Past and Present
I’m not used to ___________ (get up) so early for my new job yet.
getting up
Correct the error: "It looks as if it's going to raining."
It looks as if it's going to rain.
Complete the cleft sentence: "What I need ___________ (be) a long holiday."
What I need is a long holiday.
Transformation: "It was a mistake to buy that car." (Use should).
I shouldn't have bought that car.
(Habits) "I ___________ (use) to like spinach, but now I love it."
I used to like... (simple past habit).
Rewrite using would: "When I was a child, I had the habit of reading under the covers with a flashlight."
...I would read under the covers...
Rewrite using no matter: "Even if you try hard, you won't convince him."
No matter how hard you try, you won't convince him.
Rewrite to emphasize 'the lack of time': "We couldn't finish because we didn't have enough time." (Start with: What...)
What we lacked was time / What we didn't have was enough time.
Causative passive: "The mechanic is repairing my car." (Use have/get).
I am having/getting my car repaired.
(Ellipsis) Simplify: "If you want to come with us, you can come with us."
If you want to come with us, you can. (Ellipsis).
Reduce the sentence: "The results which were published in the journal yesterday were quite surprising."
The results published in the journal...
Complete: "He talked to me as if he ___________ (be) my boss, but he’s just a colleague."
as if he were/was my boss
Transform: "I only realized I'd lost my keys when I got home." (Start with: It was only...)
It was only when I got home that I realized...
Advanced passive: "People believe that the company is facing bankruptcy." (Start with: The company...)
The company is believed to be facing bankruptcy.
(Should) "I find it strange that she ___________ (say) something so rude to you yesterday."
...that she should say... (use of should to express surprise/reaction).
Explain the nuance: "I'm forever losing my glasses!"
It expresses annoyance or a repetitive, irritating habit.
Complete the mixed conditional: "If you ___________ (listen) to my advice earlier, you wouldn't be in this mess now."
If you had listened... (Mixed Conditional: Past action -> Present result).
Negative Inversion: "I have never seen such a beautiful sunset." (Start with: Never...)
Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.
Future Perfect: "I was hoping ___________ (finish) the report by noon, but I'm still working on it."
I was hoping to have finished... (Perfect Infinitive).
(Mixed Conditional) "I am tired today because I didn't sleep well last night." (Start with: If I...)
If I had slept well last night, I wouldn't be tired today.
Complete: "By this time next year, I ___________ (live) in London for five years."
will have been living
Transformation: "I didn't take the job, so I'm not living in New York now." (Start with: If I...).
If I had taken the job, I would be living in NY now.
Advanced Inversion: "You should not leave the building under any circumstances." (Start with: Under no circumstances...).
Under no circumstances should you leave the building.
Substitution: "Are you going to the party?" "I hope ___________, but I have a lot of work." (hope so).
I hope so.
(Cleft + Passive) Transform: "They say that Steve Jobs founded Apple in a garage." (Start with: It was Steve Jobs who...)
It was Steve Jobs who is said to have founded Apple in a garage. (Cleft + Passive).