Use of English PRO

Keyword Transformation #353

DID

The committee only realised how serious the budget problem was after the auditors had submitted their report.

Only after the auditors had submitted their report ............ how serious the budget problem was.

Use between 3 and 8 words.

Do not use contractions.

BELIEVED

People believe that the novelist is writing a sequel to her award-winning debut.

The novelist ............ a sequel to her award-winning debut.

Use between 3 and 8 words.

Do not use contractions.

FOR

If Marta had not advised me, I would never have applied for the fellowship.

Had ............, I would never have applied for the fellowship.

Use between 3 and 8 words.

Do not use contractions.

FAR

The second proposal was far less practical than the first one.

The first proposal was ............ of the two.

Use between 3 and 8 words.

Do not use contractions.

UP

I do not intend to tolerate such disrespect from junior staff any longer.

I am not prepared ............ such disrespect from junior staff any longer.

Use between 3 and 8 words.

Do not use contractions.

PROMISED

"I will definitely return the manuscript by Monday," said Helena.

Helena ............ the manuscript by Monday.

Use between 3 and 8 words.

Do not use contractions.

About Use of English Keyword Transformation — Cambridge English C2

In this Cambridge English C2 Use of English Key Word Transformation exercise you complete a second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using the key word given. There are 6 questions.

You must not change the key word, and your answer usually uses between two and five words. It tests grammar and vocabulary together, including tenses, passives, reported speech and fixed phrases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are in this C2 Key Word Transformation exercise?

There are 6 questions, and each one gives you a key word you must use without changing it.

Can I change the key word?

No. The key word must appear in your answer exactly as given — you cannot change its form.

How many words should my answer have?

Keep the meaning identical and stay within the word limit (commonly between two and five words, including the key word).

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What to do

In this part, there are six unconnected sentences. For each one, you complete a new sentence that has a similar meaning.

Utilize the WORD given in capital letters for each sentence, which you must not change.

Don't worry if your alternative answer is correct. In the actual exam, examiners review each solution individually and award extra points if necessary. For convenience, in this app contractions are not allowed, although they are in the real exam.

Find chunks of text that are the same in both sentences and delete them. That helps you to focus on what you actually need to be transforming.

Make sure that the two sentences mean the same thing. For example, if the sentence to transform has names in it, the answer will have to have them too.

Because of the scoring system, it’s possible to get 50% in this section without getting any of the questions 100% correct.

So it’s worth answering every question! Even incomplete answers can get points.

For convenience, in this app, the whole answer must be correct.

Strategy

  1. Read the sentence carefully and think about its exact meaning.
  2. Check your tenses – if the first sentence is in the past tense, the second should be, too!
  3. Contractions (e.g. haven’t) count as two words.
  4. Try to keep the same meaning – If the first sentence says ‘Tom said…’ then don’t write ‘He said...’ in the second sentence. (Write ‘Tom said’.)