Cambridge Proficiency (CPE) Use of English Part 4 Sentence Transformations on Verb Patterns

C2 Proficiency Use of English Part 4 sentence transformations on verb patterns

For each question below, 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 three and eight words, including the word given.

 

1. Only as a last resort do teenagers use email.

unless

Teenagers avoid ___________________________________________ is no alternative.

 

2. I have got into the habit of going to the corner shop in my pyjamas.

taken

I _______________________________________________________ in my pyjamas.

 

3. I didn’t tell him I was married until he proposed.

for

I ___________________________________ ___________ telling him I was married.

 

4. Parents are absolutely forbidden from taking their kids on holiday during term time.

should

On ____________________________________ their kids on holiday during term time.

 

5. I have no intention of accepting a wage-cut just to keep this rubbish job.

intend

I __________________________________ a wage-cut just to keep this rubbish job.

 

6. Much as she objected to it, Theresa had no choice but to accept his relocation.

forced

Although she didn’t agree at all with her relocation, ___________________________ it.

 

7. It would have been better for me to tell my landlady that I was thinking of moving.

ought

_______ ____________________________ my landlady that I was thinking of moving.

 

8. I have no idea why someone vandalised my tent

loss

I _____ ___________________________________ for someone to vandalise my tent.

 

9. I don’t have enough money to purchase beverages for everyone.

afford

I _____________________________________________ for beverages for everyone.

 

10. Leslie suggested that I sell all my Star Wars stickers while interest in the series in high.

off

Leah advised _________________________________ _________________________ Star Wars stickers while interest in the series is high.

 

11. Everyone says that inequality is increasing.

experiencing

Inequality _______ _______________________________ _____________ increase.

 

12. I’ve lived in this city for six months and I’ve only just started to feel at home here.

used

It’s taken me half _______________________________________________ in this city.

 

13. Patrick said he would not repay my money and then ran away.

me

Patrick refused ____ ___________________ ___________________ and then ran away.

 

14. All the songs apart from that one were chosen for the talent show.

only

That song was the ___________________ ______________ chosen for the talent show.

 

15. Brian does not want to go out drinking tonight. 

feel

Brian _____________________________________________________ drink tonight.

 

16. I had not expected that the film would be so funny.

out

The film ________________________________________________ than I expected.

 

17. Despite the awful visibility, they succeeded in climbing the mountain.

reach

Although the visibility _______________________________ the top of the mountain.

 

18. Very sensibly, my father made the decision not to smoke any more.

give

My father deciding ________________________________________ ________ sensible.

 

19. You must not, under any circumstances, forget to pay the gas bill today 

remember

Whatever you _____ __________________________ ______________ the bill today.

 

20. After that she became a very successful business woman.

on

She ______________________________________ _________ success in business.

 

Suggested answers

Other answers might be possible, so please check if you wrote something different.

1. Only as a last resort do teenagers use email.

unless

Teenagers avoid ______using email/ unless there__ is no alternative.

 

2. I have got into the habit of going to the corner shop in my pyjamas.

taken

I ________have taken/ to going to the corner shop______ in my pyjamas.

 

3. I didn’t tell him I was married until he proposed.

for

I ____waited for him to/ propose before ___________ telling him I was married.

 

4. Parents are absolutely forbidden from taking their kids on holiday during term time.

should

On ___no account should/ parents take________ their kids on holiday during term time.

 

5. I have no intention of accepting a wage-cut just to keep this rubbish job.

intend

I _______don’t intend/ to accept___________ a wage-cut just to keep this rubbish job.

 

6. Much as she objected to it, Theresa had no choice but to accept his relocation.

forced

Although she didn’t agree at all with her relocation, _Theresa was forced/ to accept it.

 

7. It would have been better for me to tell my landlady that I was thinking of moving.

ought

_______ I ought to/ have told_______ my landlady that I was thinking of moving.

 

8. I have no idea why someone vandalised my tent

loss

I _____ am at a loss/ to understand the reason____ for someone to vandalise my tent.

 

9. I don’t have enough money to purchase beverages for everyone.

afford

I _____can’t afford/ to pay_______________ for beverages for everyone.

 

10. Leslie suggested that I sell all my Star Wars stickers while interest in the series in high.

off

Leah advised ___________me to sell/ off my _________________________ Star Wars stickers while interest in the series is high.

 

11. Everyone says that inequality is increasing.

experiencing

Inequality _______ is said to/ be experiencing an _____________ increase.

 

12. I’ve lived in this city for six months and I’ve only just started to feel at home here.

used

It’s taken me half ____a year to get used/ to living____________________ in this city.

 

13. Patrick said he would not repay my money and then ran away.

me

Patrick refused ____ to pay/ me back ___________________ and then ran away.

 

14. All the songs apart from that one were chosen for the talent show.

only

That song was the ____only one not/ to be ______________ chosen for the talent show.

 

15. Brian does not want to go out drinking tonight. 

feel

Brian __________doesn’t feel like/ going out for a__________________ drink tonight.

 

16. I had not expected that the film would be so funny.

out

The film ______turned out/ to be funnier_____________________ than I expected.

 

17. Despite the awful visibility, they succeeded in climbing the mountain.

reach

Although the visibility ________was awful,/ they managed to reach______________ the top of the mountain.

 

18. Very sensibly, my father made the decision not to smoke any more.

give

My father deciding _____to give up/ smoking was very ________ sensible.

 

19. You must not, under any circumstances, forget to pay the gas bill today.

remember

Whatever you _____ do, you must/ remember to pay ______________ the bill today.

 

20. After that she became a very successful business woman.

on

She ____________went on/ to be a great OR big _________ success in business.

 

 

Question writing challenge stage

Group A

Write CPE sentence transformations with the same rules as the exam to test another team with, using one word below in the answer in the gap each time. You cannot change the word given below and it must be in the gapped part of the second sentence, but it doesn’t have to be the given key word (and often wasn’t in the original tasks). If possible, try to write an original root sentence without the word below and without the key word in the task.

Probably the best way to do this is:

• Write a medium-length example sentence with the word given
• Underline the three to eight words around the word below which could go in the gap
• Write another sentence above that which has exactly the same meaning but is as different in grammar and vocabulary as you can make it
• Decide if the words you underlined are okay for the gap, and if not change them
• Choose one of the underlined words as the given key word

Write the task and answer on different pieces of paper, then do the same for different words below, writing at least three questions for the other group to try later.

1. accept
2. arrive
3. ask
4. be
5. becoming
6. being
7. calling
8. come
9. do
10. drop
11. escaping
12. find
13. finish
14. get
15. getting

 

Double check that the two sentences mean the same thing, that the key word is not changed in the answer and that there are between three and eight words in the gap, then pass the questions to another group to try.

Take back the other group’s answers, mark them, and hand them back.

Ask about any which you don’t know why are wrong, etc.

Ask about any words which you are not sure how to use to make questons, etc.

 

Group B

Write CPE sentence transformations with the same rules as the exam to test another team with, using one word below in the answer in the gap each time. You cannot change the word given below and it must be in the gapped part of the second sentence, but it doesn’t have to be the given key word (and often wasn’t in the original tasks). If possible, try to write an original root sentence without the word below and without the key word in the task.

Probably the best way to do this is:

• Write a medium-length example sentence with the word given
• Underline the three to eight words around the word below which could go in the gap
• Write another sentence above that which has exactly the same meaning but is as different in grammar and vocabulary as you can make it
• Decide if the words you underlined are okay for the gap, and if not change them
• Choose one of the underlined words as the given key word

Write the task and answer on different pieces of paper, then do the same for different words below, writing at least three questions for the other group to try later.

16. go
17. going
18. have
19. having
20. hear
21. hearing
22. include
23. increasing
24. know
25. leave
26. leaving
27. like
28. make
29. making
30. manage

Double check that the two sentences mean the same thing, that the key word is not changed in the answer and that there are between three and eight words in the gap, then pass the questions to another group to try.

Take back the other group’s answers, mark them, and hand them back.

Ask about any which you don’t know why are wrong, etc.

Ask about any words which you are not sure how to use to make questions, etc.

 

Group C

Write CPE sentence transformations with the same rules as the exam to test another team with, using one word below in the answer in the gap each time. You cannot change the word given below and it must be in the gapped part of the second sentence, but it doesn’t have to be the given key word (and often wasn’t in the original tasks). If possible, try to write an original root sentence without the word below and without the key word in the task.  

Probably the best way to do this is:

• Write a medium-length example sentence with the word given
• Underline the three to eight words around the word below which could go in the gap
• Write another sentence above that which has exactly the same meaning but is as different in grammar and vocabulary as you can make it
• Decide if the words you underlined are okay for the gap, and if not change them
• Choose one of the underlined words as the given key word

Write the task and answer on different pieces of paper, then do the same for different words below, writing at least three questions for the other group to try later.

31. opening
32. playing
33. please (v)
34. putting
35. reach
36. remain
37. reply
38. rise
39. see
40. seeing
41. suppose
42. take
43. understand
44. visiting
45. waiting
46. want

Double check that the two sentences mean the same thing, that the key word is not changed in the answer and that there are between three and eight words in the gap, then pass the questions to another group to try.

Take back the other group’s answers, mark them, and hand them back.

Ask about any which you don’t know why are wrong, etc.

Ask about any words which you are not sure how to use to make questions, etc.