Ejercicios de transformación gramatical con respuestas comentadas (nivel intermedio-avanzado)

Upper-intermediate level

1.- I'm sure it was Vicky I saw in town as I recognized her coat
(must)
1.- It ...................Vicky I saw in town as I recognized her coat

2.- Did you manage to get in contact with the boss this morning?
(getting)
2.- Did you.....................in contact with the boss this morning?

3.- The boss wouldn't object to you going early today
(objection)
3.- The boss would not.....................you going out early today

4.- I regret taking up smoking
(wish)
4.- I ......................smoking

5.- Paul hasn't had a job for two years
(out)
5.- Paul .........................for two years

6.- Nothing has been decided yet
(no)
6.- .........................made

7.- It's a shame I don't have a camera
(wish)
7.- I.............a camera

8.- She took an umbrella, but it was not necessary
(taken)
8.- She ......................an umbrella.

9.- She returned the blouse to the shop because it was too small
(took)
9.- As the blouse was too small, she......................to the shop

10.- The thief said he hadn't broken into the house
(breaking)
10.- The thief .....................into the house

KEY

1.- must have been
Commentary: Must is used for deductions. In the present example, must + perfect infinitive was used because the action took place in the past. Compare: must be - debe de ser/must have been debe de haber sido.

2.- succeed in getting
Commentary: To manage to do sth and to succeed in doing sth are synonymous.

3.- have any objection to
Commentary: It is quite frequent to find  a verb paraphrased by a noun followed by a preposition, usually the same preposition the verb in question is constructed with: to object to sth = to have an objection to sth, to discuss about sth = to have a discussion about sth, to blame sb for sth = to lay the blame for sth on sb, to damage sth = to cause damage to sth, to prefer sth = to have a preference for sth, to hunger for sth = to have a hunger for sth, etc.

4.- wish I hadn't taken up
Commentary: I wish + past perfect is used to express your regret at having done sth.

5.- has been out of work
Commentary: not to have a job and to be out of work are synonymous.

6.- No decision has been
Commentary: To decide and to make a decision are synonymous.

7.- wish I had
Commentary: I wish + simple past is used to express a desire for sth to be different from the way that it is.

8.- needn't have taken
Commentary: When it wasn't necessary to do sth, but you did it nevertheless, you can say that you needn't have done it.

9.- took it back
Commentary: To return sth to the shop and to take sth back to the shop are synonymous.

10.- denied breaking
Commentary: when sb says that they haven't done sth, they deny doing it.