the sentence so that it has a similar meaning. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.
Nobodypaid ATTENTION to (ATTENTION) his bad behaviour.
You should try and take advantage of his help.
You should try and (MOST) help he gives you.
My sister was involved in her school spelling competition.
My sister (PART) spelling competition.
Could they grow anything here after the war?
Were (ABLE) here after the war?
‘Why didn’t you call me?’ asked Joe.
Joe (ASKED) not called him.
Driving that fast was a stupid thing to do.
If (ONLY) driving so fast.
I hadn’t seen my sister for about a year, when I saw her last.
About (GONE) before I saw my sister again, after the last time I saw her.
Complete the sentence so that it has a similar meaning. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.
Nobodypaid ATTENTION to (ATTENTION) his bad behaviour.
I don’t earn anything like the amount I did before.
I earn (NOWHERE) as I did before.
The date for the Barcelona Conference is the 23rd of March.
The Barcelona Conference (PLACE) the 23rd of March.
The house was not very attractive in appearance when we first saw it.
The house was (MUCH) at when we first saw it.
No-one wants to buy this type of music any more.
There (LONGER) for this type of music.
Looking back, I think I was right to study mathematics at university.
Looking back, I (REGRET) mathematics at university.
Our spending will have to be reduced next year.
We will have (BACK) our spending next year.
Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.
Nobodypaid ATTENTION to (ATTENTION) his bad behaviour.
While we were going home yesterday we got caught in a thunderstorm.
We got caught in a thunderstorm while we were (WAY) yesterday.
Has Mary altered her decision about moving to the countryside?
Do you know if Mary (MIND) about moving to the countryside?
I’d like Kevin to stop telling me what to do.
I (WISH) telling me what to do!
‘Are you pleased it’s nearly half-term?’ said the teacher to us.
The teacher wanted (KNOW) pleased it was nearly half-term.
We are earning less than we are spending, I’m afraid.
Our (EXPENDITURE) our income, I’m afraid.
I don’t think having luxuries in life is necessary.
I don’t (NECESSITY) having luxuries in life.
Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.
Nobodypaid ATTENTION to (ATTENTION) his bad behaviour.
I am starting to find watching television boring.
I am beginning to get (FED) television.
Bad weather makes me feel really unhappy in the winter.
Bad weather (DOWN) in the winter.
Fog delayed my flight to Moscow this morning.
My flight to Moscow (UP) this morning
Help was urgently needed in the flooded area of the country.
They were (NEED) in the flooded area of the country.
I went to Italy with the intention of learning Italian.
I went to Italy (THAT) Italian.
Remember to return the videos you have rented.
Don’t (BACK) the videos you have rented.
Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.
Nobodypaid ATTENTION to (ATTENTION) his bad behaviour.
To tell the truth, we need a swimming pool for this school.
To tell the truth, (WHAT) a swimming pool for this school.
Do you know whose this umbrella is, by any chance?
Do you know (BELONGS), by any chance?
Was it Paul’s idea to go to the cinema?
Was it Paul (CAME) the idea of going to the cinema?
The boats began to move slowly out of the harbour.
The boats slowly (WAY) out of the harbour.
One runner did not succeed in finishing the race.
One runner (ABLE) the race.
It is not my fault that the glass broke.
You cannot (BLAME) the glass.
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Sign up, resolve the tests and see what results you get.B2 First (FCE) Use of English Part 4: Tips & Strategy
B2 First (FCE) Use of English: Part 4 question type here is called key word transformation.
You must complete a new sentence that has a similar meaning. You use a word in capitals given in bold for each sentence, which you must not change.
Strategy
- Read the sentence carefully and think about its exact meaning.
- Check your tenses – if the first sentence is in the past tense, the second should be, too!
- Contractions (e.g. haven’t) count as two words.
- Try to keep the same meaning – If the first sentence says ‘Tom said…’ then don’t write ‘He said…’ in the second sentence. (Write ‘Tom said’.)
- Write between two and five words, including the word given.
Tips
Find things that are the same in both sentences and delete them. That helps you to focus on what you actually need to be transforming.
Because of the scoring system, it’s possible to get 50% in this section without getting any of the questions 100% correct. So it’s worth answering every question! Even incomplete answers can get points
Make absolutely sure that the two sentences mean the same thing. For example, if the sentence to transform has names in it, the answer will have to have them too.