KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

Part 4 of the "Reading and Use of English" Paper tests your knowledge of English grammar and sentence structure, and some aspects of vocabulary.

You have to rewrite some sentences so that the new sentence means the same as the sentence printed before it.

You are given the beginning and end of the new sentence and a 'key word' which you must include in your answer. You must not change the 'key word'. You have to write between three and eight words (including the 'key word') to complete each new sentence.

Contractions (e.g. I've, it's, doesn't, shouldn't) count as two words.

Let's see an example:

The average surgeon does hundreds of operations every year.
times  <<  KEY WORD

YOUR ANSWER:
The average surgeon operates hundreds of times every year.

SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER

1. What is each sentence testing?

Ask this question yourself : What is each sentence testing?

This will help you remember the appropriate grammar rule for adverbs, advice, comparatives, conditional sentences, making deductions, passive, the present, superlatives.

Let's see what grammatical point is being tested in these four examples:

a)

I'd like to join a private club but I haven't got enough money.
more
If I  ..........  join a private club.

GRAMMAR TESTED  >>  CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

b)

Kim Jones is healthier than Paulo Soares.
not
Paulo Soares is  ..........  Kim Jones.

GRAMMAR TESTED  >>  COMPARATIVES

c)

I think you should go for a check-up.
going
What  ..........  a check-up?

GRAMMAR TESTED  >>  ADVICE

d)

I'm sure your teacher isn't properly qualified.
have got
Your teacher  ..........  a proper qualification.

GRAMMAR TESTED  >>  MAKING DEDUCTIONS

2. Same meaning as original sentence

Make sure your version has the same meaning as the original sentence.

Let's see what is wrong with these versions of sentences b and d above:

b)

Paulo Soares is not nearly as strong as Kim Jones.

WRONG: This sentence has suffered a significant meaning change: strong instead of healthy and the addition of nearly.

CORRECT: Paulo Soares is not as healthy as Kim Jones.

d)

Your teacher must have a proper qualification.

WRONG: This sentence has suffered a significant meaning change: whichever meaning of must (either obligation or deduction) is intended, the meaning of the original has been changed.

CORRECT: Your teacher can't have got a proper qualification.

3. Grammatically correct and making sense

Make sure that your version is both grammatically correct and that it makes sense.

Now, let's see what is wrong with these versions of sentence a:

a)

If I'd have more money, I join a private club.

WRONG: The verb forms are incorrect.

CORRECT: If I had more money, I would join a private club.

a)

If I was more, I would join a private club.

WRONG: This sentence does not make sense.

CORRECT: If I had more money, I would join a private club.

4. Remember to use the KEY WORD

You must use the key word and you mustn't change it in any way. Make sure you write between three and eight words.

Finally, let's see what is wrong with these versions of sentence c:

c)

What do you think about you and I going for a check-up?

WRONG: This sentence does not follow the instructions exactly. The completion uses more than eight words.

CORRECT: What about going for a check-up?

c)

What if you go for a check-up?

WRONG: This sentence does not follow the instructions exactly. The form of the keyword has been changed.

CORRECT: What about going for a check-up?