Key word transformation fce with key

• Task Type:                    Key Word Transformations

• Focus:                           Lexical and grammatical

• • Format:                             Six separate items, each with a lead-in sentence and a gapped second
                                                sentence to be completed in two to five words, one of which is a given
                                               ‘key word’

• Number of questions: 6

• How many marks are there: Up to two marks for each correct answer

What is testing:

• modal verbs and semi-modal verbы
• phrasal verbs
• verb patterns
• direct speach to reported speach
• active voice to passive voice
• linking words/do and make/idioms/conditionals/unreal past

General Advice

1. Write between two and five words as your answer
2. Contractions like can’t or mustn’t are counted as two words
3. Take a guess if necessary! You will not loose marks
4. Remember that you cannot change the key word

cambridge english first certificate (fce) test 
Key Word Transformations
 

• FCE : Key Word Transformations 1
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 2
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 3
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 4
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 5
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 6
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 7
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 8
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 9
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 10
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 11
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 12
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 13
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 14
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 15
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 16
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 17
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 18
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 19
• FCE : Key Word Transformations 20

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On the Cambridge FCE Reading and Use of English exam, there are seven parts. Today you will learn about and practice Part 4 – Key Word Transformations. Many students think this part of the exam is challenging, but it just takes strategy and practice!

How to do Reading and Use of English Part 4

To begin, in part 4 each question has a sentence and a key word in BOLD. You must use this key word to complete the gap in a second sentence so its meaning is as close as possible to the first sentence.

You MUST use the key word in your answer. You CAN’T CHANGE the key word. For example, if the key word is “WRITTEN,” you cannot use the word “wrote” in your answer.

Use between 2 and 5 words. ** Contractions count as TWO WORDS! For example, won’t = will not. If you are unsure, always write out the entire word.

Use a pencil for this test. Write your answers in CAPITAL LETTERS only.

There are 6 questions total in this part. You can earn up to 2 points for each question.

What grammar structures and vocabulary does part 4 test?

This part of the FCE exam tests different grammar structures and vocabulary. Here are some of the most common ones that appear on the exam. 

If you are taking a course, these structures and vocabulary should be covered by your teacher. If you are studying on your own, make sure you know the rules for each one. 

GRAMMAR

Passive

Verb patterns

Conditionals

Reported speech

Future forms 

Future time clauses

Causative – have/get

Verb tenses – especially perfect forms

Wish and other hypotheticals

VOCABULARY

Phrasal verbs

Set expressions

Words like height, weight, length, width

Linking words

Word forms

Example Key Word Transformation and Strategy

Look at the example question below:

He tried to keep running although he felt tired.

SPITE

He tried to keep running _____________________________ tired.

Step One: Cross out words that are the same.

He tried to keep running although he felt tired.

SPITE

He tried to keep running _____________________________ tired.

First, I cross out any words that are EXACTLY THE SAME in both sentences.

Step Two: Focus on the remaining words and try to find the grammar or vocabulary rule.

He tried to keep running although he felt tired.

SPITE

He tried to keep running _____________________________ tired.

I need to focus on although he felt. Although is a linking word of contrast. This is the structure that I have identified.

Next, I start to think about other linking words and expressions of contrast while keeping in mind that I need to use the word SPITE.

Step Three: Choose your answer between 2 and 5 words.

He tried to keep running although he felt tired.

SPITE

He tried to keep running _____________________________ tired.

In spite of and despite are both linking words/expressions of contrast. Remembering that I have to use the EXACT KEY WORD, I decide not to use despite.

Now, I remember that after in spite of I need a verb + ing form of the verb. So, I look at my original sentence and identify the verb “felt.”

Change the subject + verb in the original sentence to a verb + ing form to fit the second sentence.

My answer is IN SPITE OF FEELING.

Step Four: Check your answer. Did you use the key word? Do you have the correct word count? Did you write your answer in CAPITAL LETTERS?

He tried to keep running although he felt tired.

SPITE

He tried to keep running IN SPITE OF FEELING tired.

Finally, I need to check my answer.

• Key word SPITE? Yes.
• Correct word count? 4 words, yes.
• Capital letters? Yes.

Common mistakes on FCE Key Word Transformations

• Changing the key word – you MUST use the exact word 
• Using too many words – maximum of 5 words
• Spending too much time – if you don’t know the answer, take a guess and continue with the next question
• Pronoun gender and agreement- if the first sentence uses a name, try to use the name in your second sentence. Sometimes you will need to use “her / his / she / he” etc. in your answer – make sure it matches the gender in the first sentence
• Subject-verb agreement – make sure your subject and verb match. For example, “she is singing” not “she are singing”
• Writing sentences that are too different – try to use the same words where you can when possible (words like very, really, etc. that appear in the first sentence). Make sure these are expressed in the second sentence as well.

FCE Key word Transformations Practice

Try these 10 key word transformations. Use the steps from above to help you and check your answers at the end of this post.

1. It’s a pity we don’t have a warmer climate!

ONLY

If _____________________ a warmer climate!

2. Someone is going to redecorate our terrace for us next week.

HAVE

We are going to _________________________________ next week.

3. I will only bring a jacket if it rains.

UNLESS

I will _________________ it rains.

4. They found the ring when they were fixing the garden.

CAME

They ____________________________ when they were fixing the garden.

5. I regret not selling my house sooner.

SOLD

I wish _______________________ my house sooner.

6. Fashion is the same as it was in the 1970s.

CHANGED

Fashion  _______________________________________ the 1970s.

7. The teacher didn’t let them leave the class.

ALLOWED

They  _________________________________ leave the class.

8. How many pyramids did the Egyptians build?

BY

How many pyramids ________________________ the Egyptians?

9. My colleague probably won’t come to the meeting.

UNLIKELY

My colleague  ____________________________ to the meeting.

10. You’ve got to decide what you want to study next year.

TIME

It’s _________________________ what you want to study next year.

---

Answers

How to score your answers:

You can earn up to two points for each answer.

The two parts of the answer are separated by “ — “

If your answer to the left of the  “–” is EXACTLY the same, give yourself one point.

If your answer to the right of the “–” is EXACTLY the same, give yourself another point.

Depending on your mistakes, you may earn 0, 1, or 2 points per answer.

1. ONLY — WE HAD
2. HAVE OUR TERRACE — REDECORATED
3. NOT BRING A JACKET — UNLESS
4. CAME ACROSS — THE RING
5. I HAD — SOLD
6. HAS NOT CHANGED — SINCE
7. WERE NOT — ALLOWED TO
8. WERE BUILT — BY
9. IS LIKELY — TO COME
10. (HIGH)* TIME — YOU DECIDED

*Words in ( ) are optional. You can still earn the full point for “time” if you didn’t write “high time.”

For more FCE Practice, try these posts.

• FCE Essay Writing Guide
• B2 Reading and Use of English Part 1
• FCE Speaking Exam Tips

Phrasal verbs are a huge challenge for English language learners, and for that reason, so are key word transformations with phrasal verbs. At the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) level, phrasal verbs are certain to appear in Use of English activities and key word transformations are no exception. The challenge when you come across these words isn’t only knowing the meaning of the vocabulary, but also knowing the grammar and syntax that surrounds them. The Cambridge Dictionary online defines a phrasal verb as “a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its separate parts”. But how many phrasal verbs are there? And what about separable and inseparable phrasal verbs?

How many phrasal verbs are there?

There are over 10,000 phrasal verbs in English. You might talk about what time you get up in the morning frequently, but you probably don’t often discuss how the government is going to beef up security before a big event. At B2 level, you’d be expected to know all commonly used ones and that’s what you need for key word transformations with phrasal verbs.

You can buy dictionaries with only phrasal verbs, but I’ve never been a big fan of dictionaries. If you’re looking for a list of the most important phrasal verbs in English, check out our post with the 120 most useful phrasal verbs.

Separable and inseparable phrasal verbs

Teaching students about separable and inseparable phrasal verbs can be a challenge. It’s easy to explain that there are two types of phrasal verbs, but it’s not easy to explain why. That’s because, as with many things in English, there is no why. It’s one of those things that, as a learner, you will start to memorise and learn with consistent use. I always tell my students to write an example sentence whenever they note down new vocabulary. With phrasal verbs, that’s especially important.

Separable phrasal verbs

Here is an example of a separable phrasal verb. Notice the word order in the example sentences and what is possible. Separable phrasal verbs can be separated with a direct object. However, if that direct object is a pronoun, we must separate the phrasal verb.

1. Take off (remove an article of clothing)
   • She took off her jacket because she was hot. ✔️​
   • She took her jacket off because she was hot. ✔️
   • She took off it because she was hot. ❌​
   • She took it off because she was hot. ✔️

Inseparable phrasal verbs

Here is an example of an inseparable phrasal verb. Notice the word order in the example sentences and what is possible. Inseparable phrasal verbs can never be separated with a direct object whether or not it’s a pronoun.

1. Look for (search)
   • The police looked for the missing girl. ✔️
   • The police looked the missing girl for. ❌​
   • The police looked for her. ✔️
   • The police looked her for. ❌​

A few phrasal verb rules

There are a few rules of phrasal verbs which we can easily teach our students. When it comes to such a challenging area of vocabulary, rules can be reassuring.

Simple phrasal verb rules:

1. Phrasal verbs with two particles are always inseparable.
   • My father was always very hardworking, which is why I’ve always looked up to him.
2. If a phrasal verb is followed by another verb, that verb will always take the gerund (-ing) form.
   • We ended up spending the whole weekend at home.
3. Phrasal verbs are never separated in the passive voice (because the object has become the subject of the passive sentence).
   • The outdoor performance was called off due to bad weather.
4. Phrasal verbs are informal. In a formal context we tend to prefer the equivalent Latin word.
   • My cat found out how to open the kitchen cupboard. – informal
   • The scientists discovered how to cure cancer. – formal

The Materials – Key Word Transformations Phrasal Verbs

Get your practice in with these 10 key word transformations. Phrasal verbs don’t have to be scary!

EXAM PART: Use of English Part 4

EXAM SKILLS: Using grammar appropriate to the level (B2), key word transformations

TIME: 20 minutes + feedback

PREPARATION: One copy of the worksheet per student

Download

First (FCE) – Transformations – Phrasal Verbs