Mastering English Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples
English Grammar Exercises and Vocabulary
Sentence Transformations
1. The Coke Was Too Cold
The coke was so cold I couldn’t drink it. / The coke was too cold for me to drink.
2. We Received an Agatha Christie Novel
They have given us an Agatha Christie novel. / We have been given an Agatha Christie novel.
3. I Prefer Reading Mysteries
I prefer reading mystery novels to watching horror films. / I’d rather read mystery novels than watch horror films.
4. Sherlock Holmes: The Most Famous Detective
No other fictional detectives are quite as famous as Sherlock Holmes. / Sherlock Holmes is the most famous fictional detective.
5. A Suggestion to Stay Home
They suggested that we stayed at home. / They said, “Why don’t we stay at home?”
6. No Homework Tonight
It’s not necessary for them to do the homework tonight. / They don’t have to do the homework tonight.
7. Four Weeks Since Contact
I haven’t talked to George for four weeks. / It’s four weeks since I last talked to George.
8. Car Repair Status
Has anyone repaired your car? / Has your car been repaired (by anyone)?
9. Future Absence
Sam said he wouldn’t come the following month. / “I won’t go (come) next month.”
10. Future Height Predictions
They believe that people will be taller in fifty years time. / People are believed to be taller in fifty years time.
11. A Teacher’s Request
“Please sit down, Carmen,” said the English teacher. / The English teacher asked Carmen to sit down.
12. The Joy of Reading About Cybermen
Reading stories about cybermen is interesting. / It’s interesting to read stories about cybermen.
13. Comparing Workloads
David works less than Angela. / Angela works more than David.
14. Smoking Prohibition
They don’t allow smoking in this lab. / Smoking is forbidden in this lab.
15. Identifying the Workplace
Do you see the office on the corner? I work there. / That’s the office where I work.
16. A Hypothetical Theft Prevention
The computer was stolen because nobody saw the thief. / If someone had seen the thief, the computer wouldn’t have been stolen.
17. Technology and Human Emotion
You can duplicate any human emotion with technology. / Any human emotion can be duplicated with technology.
18. A Mind-Reading Device
British and American scientists are working on a device to read the mind; this device will transmit instructions in computer code. / The device, which British and American scientists are working on, will transmit instructions in computer code.
19. An Unexpected Arrival
George arrived unexpectedly. / George turned up unexpectedly.
20. Problem Solved
We’ve discovered what the problem is with our computer. / We’ve found the problem with our computer.
21. An Interesting Novel
The novel is so interesting. / What an interesting novel!
22. Regret for a Missed Meeting
I’m sorry I didn’t meet you at the station. / If only I had met you at the station.
23. Boys Enlisted
Parents were bringing up boys of fifteen for enlistment. / Boys of fifteen were being brought up for enlistment by their parents.
24. Unhelpful Circumstances
They didn’t make things easier for me. / Things were not made easier for me.
25. Wishing for Different Tastes
It’s a pity you don’t like this food. / I wish/If only you liked this food.
26. An Inquiry About a Secretary
Jenny asked James if he was the secretary of the committee. / Jenny asked him: “Are you the secretary of the committee?”
27. Time Since Last Novel
I haven’t read a novel for two months. / It’s two months since I last read a novel.
28. The Cost of a Novel
What’s the price of this novel? / How much does this novel cost?
29. Regret About a Forgotten Camera
What a pity Mary didn’t remember to take the camera. / If only Mary had remembered to take the camera!
30. Urgent Advice
You should tell them immediately. / If I were you, I would tell them immediately.
31. Long Absence from Football
I haven’t been to a football match for years. / It’s years (ages) since I last went to a football match.
32. Wishing for Stadium Attendance
I’m sorry I couldn’t come with you to the stadium. / I wish I had been able to come with you to the stadium.
33. Fondness for Cycling
He likes cycling very much. / He’s very fond of cycling.
34. Late Arrival to the Cinema
The film began at 9.30 and we arrived at the cinema just after that. / When we arrived at the cinema, the film had just begun.
35. Wishing for Language Skills
It’s a pity you don’t speak French. / If only you spoke French!
36. Dinner Inquiry
Jean asked Tony if he was having dinner. / Jean said to Tony: “Are you having dinner?”
37. The Purpose of a Kettle
You use a kettle to boil water. / A kettle is used to boil water.
38. Translation Request
What’s the English word for “deporte”? / How do you say “deporte” in English?
39. An Inability to Stop a Habit
Robert said: “I can’t help biting my nails” / Robert said that he couldn’t help biting his nails.
40. A Mother’s Warning
My mother said: “Don’t touch the water, it’s boiling” / My mother warned me not to touch the water because it was boiling.
41. Plans for the Evening
“We have to go to David’s tonight,” they said to me. / They told me they had to go to David’s that night.
42. Bad News Delivered
They have told him the bad news. / He has been told the bad news.
43. A Desire for Mediterranean Living
I would love to live in a Mediterranean country. / I wish I lived in a Mediterranean country.
44. Years in Santiago
I came to live in Santiago 35 years ago. / I have been living in Santiago for 35 years.
45. The Teacher’s Patience
How patient is the teacher? / How much patience does the teacher have?
46. The Width of the Ebro River
How wide is the Ebro? / What is the width of the Ebro?
47. Time Since Last Cigarette
I smoked my last cigarette last year. / I haven’t smoked for a year.
48. Inquiry About Car Repair
Who repaired your car? / Who was your car repaired by?
49. Difficulty Opening a Door
Sally said she couldn’t open the door. / Sally said: “I can’t open the door.”
50. The Age of a Palace
Archaeologists believe the palace was built about 3,000 years ago. / It is believed that the palace was built about 3,000 years ago.
51. Instructions for Book Placement
“Put the books on the shelf, Rob.” She said. / She told Rob to put the books on the shelf.
52. The Condition for Turning Around
She won’t turn around unless you call out her name. / If you do not call out her name, she won’t turn around.
53. Language Spoken at a Hotel
They speak English at this hotel. / English is spoken at this hotel.
54. An Exciting Dancer
He’s such an exciting dancer that everybody wants to see him. / The dancer is so exciting that everybody wants to see him.
55. Comparing Heights
She isn’t as tall as her mother. / Her mother is taller than her.
56. Request to See a Mobile
John asked Joan to show him her new mobile. / “Could you show me your new mobile, Joan?”
57. Time Since Last Art Gallery Visit
I haven’t been to an art gallery for three years. / I last went to an art gallery three years ago.
58. The Length of the Ebro River
What’s the length of the river Ebro? / How long is the river Ebro?
59. Disagreement with a Speaker
They disagreed with what the speaker said. / They didn’t agree with the speaker’s words/ideas.
60. Comparing Language Difficulty
English isn’t as difficult to learn as Chinese. / Chinese is more difficult to learn than English.
Useful Vocabulary for Argumentative Writing
A. Building an Argument
- In the first place = En primer lugar
- First of all = Antes que nada
- To start with = Para empezar
- At first sight = A primera vista
- Secondly = En segundo lugar
- In the second place
- Finally = Por último
- Lastly
- In conclusion = Para concluir
B. Expressing a Personal Opinion
- In my opinion
- In my view
- From my point of view = Desde mi punto de vista
- Personally = Personalmente
- As far as I’m concerned = Por lo que a mí respecta
C. Establishing a Contrast
- However = Sin embargo
- Nevertheless = No obstante
- On the one/other hand = Por una/otra parte
- Although/Though = Aunque
- In spite of/Despite = A pesar de
D. Expressing Facts
- As a matter of fact = De hecho
- In fact
- Actually = En realidad
E. Adding Information
- Apart from this/that = Aparte de esto/eso
- Moreover/In addition = Además
- In addition to = Además de
- What’s more = Además; lo que es más
- On top of that = Además
- Besides = Además
F. Giving Examples
- For example/For instance = Por ejemplo
- Such as = Tal(es) como
G. Causes and Consequences
- Because of this/that = A causa de esto/eso
- For this/that reason = Por esta/esa razón
- That’s why = Por esta/esa razón; esa es la razón por la que…
- Therefore = Por lo tanto
- As a result of = Como resultado de
- Consequently = En consecuencia
- So = Así que; por eso
H. Expressing Something in Another Way
- That is (to say) = Es decir
- In other words = En otras palabras
I. Modifying What is Being Said
- To a certain extent = Hasta cierto punto
- More or less = Más o menos
- At least = Al menos
- Basically = Básicamente
- Especially = Especialmente
- In particular = En particular
- Above all = Sobre todo
J. Summarizing What Has Been Said
- In short = En resumen
- In conclusion = Para concluir
- On the whole = En general
- To sum up = Para resumir
K. Time Indicators
- First of all = Primero
- Next/Then = Luego
- After that = Después
- While = Mientras
- In the meantime = Mientras tanto
- All of a sudden = De repente
- Finally = Finalmente
- In the end = Al final
Reported Speech
Tense Changes in Reported Speech
- Present simple – Past simple
- Present continuous – Past continuous
- Present perfect simple – Past perfect simple
- Past simple – Past perfect simple
- Past perfect simple – Past perfect simple
- Past perfect continuous – Past perfect continuous
- Past continuous – Past perfect continuous
- Will – Would
Pronoun and Time Expression Changes in Reported Speech
- This/These – That/Those
- Today – That day
- Yesterday – The day before/The previous day
- Last week – The week before
- Tomorrow – The next/The following day
- A week/month/year ago – A week/month/year before
- I/We – He/She/They
- Mine/Ours – His/Hers/Theirs