Sentence Transformations (13)

The conflicting information we receive can be confusing.

EASY

It __________ by all the conflicting information we receive.

It is easy to be confused by all the conflicting information we receive.

It's highly likely that they will close the school.

STRONG

There's a _________ being closed.

There's a strong likelihood of being closed.

There was a debate about how the community could raise funds to keep the service open. SUBJECT

How the community could raise funds to keep the service open ________ debate.

How the community could raise funds to keep the service open was the subject of the debate.

I suddenly thought how well he was looking.

STRUCK

It ________ was looking well.

It suddenly struck me that he was looking well.

You can completely understand people looking for ways of overcoming loneliness.

QUITE

It ________ for ways of overcoming loneliness.

It is quite understandable why/that people look for ways of overcoming loneliness.

Tania didn't know to what extent illness had affected Mark's work.

UNCLEAR

How far Mark's work had _________ to Tania.

How far Mark's work had been affected by illness was unclear to Tania.

Can anyone solve this problem?

COME

Can anyone _________ to this problem?

Can anyone come up with a/the solution to this problem?

I'm sure you're wondering why I haven't contacted you for so long.

HAS

You must _________ so long since I contacted you.

You must be wondering why it has been so long since I contacted you.

Are you saying that I'm lying about what happened?

TRUTH

Are you accusing ________ about what happened?

Are you accusing me of not telling the truth about what happened?

He made a very quick decision and he didn't think about the matter enough.

WITHOUT

He made a very quick decision _______ to the matter.

He made a very quick decision without giving enough thought to the matter.

Recently, the number of people who are out of work has gone down.

DECREASE

Recently, __________ the number of people who are out of work.

Recently, there/it has been a decrease in the number of people who are out of work.

It doesn't matter how badly he behaved, you shouldn't have been so rude to him.

HOWEVER

You shouldn't have been so rude to him, ________ was.

You shouldn't have been so rude to him, however bad his behaviour was.

She apologised for being late and said something urgent had happened just as she was leaving the house.

CROPPED

She was sorry she was late but something urgent _________ the last minute

She was sorry she was late but something urgent had cropped up at the last minute

When it was his turn to be interviewed, he suddenly felt quite nervous.

CALLED

He started feeling nervous the moment he __________ his interview.

He started feeling nervous the moment he was called for/to his interview.

They had expected a large crowd at the event.

ANTICIPATED

It __________ a large crowd would turn up at the event.

It had been anticipated that a large crowd would turn up at the event.

It was the first time anyone had ever seen anything like it in this country.

LIKE

Nothing quite _________ seen in this country before.

Nothing quite like that has been seen in this country before.

He wasn't very sympathetic and told her to stop crying.

PULL

Instead of comforting her, he told her ____________ .

Instead of comforting her, he told her to pull herself together.

The news of her promotion came as a complete surprise to her.

ABACK

She was __________ the news of her promotion.

She was completely taken aback by the news of her promotion.

'How long do you think it will take her to work out where we've gone'.

COTTON

They wondered how long it _________ to where they'd gone.

They wondered how long it will cotton on her to where they'd gone.

No one we spoke to said they'd be voting for the opposition party.

NOT

____________ asked said they would vote for the opposition party.

Not one person we asked said they would vote for the opposition party.

I've just noticed that the car has almost run out of petrol.

HARDLY

I've just noticed that ___________ left in the car.

I've just noticed that there is hardly any petrol left in the car.

I didn't know that cars were so expensive in this country.

IDEA

I _________ so much in this country

I had no idea (that) cars cost so much in this country.

Don't get depressed because of such a small problem.

LET

It's such a small problem that you shouldn't ___________ down.

It's such a small problem that you shouldn't let it get you down.

It is reported that he is now recovering in hospital.

RECOVERY

He is reported ___________ in hospital now.

He is reported to be (making a)/in recovery in hospital now.

Laura's teacher says that she doesn't have a serious enough attitude to her work.

SERIOUSLY

Laura doesn't __________ to her teacher.

Laura doesn't take her work seriously enough, according to her teacher.

What's confusing you so much?

LOT

What is it that's _________ confusion?.

What is it that's causing you such a lot of confusion?.

As long as you explain the process clearly at the conference, your boss will be pleased.

GIVE

If _________ the process at the conference, your boss will be pleased.

If you give a clear explanation of/about the process at the conference, your boss will be pleased.

They say that a visitor to the national art gallery damaged an 18th-century painting.

ALLEGED

A visitor to the national art gallery __________ an 18th-century painting.

A visitor to the national art gallery is alleged to have damage an 18th-century painting.

I really don't mind whether Jill chooses to come on holiday with us or not.

DIFFERENCE

It really ___________ whether Jill chooses to come on holiday with us or not.

It really makes little difference to me whether Jill chooses to come on holiday with us or not.

Without the help that Joe gave me, I don't think I'd have finished the course.

BEEN

If it _________ help, I don't think I'd have finished course.

If it had not been for Joe's help, I don't think I'd have finished course.

We can assure our customers that we will take every possible measure to maintain the quality of the products on our shelves.

TAKES

We can assure our customers that we will ________ to maintain the quality of the products on our shelves.

We can assure our customers that we will do whatever/everything/all/anything it takes to maintain the quality of the products on our shelves.

Following some complaints by local residents, the government withdrew its proposal to build a new runway at the airport.

LIGHT

The government's proposal to build a new runway at the airport _________ some complaints by local residents.

The government's proposal to build a new runway at the airport was withdrawn in light of some complaints by local residents.

There will be no change to our plans, despite the likelihood of rain.

IS

We have decided not to change our plans even __________ strong possibility of rain.

We have decided not to change our plans even if there is a strong possibility of rain.

Can you summarise for me what took place at the meeting?

GIVE

Can you _________ what took place at the meeting.

Can you give me a summary of what took place at the meeting.

The problem that his team had been working on was solved by Jake.

SOLUTION

Jake came up _________ the problem which his team had been working on.

Jake came up with the solution to the problem which his team had been working on.

I was very much relieved to see my brother walking down the street towards me.

SIGHT

I felt enormous __________ my brother walking down the street towards me.

I felt enormous relief at the sight of my brother walking down the street towards me.

Maria immediately accepted the offer of a place at the country's top university.

HESITATION

Maria __________ the offer of a place at the country's top university.

Maria had no hesitation in accepting/taking | accepted with no hesitation the offer of a place at the country's top university.

Employees can choose to work additional hours at the weekend.

EACH

It's up __________ they work additional hours at the weekend.

It's up each employee to choose whether (or not) they work additional hours at the weekend.

Mark doesn't like it when people tell him what to do.

RESENTS

Mark ________ what to do.

Mark resents being told what to do.

Debbie is very likely to win the charity run fun.

LIKELIHOOD

In _________ win the charity run fun.

In all likelihood, Debbie is going to/will win the charity run fun.

Julian couldn't wait to begin his voluntary work placement.

FORWARD

Julian ________ his voluntary work placement.

Julian was looking forward to beginning his voluntary work placement.

Rachel was particularly concerned about the issue of noise pollution.

OF

The issue of noise pollution _________ to Rachel.

The issue of noise pollution was of particularly concern to Rachel.

Because of the heavy traffic, we didn't arrive in time of the meeting.

PREVENTED

The heavy __________ in time for the meeting.

The heavy traffic prevented us from arriving in time for the meeting.

You have to be very committed to do this kind of charity work.

CALLS

This kind o charity work __________ deal of commitment.

This kind of charity work calls for a great deal of commitment.

Delia has always been a loyal supporter of local charities.

LENT

Delia has always _________ local charities.

Delia has always lent her loyal support to local charities.

Young people in the community would benefit greatly from the project.

HIGHLY

The project ________ to young people in the community.

The project would be highly beneficial to young people in the community.

It is uncertain what effect the new proposals will have.

REMAINS

It _________ seen what effect the new proposals will have.

It remains to be seen what effect the new proposals will have.

In the end, only a very small number of protesters signed the petition.

HARDLY

In the end, _________ signed the petition.

In the end, hardly any protesters signed the petition.

The loss of fundings was the end of Jane's plan to go to India.

PAID

The loss of funding _________ Jane's plan to go to India.

The loss of funding put paid to Jane's plan to go to India.

The new computer game was every bit as good as Caroline had expected.

UP

The new computer game ________ expectations.

The new computer game completely lived up to Caroline's expectations.

Because he thought it might break down, Dan always kept a mobile phone in his car.

CASE

Dan kept a mobile phone in his car _________ down.

Dan kept a mobile phone in his car in case it broke/should break down.

Should you see Jack this evening, give him my regards.

HAPPEN

If you ________ into Jack this evening, give him my regards.

If you (should) happen to bump into Jack this evening, give him my regards.

Although the manager refused to buy us a new photocopier, she was still popular.

HER

The manager was still popular __________ to buy us a new photocopier.

The manager was still popular despite/in spite of her refusal to buy us a new photocopier.

Paul wishes that he hadn't started arguing with his best friend.

HAD

Paul regrets __________ with his best friend.

Paul regrets having had an argument with his best friend.

Lots more people have been shopping online this year.

SHARP

These ________ the number of people shopping online this year.

These have been a sharp increase in the number of people shopping online this year.

Learning Chinese is much more difficult than learning English.

NEARLY

Learning Chinese is _________ learning English.

Learning Chinese is not nearly as easy as learning English.

There are far more FCE students than CAE students this course.

AS

There are _________ as FCE students this course.

There are not nearly as CAE students as FCE students this course.

Rachel doesn't study anywhere near as much as Tom.

GREAT

Tom studies _________ than Rachel.

Tom studies a great deal more than Rachel.

I'm slightly less experienced than Michael.

EXPERIENCE

I don't __________ Michael.

I don't have quite as much experience as Michael.

Georgia is slightly bigger than Alabama.

QUITE

Alabama is ________ Georgia.

Alabama is not quite as big as Georgia.

This house is far more beautiful than the others in the neighborhood.

MOST

This is _________ beautiful house in the neighborhood.

This is by far the most beautiful house in the neighborhood.

The house is great deal more expensive than the flat.

NOWHERE

The flat is _________ the house.

The flat is nowhere near as expensive as the house.

Yesterday there was much more traffic than today.

ANYWHERE

There wasn't __________ as yesterday.

There wasn't anywhere near as much traffic today as yesterday.

Only time will tell whether Ella was right to change her training programme.

REMAINS

It ___________ whether Ella was right to change fer training programme.

It remains to be seem whether Ella was right to change fer training programme.

'Would you lend me your camera, Patrick?' asked John.

BORROW

John asked ___________ camera.

John asked Patrick if he could borrow his camera.

Ronan fully intends to write a blog about his round-the-world trip.

EVERY

Ronan __________ a blog about his round-the-world trip.

Ronan has every intention of writing a blog about his round-the-world trip.

If nobody objects, today's class will be held on the terrace outside.

UNLESS

Today's class will be held outside on the terrace _________ objections.

Today's class will be held outside on the terrace unless anyone has/there are any objections.

Ursula's parents did not approve of her plan to visit a friend in the USA.

MET

Ursula's plan to visit a friend in the USA __________ of her parents.

Ursula's plan to visit a friend in the USA met with the disapproval of her parents.

The big increase in hits on hits on his website came as a surprise to Philip.

GOT

Much __________ a big increase in hits on his website.

Much to his surprise he got a big increase in hits on his website.

The village shop is now being managed by a national supermarket chain.

TAKEN

A national supermarket chain _________ of the village shop.

A national supermarket chain has taken over the management of the village shop.

This door is an emergency exit and must never be locked for any reason.

ACCOUNT

On _________ be locked because it is an emergency exit.

On no account must this door ever be locked because it is an emergency exit.

Melvin's friend recommended that website where he bought the camping equipment.

ON

Melvin bought equipment from that website __________ a friend.

Melvin bought equipment from that website on the recommendation of a friend.

We never imagined that Julian might be planning to resign from his job.

OCCURRED

It never ________ Julian might be planning to resign from his job.

It never occurred to us that Julian might be planning to resign from his job.

As lon as he could see, Keving really didn't mind where he sat in the stadium.

DIFFERENCE

As long as he could see, ____________ where he sat in the stadium.

As long as he could see, it made no difference to Kevin where he sat in the stadium.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to visit the gym regularly.

ABLE

If I had more time, ___________ more regular visits to the gym.

If I had more time, I would be able to make more regular visits to the gym.

'A club has just opened in Leeds', said Maria to Sally.

TOLD

Maria _________ club in Leeds.

Maria told Sally about a new club in Leeds.

I returned the dress to the shop because it was badly made.

TOOK

Because the dress was badly made, I ______ to the shop.

Because the dress was badly made, I took the dress back to the shop.

Some shops try really hard to help you

EFFORT

Some shops really ________ to help you.

Some shops really make the effort to help you.

Fifty years ago, cars were slower than they are nowadays.

AS

Fifty years ago, cars _________ they are nowadays.

Fifty years ago, cars were not as fast as they are nowadays.

It's a lot easier to learn a language by visiting the country where it's spoken.

MUCH

You can learn a language __________ you visit the country where it's spoken.

You can learn a language much more easily you visit the country where it's spoken.

People wear casual clothes where I work.

UP

People ________ where I work.

People don't dress up where I work.

For me, Stella McCartney is doing a lot more interesting work than other designers today.

FAR

For me, Stella McCartney is by __________ designer working.

For me, Stella McCartney is by far the most interesting designer working

The stall didn't sell much jewellery because of its high prices.

HIGHLY

The jewellery on the stall was so _________ much was sold.

The jewellery on the stall was so highly priced that not much was sold.

It's a shame you aren't able to take Monday off.

GET

If only _________ off on Monday

If only you could get the day off on Monday

I'm not sure I want us to spend a week in New York. I think Austin sounds better.

SOONER

_____________ a week in Austin than in New York.

I would sooner we spend a week in Austin than in New York.

They did ignore you on purpose but you pretended they didn't

TALK

You _________ never purposely ignored you.

You talk as though they never purposely ignored you.

Why didn't you tell me my boss would be at the party?

WISH

I _________ my boss was going to be at the party.

I wish you had told me my boss was going to be at the party.

I'd love to have been able to go to the concert with you.

POSSIBLE

If only _________ to make it to the concert.

If only it had been possible to make it to the concert.

Do you think you could help me lift the table?

HAND

Would you mind _______ to lift the table.

Would you mind giving me a hand to lift the table.

My brother managed to get a place at a prestigious business college.

SUCCEEDED

My brother ________ at a prestigious business college.

My brother succeeded in getting a place at a prestigious business college.

Dan didn't realise he'd forgotten his passport until he arrived at the airport.

DID

Only when ________ Dan realise that he'd forgotten his passport.

Only when he arrived at the airport did Dan realise that he'd forgotten his passport.

Very few businesses are profitable in their first year.

MAKE

Hardly ________ in their first year.

Hardly any businesses make any/a profit in their first year.

Ken's family persuaded him to ask for a salary increase.

TALKED

Ken was _________ in salary by his family.

Ken was talked into asking for an increase in salary by his family.

The end of the film was completely unpredictable.

COULD

Nobody ________ would end.

Nobody could have predicted how the film would end.

Very few club members bothered to attend the Annual General Meeting.

EFFORT

Hardly ________ to attend the Annual General Meeting.

Hardly any club members made an effort to attend the Annual General Meeting.

A multinational corporation has recently acquired the local company.

OVER

The local company ________ by a multinational corporation.

The local company has been taken over by a multinational corporation.

Many fewer shoppers have been visiting the mall lately.

SHARP

These has been _______ number of shoppers visiting the mall lately.

These has been a sharp drop/decrease in the number of shoppers visiting the mall lately.

Students may not use the staff entrance under any circumstances.

MAKE

Under _________ of the staff entrance.

Under no circumstances may students make use of the staff entrance.

The plane ticket is much more expensive than the train ticket.

NEARLY

The plane ticket is _________ the train ticket.

The plane ticket is not nearly as cheap as the train ticket.

This camera is much more expensive than the others in the store.

MOST

This is ___________ expensive camera in the store.

This is by far the most expensive camera in the store.