← Use of English

Keyword Transformation

First steps: say the same thing with the keyword

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Topic: Surf lifesavers – keeping Australia’s beaches safe. Every summer, thousands of volunteers in red and yellow uniforms watch the beaches and help swimmers in trouble. In this unit you practise three typical tasks from the Use of English part of your exam.

What do you have to do?

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

In short: say the same thing in a different way – with the KEYWORD.

  1. Read sentence 1. What is the important information? (Here: a habit in the past that is over.)
  2. Look at the keyword. Which structure do you know with this word? (USED → used to + infinitive)
  3. Read sentence 2 before and after the gap. What is already there?
  4. Fill the gap and count the words. 2–5 words? Keyword unchanged? Same meaning?

Example · Grandpa rode a horse to school, but he doesn’t anymore.

KEYWORD: USED → Grandpa ________ a horse to school.

➜ a habit that is over → used to + infinitive ride

✅ Grandpa used to ride a horse to school. 3 words ✓ · USED unchanged ✓

Example · Grandpa had no mobile phone as a boy.

KEYWORD: USE → Grandpa ________ a mobile phone as a boy.

➜ negative → didn’t use to + infinitive have (no -d after didn’t!)

✅ Grandpa didn’t use to have a mobile phone as a boy. 4 words ✓

Need to revise used to? Look at the used to exercise or at page 115 of your English book.

Task 1 · Step 1: used to

Task 2 · Step 2: other structures you know

Now try some structures you revised in Year 9: comparisons (than, not as … as) and the passive (by).