🏋️‍♂️ PRACTICE TIME

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence using no more than three words so that both sentences have the same meaning. Fill in the blanks with your answers.

1. The bus station is near the new shopping centre.
   • The bus station isn’t ________________ the new shopping centre.

2. I’ve never been to this shop before.
   • This is ____________________ I’ve been in this shop.

3. The choice of food here is not as good as in the market.
   • The choice of food in the market ____________________ here.

4. There is late-night shopping on Thursday.
   • The shops ____________________ on Thursday.

5. Shall we go into town this afternoon?
   • Would ____________________ go into town this afternoon?

6. I’ve never read such a good book.
   • This is ____________________ book I’ve ever read.

7. The weather was better yesterday than it is today.
   • The weather is ____________________ today than it was yesterday.

8. Your pizza was cheaper than mine.
   • My pizza was ____________________ than yours.
9. “Don’t shout” said the teacher.
   • The teacher told the class ____________________ shout.

10. “I’ve never been to the USA” said Ron.
    • Ron said he ____________________ to the USA.

11. You promised to help me!
    • You said you ____________________ help me!

12. Charlie ate more than Daisy.
    • Daisy didn’t eat ____________________ Charlie.

13. Entrance to the museum is free.
    • You don’t have ____________________ to go into the museum.

14. It’s forbidden to feed the animals.
    • Feeding the animals isn’t ____________________.

15. Someone gave me a free ticket.
    • I ____________________ a free ticket.

16. There weren’t many people at the concert.
    • There were only ____________________ people at the concert.

17. It doesn’t matter which type of cooking oil you use for this recipe.
    • You can use ____________________ type of cooking oil for this recipe.

18. I found the film rather boring.
    • I felt ____________________ by the film.

19. A mechanic fixed my car last week.
    • I ____________________ fixed last week.

20. You should tell her you’re sorry.
    • If ____________________ I’d tell her you’re sorry.

21. There’s a chance he’s asleep at this time.
    • He might ____________________ asleep at this time.

22. Jane said “Why don’t we ask Rita?”
    • Jane suggested ____________________ Rita.

23. I’d advise you to study harder.
    • You ____________________ to study harder.

24. How much does a new moped cost?
    • What’s ____________________ a new moped?

25. He went to the shop because he wanted to buy some bread.
    • He went to the shop in ____________________ buy some bread.

26. The hotel has a big swimming pool.
    • ____________________ is a big swimming pool in the hotel.

27. I bought this camera six months ago.
    • I’ve ____________________ this camera for six months.

28. I’ve been a member of the tennis club since 2009.
    • I ____________________ the tennis club in 2009.

29. They’ve been married for 25 years.
    • They ____________________ 25 years ago.

30. I spent 3 hours doing my maths homework.
    • It ____________________ 3 hours to do my maths homework.

31. It was midnight when we left the party.
    • We didn’t leave the party ____________________ midnight.

32. We didn’t spend much money.
    • We only spent ____________________ money.

33. He’s too young to see that film.
    • He isn’t ____________________ to see that film.

34. Whose pen is this?
    • Whose ____________________ pen?

35. I liked the restaurant and my wife did too.
    • I liked the restaurant and ____________________ my wife.

36. My friend told me that I could stay in his flat.
    • My friend said “ You ____________________ in my flat.”

37. We had a map but it was difficult to find the zoo.
    • Although we had a map, we ____________________ find the zoo easily

38. The car park was outside the main entrance.
    • There was somewhere ____________________ outside the main entrance.

39. We wore sun hats because it was very hot.
    • It was ____________________ that we wore sun hats.

40. Maria suggested going to see the monkeys.
    • Maria said “Why don’t we ____________________ the monkeys?”

41. The elephants were my favourite animals.
    • I liked the elephants better ____________________ any other animal.

42. Large cars use more petrol than small cars.
    • Small cars ____________________ large cars.

43. Check your tyres before a long journey.
    • Before a long journey, remember ____________________ your tyres.

44. When I was young, I drove a small car.
    • I used ____________________ a small car when I was young.

45. My car windscreen was broken by a stone.
    • A stone ____________________ my car windscreen.

46. Who does this van belong to?
    • Whose ____________________ this?

47. Madonna was the eldest of eight children.
    • Madonna had seven ____________________ brothers and sisters.

48. It didn’t take her long to become famous.
    • She ____________________ famous very quickly.

49. It would be good if I went on a photography course.
    • I really ____________________ on a photography course.

50. Martina’s band started playing in concerts two years ago.
    • Martina’s band has played in concerts ____________________ two years.

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Answer Key:

1. far from
2. the first time
3. is better than
4. open late
5. you like to
6. the best
7. worse
8. more expensive
9. not to
10. had never been
11. would help
12. as much as
13. to pay
14. allowed
15. was given
16. a few
17. any
18. bored
19. had my car
20. If I were you
21. be asleep
22. asking Rita
23. should
24. the cost of
25. to buy
26. There
27. had
28. joined
29. got married
30. took
31. until
32. a little
33. old enough
34. Whose is
35. so did
36. can stay
37. couldn’t
38. to park
39. so hot
40. go and see
41. than
42. don’t use as much
43. to check
44. used to drive
45. broke
46. Whose is
47. younger
48. became
49. ought to go
50. since