GERUNDS
Combine the sentences
Tara loves puzzles. She solves them every evening.
Use a gerund phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Tara loves solving puzzles every evening.
Target structure: Gerund phrase as the object of a verb.
Combine the sentences
Mina walked across the room. She waved to the audience.
Use a participial phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Walking across the room, Mina waved to the audience.
Target structure: Present participle describing simultaneous actions.
Combine the sentences
The spy plane flew low. It wanted to avoid radar detection.
Use a to-infinitive phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
The spy plane flew low to avoid radar detection.
Target structure: To-infinitive expressing purpose.
Combine the sentences
David cycles to work. This saves him money.
Use a gerund phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Cycling to work saves David money.
Target structure: Gerund phrase functioning as the subject.
Combine the sentences
The car was damaged in the storm. It needed repairs.
Use a participial phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Damaged in the storm, the car needed repairs.
Target structure: Past participle phrase expressing a passive meaning.
Combine the sentences
I have several emails. I must answer them today.
Use a to-infinitive phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
I have several emails to answer today.
Target structure: To-infinitive phrase modifying a noun.
Combine the sentences
Ben did not revise for the test. He admitted this.
Use a gerund phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Ben admitted not revising for the test.
Target structure: Negative gerund after a reporting verb.
Combine the sentences
Arun saw the warning sign. He stopped the machine.
Use a participial phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Seeing the warning sign, Arun stopped the machine.
Target structure: Present participle phrase expressing the reason for an action.
Combine the sentences
Lily passed the audition. Nobody expected this.
Use a to-infinitive phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Nobody expected Lily to pass the audition.
Target structure: Object plus to-infinitive after expect.
Combine the sentences
Nora had interrupted the speaker. She apologised for this afterwards.
Use a gerund phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Nora apologised for having interrupted the speaker.
Target structure: Perfect gerund (having + past participle) after a preposition.
Combine the sentences
The architect had finished the drawings. She sent them to the builder.
Use a participial phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Having finished the drawings, the architect sent them to the builder.
Target structure: Perfect participle showing a completed earlier action.
Combine the sentences
The box was very heavy. Theo couldn't lift it.
Use a to-infinitive phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
The box was too heavy for Theo to lift.
Target structure: Too + adjective + for + person + to-infinitive.
Combine the sentences
The applicants had not been told about the interview changes. They complained about this.
Use a gerund phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
The applicants complained about not having been told about the interview changes.
Target structure: Negative perfect passive gerund after a preposition.
Combine the sentences
The samples had been exposed to excessive heat. They were no longer suitable for analysis.
Use a participial phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
Having been exposed to excessive heat, the samples were no longer suitable for analysis.
Target structure: Perfect passive participle phrase expressing cause.
Combine the sentences
The experiment cannot begin yet. Someone must check the equipment first.
Use a to-infinitive phrase. You may change the sentence order and other words as needed.
MODEL ANSWER
For the experiment to begin, the equipment must first be checked.
Target structure: For + noun + to-infinitive clause, with passive restructuring.