Narrative Tenses
While she (wait) at the airport, she suddenly realised she (leave) her passport at home.
While she was waiting at the airport, she suddenly realised she had left her passport at home.
Rewrite using inversion
He had never seen anything like it before
Never had he seen anything like it before
Participle clauses
She walked into the room. She immediately noticed something was wrong
Walking into the room, she immediately noticed something was wrong
The two dialects are ____ similar — most linguists consider them varieties of the same language.
The two dialects are remarkably similar — most linguists consider them varieties of the same language.
After years abroad, she began unconsciously to _______ the people she lived with.
After years abroad, she began unconsciously to adopt mannerisms of the people she lived with.
By the time the ambulance (arrive), the paramedics (treat) the patient for over twenty minutes.
By the time the ambulance arrived, the paramedics had been treating the patient for over twenty minutes.
Rewrite using an it-cleft
His persistence eventually convinced the committee.
It was his persistence that eventually convinced the committee.
The report was written in haste. It contained several serious errors
Written in haste, the report contained several serious errors.
Fresh produce is _____ available in most supermarkets.
Fresh produce is widely / readily available in most supermarkets.
The opening track is surprisingly ______ — it builds to an anthem-like chorus that had the whole crowd singing.
The opening track is surprisingly rousing — it builds to an anthem-like chorus that had the whole crowd singing.
He (not/sleep) well for weeks before his presentation, so he was exhausted on the day.
He hadn't been sleeping well for weeks before his presentation, so he was exhausted on the day.
Rewrite using fronting
The manager resigned unexpectedly on Friday.
'On Friday, the manager resigned unexpectedly' or 'Unexpectedly, the manager resigned on Friday'
He had lived abroad for ten years. He found it difficult to readjust to life at home.
Having lived abroad for ten years, he found it difficult to readjust to life at home.
She ______ remembered every word he had said — it was burned into her memory.
She distinctly remembered every word he had said — it was burned into her memory.
Journalists sometimes ______ to make a story more compelling, blurring the line with fiction.
Journalists sometimes embellish the details to make a story more compelling, blurring the line with fiction.
He (work) at the same company for fifteen years when they suddenly (make) him redundant.
He had been working at the same company for fifteen years when they suddenly made him redundant.
Rewrite using a wh-cleft
We need more time to review the evidence
What we need is more time to review the evidence
She did not want to cause any trouble. She kept quiet about what she had seen.
Not wanting to cause any trouble, she kept quiet about what she had seen.
Error correction:
The accident was fully connected to poor maintenance of the equipment.
The accident was inextricably connected to poor maintenance of the equipment.
Misinformation campaigns are designed to _____ before an election.
Misinformation campaigns are designed to sway public opinion before an election.
They (argue) about money when their daughter (walk) in unexpectedly.
They were arguing about money when their daughter walked in unexpectedly.
Rewrite using a tail
The old town hall is absolutely stunning
It's absolutely stunning, the old town hall.
The committee reviewed all the applications. They shortlisted five candidates.
Reviewing all the applications, the committee shortlisted five candidates.
Error correction:
The two phenomena are heavily associated with rising temperatures
The two phenomena are closely associated with rising temperatures
The story is ______ the _____ of post-war Berlin, which gives it a haunting, desolate atmosphere.
The story is set against the backdrop of post-war Berlin, which gives it a haunting, desolate atmosphere.