English Sentence Transformation Exercises

Posted on Mar 30, 2025 in English

Sentence Rewriting Practice: Using Keywords

Rewrite these sentences using the words in brackets:

  1. It’s been a long time since I last saw Paul. (for) I haven’t seen Paul for a long time.
  2. I didn’t hear from him for ten years. I received his email. (when) I hadn’t heard from him for ten years when I received his email.
  3. She started studying Drama three years ago. (been) She has been studying Drama for three years.
  4. She studied German for three years. Then she moved to Berlin. (after) After she had studied German for three years, she moved to Berlin. / After having studied German for three years, she moved to Berlin.
  5. The doorbell rang in the middle of her phone conversation. (while) The doorbell rang while she was speaking on the phone.
  6. That letter arrived only a few minutes ago. (just) That letter has just arrived.
  7. The bus left at six o’clock. We arrived at the bus stop at five past six. (before) The bus had left before we arrived at the bus stop.
  8. My intention after finishing the exams is to pull on my pyjamas and sleep for a week. (going to) After finishing my exams, I’m going to pull on my pyjamas and sleep for a week.

Sentence Rewriting Practice: Using Modal Verbs

Rewrite these sentences using modal verbs:

  1. I think you worry too much. I wouldn’t worry so much, if I were you. You shouldn’t worry so much.
  2. I’m sure Beth hasn’t written that ugly note. Beth can’t have written that ugly note.
  3. Jim didn’t hear the speaker. The crowd was shouting so loudly. Jim couldn’t hear the speaker because the crowd was shouting so loudly.
  4. I’m sure that he was exhausted after such a long flight. He must have been exhausted after such a long flight.
  5. I can’t find the novel. Perhaps somebody else has borrowed it. Somebody may / might / could have borrowed it.
  6. The book is optional. We can read it if we want to. We don’t have to read it / We needn’t read it / We don’t need to read it.
  7. I don’t believe he said that nonsense. I‘m certain you are joking. You must be joking.
  8. I’ll let you leave the table once you have finished your meal. You can leave the table once you have finished your meal.
  9. It’s necessary to clean your computer regularly if you want to keep it in good condition. You need to clean your computer regularly if you want to keep it in good condition.
  10. He’s at home but he doesn’t answer the phone. Perhaps he is sleeping. He may / might / could be sleeping.
  11. They’ve passed all the exams. I’m sure they’ve made a great effort. They must have made a great effort.
  12. It is not compulsory to wear a suit and tie at the graduation party. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie at the graduation party.
  13. Perhaps Tom took those photos. He had a very good camera. Tom may / might / could have taken those photos.
  14. It wasn’t necessary for us to take a taxi to the hotel. Sarah gave us a lift. We didn’t need to take / We didn’t have to take a taxi to the hotel as Sarah gave us a lift.
  15. Perhaps we will go to the cinema tomorrow evening. We may / might / could go to the cinema tomorrow evening.
  16. Can you smell that? I’m certain somebody is baking a cake. Somebody must be baking a cake.
  17. It’s a pity you didn’t see the film last night. You should have seen the film last night.
  18. I can hear Sally singing. Perhaps she is working in the garden. She may / might / could be working in the garden.
  19. There’s a possibility that the restaurant won’t accept credit cards. The restaurant may / might not accept credit cards.
  20. Smoking near hospitals is prohibited in Spain. You mustn’t / can’t smoke near hospitals in Spain.