Use transform in a sentence for each word

• 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

Synonym: alter, change, convert. Similar words: transformation, transfer, transit, transmit, translate, transient, transport, transition. Meaning: [træns’fɔrm /-‘fɔːm]  v. 1. subject to a mathematical transformation 2. change or alter in form, appearance, or nature 3. change in outward structure or looks 4. change from one form or medium into another 5. convert (one form of energy) to another 6. change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species 7. increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage). 

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

How to do the rephrasing:

In this part of the exam the candidate must read a sentence and then complete a second sentence with 3-6 words so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. It is a text of grammar and vocabulary. Sometimes the sentence can be completed with only 2 words or more that 6 but these answers are not valid as the task stated 3-6 words.

Fill in the gaps in the second sentence with 3-6 words. You must use the word given in exactly the same form. Each question is worth 2 points, one based on vocabulary and the other on grammar.

Lexical: phrasal verbs, word patterns, fixed expressions, contextual vocabulary etc.

Structural: passive, relative clauses, reported speech, quantifiers, connectors, tense changes, gerund versus infinitive, modal verbs, inversions (rarely), conditionals etc

E.g.     We must take as much advantage as possible of any opportunity to speak English.

MOST     We have …………………………………………………………………… any opportunity to speak English.

Answer: make the most of

Try the Deleting Technique: You take the sentence transformation, for example:

It´s clear that you´ll have a great time regardless of where you go out on Saturday night.

MATTER     I´m sure that you´ll have a great time ________ you go out on Saturday night.

YOU MUST CONSIDER WHAT IS THE SAME IN BOTH SENTENCES AND THEN DELETE WHAT IS THE SAME IN THE FIRST SENTENCE

It´s clear that you´ll have a great time regardless of where you go out on Saturday night.

MATTER     I´m sure that you´ll have a great time ________ you go out on Saturday night.

YOU ARE LEFT WITH REGARDLESS OF WHERE AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS THINK OF THE SYNONYM FOR IT.

Answer: no matter where

Follow up activity: You should write down the answers and the common vocabulary. These are almost always synonyms. Write them in a list like…

give up = quit

put up with = tolerate

so that = in order

no matter = regardless of

as long as = provided that

wish = if only

it is high time = it is about time

instead of = rather than

Use our list of 110 EXPRESSIONS FOR KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS FOR ADVANCED (C1)

Patterns and predicting types of answers:

Sentence transformations are quite predictable and if you do enough practice you will see that patterns emerge and that the grammar structures repeat. It is very normal to find passives, impersonal passives, causative passives, relative clauses, reported speech, quantifiers, connectors, tense changes, gerund versus infinitive, modal verbs, inversions, conditionals and unreal tenses like wish or if only. For example (see below) if the rephrasing includes WISH, the answer they are looking for is likely to include IF ONLY.

AVAILABLE IN PDF HERE

Now, let´s put it into practice (answers in PDF):

1. “You should try to blend in as much as you can” Laura´s brother told her.

UNNOTICED       Laura´s brother advised her _______________ as much as possible.

1. The local sports authority wants us to never quit at any cost.

URGED                 The local sports authority has _______________ up.

1. The thieves of the painting escaped without punishment because of a technicality.

AWAY                   On account of a technicality the thieves _______________ the painting.

1. I feel that you have really let me down this time, I can´t help it.

AVOID                  I can´t _______________ you this time

1. We were considering moving abroad, but we decided not to bother at the last minute.

OPTED                  We were thinking about emigrating, but we _______________ the last minute.

1. Being different from others might be a good thing at times.

OUT                       It is sometimes _______________ from the crowd.

1. I failed the exam as I hadn’t gone over the vocabulary enough.

HAD                       If only _______________, I would have passed the exam.

1. “You could have told me that you went to the party in the end” John told his best mate.

UP                          John said to his best mate that he should have _______________ at the party.

1. Before starting your own business, a lot of market research should be done.

UP                          When you want _______________ business, you need to do extensive market research beforehand.

1. The business shutting down caused a lot of unemployment as a consequence.

WINDING            The _______________ business increased the amount of unemployment.

1. Your stress levels will decrease as you learn to disconnect.

UNWIND             There will be a decrease in stress levels _______________

1. Until they learn the ropes, the job can be overwhelming at first.

TOUGH                 Some people find _______________ until they learn the basics.

1. I usually need to talk nicely to someone, before they decide if they like me or not.

CHAT                     People don’t know if they like me until I have had the _______________.

1. If I could get away with it, I would consider having an affair

ON                         I would be _______________ wife, as long as she didn’t find out.

1. My parent don’t mind if I sign up to an extracurricular activity or not.

DIFFERENCE       It _______________ join an extracurricular activity or not to my parents.

1. If you shout at your kids, which is unnecessary, it won’t make the blind bit of difference.

OFF                        In the event of _______________, they won’t learn from it.

1. I think you owe your friends an apology, you should keep in touch better

CONTACT            I think you should say sorry to your friends for _______________.

1. It is an unlikely scenario that we will both end up studying at the same university, as I don’t want to.

RELUCTANT        I would _______________ same university as you, so it is very improbable.

1. “Why did you split up with Sarah, she was really good for you” Agnes asked Michael.

BREAK                   Agnes wanted to _______________ with Sarah.

1. I couldn’t believe it when I coincidently saw Samuel in the street

BUMP                   It came as a _______________ Samuel in the street.

1. The consistent humorous events in the film made me laugh a lot.

CRACKING          I couldn’t help _______________ funny moments in the film.

1. You have let me down and what is worse, you have let yourself down.

DISAPPOINTED I feel really _______________ is worse is you have let yourself down.

1. The bully wasn’t just teasing his classmate. He was being violent too.

ONLY                     Not _______________ fun of his classmate, He was violent too.

1. It isn’t worth talking to people if they are only going to be rude to you.

IMPOLITE            If I were you, I wouldn’t talk _______________ to you.

1. He clearly forgot to collect you last night, he left you waiting for so long.

PICK                       It is clear that he didn’t _______________ night as you were waiting for a long time.

1. It is worth gathering every once in a while to catch up.

TOGETHER          I am keen to _______________ now and then to catch up.

1. Do you ever have to spend time with people you don’t get on with?

OUT                       Must _______________ anyone you don´t like very much?

1. It might be a good idea to keep on studying another year before doing the exam.

US                          It could _______________ studying for another year before going in for the exam.

1. I´ll carry on studying providing that you give me a hand.

LONG                    _______________ help me out, I´ll carry on with my studies.

1. Please inform your tutor is you have gone off your course.

LIKING                  Let your tutor _______________ your course.

1. I could really do with cutting down on the amount of time I spend looking at screens.

REALLY                  I should _______________ time I have.

1. He was in such a fluster that he ended up fainting and fell on the floor.

OUT                       As he was so flustered _______________ on the floor.

1. Has anyone really important to you ever passed away?

MATTERS             Has a _______________ you ever died.

1. It might be a sound plan to sell the electrical appliances to raise some cash.

GET                        It could be a good idea _______________ electrical appliances to get some extra money in.

1. Do you mind working out in the mornings?

TO                          Do you have _______________ exercise?

1. As soon as I agreed to go to the party, my wife asked me to look after the baby, so I couldn´t go.

CARE                     The moment I said that I would go to the party my wife asked _______________ the baby.

1. My boss suggested that I shouldn´t stand for disrespectful clients.

UP          My boss told _______________ disrespectful clients.

1. As long as you stand up for me in the meeting, I don´t really care.

NO         As long as you protect me in the meeting, it _______________ me.

1. It remains to be seen if they will face up to what they have done.

TELL       Only time _______________ fault for what they have done.

1. This problem doesn´t call for immediate action until further notice.

REQUIRED           Immediate action _______________ further notice.

1. I put his failure down to a lack of study time.

ONLY     He _______________ he didn´t study enough.

1. Doing this job is just a means to an end, as I am off to university soon and I need to save up some cash.

GAP       As I am going to university soon this job is just a stop _______________ money.

1. As the restaurant had run out of meat, I had to choose the fish.

BUT                        As the restaurant had no meat left, I had _______________ for the fish.

1. Would you rather I told you or find out from a stranger?

BETTER                 Would _______________ you or find out from a stranger?

1. If I could brush up on my English pronunciation, I´d be glad.

IMPROVE            I´d be over the moon _______________ English pronunciation.

1. You should never drop out of university midway through a course.

ACCOUNTS         On _______________ out of university midway through a course.

1. I can hardly ever figure out how to solve maths equations.

SELDOM               I can _______________ way to solve maths equations.

1. If it is the same to you, I´d rather get on with the project as to not fall behind.

CATCH                  I´d rather _______________ so I want to get started as soon as possible if you don´t mind.

PDF HERE WITH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS