Transformations Flashcards
No one explained why the lecture had started so late.
Was: No _______________ to why the lecture had started so late.
explanation was given as to why
There is a mistaken believe that diamonds are valuable.
That: People ______________ diamonds are valuable
mistakenly believe that diamonds are valuable
Our parents appreciated the time and effort we put into organizing their party.
Of: Our parents ____________ the time and effort we put into organizing their party.
were appreciative of
There was some misinformation surrounding the rescheduling of the event.
About: We ___________ rescheduled.
were misinformed about the event being rescheduled
We discussed at length how to approach the problem of things being mislaid in the office.
About: We __________________ how to approach the problem of things being mislaid in the office.
had a discussion about
I spent ages doing my homework last night:
Long: It ________________ to finish my homework.
took me a long time
The weather was bad, so it wasn’t the perfect holiday.
It: But ________________ would have been the perfect holiday.
for the bad weather, it
Please don’t turn the radio on now. It will wake the baby up.
Rather: I _______________ turn the radio on now.
would rather you didn’t
You shouldn’t go out tonight since you have school tomorrow.
Better: You ______________ tonight.
better not go out
Keith is the best tennis player of all.
Than: Keith ________________ anyone else.
is a better tennis player than
We were late arriving at the cinema and so missed the start of the film.
By: The film had ________________ we arrived at the cinema.
already started by the time
Simond found the recipe book very hard to follow.
Difficulty: Simon ________________ the recipe book.
had difficulty (in) following
I was just about to call you to see what time you were coming.
Point: I _______________________ to see what time you were coming.
was on the point of calling you
At this time of the year, the area is often affected by violent storms.
Feels: At this time of the year, the are often _________ violent storms.
feels the efects of
Many people said they had had enough of the economic situation.
Fed: An awful lot _________ the economic situation.
of people were fed up with
Very few people put forward suggestions at the meeting.
Anyone: ____________ the meeting put forward any suggestions.
Hardly anyone at
Although we were working hard, we were making no progress.
Progress: No _____________ we were working hard.
progress was being made although
We spent ages trying to solve the problem.
Figure: It took us a great deal _________ the solution.
of time to figure out
The news of her promotion came as a complete surprise to her.
Aback: She was _______ the news of her promotion.
completely taken aback by
She apologised for being late and said that something urgent had happened just as she was leaving the house.
Cropped: She was sorry she was late but something urgent _______ the last minute
had cropped up at
If there’s a halo around the sun or the moon you can be sure it is going to rain.
Be: You can be sure it’s going to rain ________ a halo around the moon.
should there be
The frequency of cricket chirps can tell you the temperature when you listen to it carefully.
To: The frequency of cricket chirps will tell you the temperature ______ carefully
if you listen to it
Daisies try their hardest to protect themselves from rain by closing their petals soon before it’s due.
The: Daisies ________ to protect themselves from rain by closing their petals.
do the best they can
It took severals weeks for Emily to persuade Huang to join her on the bike trip.
Talked: Huang _________ Emily on her bike trip after several weeks.
was talked into joining
This is the third warning from me this week about being late for work.
Not: This is the third time this week I __________ be late for work.
have warned you not to be
I hated pasta when I was a child but now I cook it regularly.
Use: I _________ pasta when I was a child but now I cook it regularly.
did not use to like
We wanted to continue our mountain trek but the weather was too bad.
Like: We __________ on with our mountain trek but the weather was too bad.
would like to have kept
I wanted to stay in last night but my flatmate insisted we go out.
Sooner: I _____________ in last night but my flatmate insisted we go out.
would sooner have stayed
Didn’t you want me to tell the staff about your resignation?
Rather: Would ________________ the staff know about your resignation.
you rather I had not let
An almost complete lack of cheap housing means most young adults can’t afford a house.
Virtually: There is ___________ so young adults can’t buy a house.
virtually no affordable housing
Signing the contract without the director’s approval is not allowed.
Circumstances: Under _____________ sign the contract without the director’s approval.
no circumstances may you
I don’t believe Jane ran that distance in only five minutes.
Possibly: Jane _____________ that distance in only five minutes.
can’t possibly have run
Due to the difficulty of the questions asked, he only narrowly missed failing the exam.
Scrape: The questions were so difficult that he only just managed ___________ the exam.
to scrape through
Being asked to identify the attacker was a nerve-racking experience for the witness.
Pick: The witness was very agitated when she was asked to step forward and ____________.
pick out the attacker
His retelling of the events was completely at odds with what had actually happened.
Resemblance: His story ___________ reality
bore no resemblance to
There was uncertainty over the animal’s ability to pull through after the operation.
Go: It was ________________ the animal would survive the operation.
touch and go whether
The taxi that collected us from the airport had been arranged by the hotel.
Collect: The hotel had _______________ us from the airport.
arranged for a taxi to collect
I found him difficult to work with because he always left things until the last minute.
Put: It was difficult working with someone who always __________ until the last minute.
puts things off
It’s strange that he didn’t mention the interview to me.
Neglected: I don’t know why he _______________ me about his interview.
neglected to tell
On leaving university, the idea of working abroad had crossed my mind.
Considered: I had _________________ left university.
considered working abroad after I
I can’t understand how Phil managed to move the wardrobe on his own.
Clue: I ____________ Phil managed to move the wardrobe on his own.
haven’t a clue how
Winning the award was a complete surprise to Hannah.
Blue: Winning the award ______________ for Hannah.
came out of the blue
Fiona booked a holiday before she’d asked for time off work.
Liberty: Fiona _________________ a holiday before she’d asked for time off work.
took the liberty to book
I phoned my mum as soon as I arrived, so that she wouldn’t worry about me.
Rest: I put my mum’s _________________ as soon as I arrived.
mind at rest by phoning
Rosa found it very difficult to persuade her boss to give her a pay rise.
Great: Rosa had ________________ her boss to give her a pay rise.
great difficulty (in) persuading
The moment I shouted he ran away.
Sooner: No ________________ he ran away.
sooner had I shouted than
I’m really bad at remembering people’s names when I meet them.
Memory: I ___________________ people’s names when I meet them.
have a really bad memory for remembering
This was Peter’s biggest challenge to date.
Faced: Peter _______________ challenge before.
had never faced such a big
He’s so ambitious, he’s determined that he’ll be successful in the company.
Mark: He’s determined ____________ in the company.
to make his own mark
I don’t have any free time, so I can’t come to the theatre with you.
Would: If I _________________ come to the theatre with you.
had some free time I would
People are more interested in history than you might expect.
Less: You _____________________ interested in history.
might expect people to be less
The number of people travelling through the airport was highest in August.
Reached: The number of people travelling through the airport _______________ in August.
reached its peak
The number of visitors to the island has fallen dramatically.
Steep: There _____________ the number of visitors to the island.
has been a steep fall in
He has been banned from entering the building.
Allowed: Under no ___________________ enter the building.
circumstances may he be allowed
