They are decorating our living room, so the house is a mess. DONE→ We are ........................................................, so the house is a mess!
having our living room done up
‘Yes, I took the money, but Ned told me to do it!’ said George. WHO→ George claimed that it ........................................................ to take the money.
was Ned who told him
‘Do your homework first, and then you can go to the cinema,’ said Jim’s mother. LONG→ Jim’s mother agreed to let him go to the cinema ........................................................... his homework first.
as/so long as he did
I really hate it when people speak to me like that! BEING→ I really object ........................................................... like that!
to being spoken to
Unless you tell the truth, the school trip will be cancelled. MEAN→ Your failure ................................................ the cancellation of the school trip.
to tell the truth will mean
Jill has never been here before, so it is possible that she has got lost. HAVE→ Jill ........................................................... it is the first time she has ever been here.
may/might have got lost as/since/because
Harry thought of throwing a surprise party for Katie’s birthday. CAME→ Harry ...................................................... of throwing a surprise party for Katie’s birthday.
came up with the idea
‘Mark wrote that poem, not Ian,’ said Helen. IT→ According to Helen, ....................................................... that poem, not Ian.
it was Mark who wrote
I learnt a lot about gardening, thanks to Kevin. FOR→ If ..........................................................., I wouldn’t have learnt so much about gardening.
it hadn’t been for Kevin
Even if it is expensive, they want to go on the London Eye. MAY→ Expensive ....................................................., they want to go on the London Eye.
though it may be
Instead of spending money on clothes, I prefer to spend it on books. SPEND→ I would ........................................................ on books than on clothes.
rather spend money
Jane regretted speaking so rudely to the old lady. MORE→ Jane ........................................................ politely to the old lady.
wished she had spoken more
Pop in for a chat whenever you are in town. HAPPEN→ If .................................................... in town, pop in for a chat.
you (ever) happen to be
Paula had just reached the gate when it began to rain. THAN→ No sooner ......................................................... it began to rain.
had Paula reached the gate than
I was just about to call him when he rang me instead. POINT→ I was ........................................................... when he rang me instead.
on the point of calling him
The manager gave her secretary strict instructions that no one should be allowed to disturb her. CIRCUMSTANCES→ ‘Under ..................................................... to be disturbed!’ the manager told her secretary.
no circumstances am I
‘Honestly, I didn’t cheat in the test!’ said John. DENIED→ John ...................................................... in the test.
denied having cheated/that he had cheated
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