Use of English - Rephrasing #002 (CAE)

From now on, answers will be in white just below their respective sentence. They are numbered globally through the blog, for precise future reference. There is no upper and lower limit in the number of words here.

9. 'I'm sorry I got home so late,' said Laura. apologised
Laura ............... home so late.
Laura APOLOGISED FOR GETTING home so late.

10. 'I won't tell anyone about it,' said Suzie. promised
Suzie ......................... anyone about it.
Suzie PROMISED NOT TO TELL anyone about it.

11. 'Laura, you should try being honest with your parents,' said the doctor. advised
The doctor ........................ honest with her parents.
ADVISED LAURA TO TRY BEING

12. 'Don't go out with that boy again!' said Laura's father. warned
Laura's father ..................... go out with that boy again.
WARNED HER NOT TO

13. 'You've been meeting your boyfriend after school, haven't you?' said Laura's mother. accused
Laura's mother .............. her boyfriend after school.
ACCUSED HER OF MEETING

14. 'Lend me your gameboy, or I'll tell Mum and Dad,' said Laura's brother. threatened
Laura's brother ........................ her parents unless she lent him her gameboy.
THREATENED TO TELL

15. 'I haven't seen Steve since Saturday night,' said Laura. denied
Laura .................. Steve since Saturday night.
DENIED HAVING SEEN

Thesaurus: likely

adjective

1. =  inclined, disposed, prone, liable, tending, apt • People are more likely to accept change if they understand it.
2. =  probable, expected, anticipated, odds-on, on the cards, to be expected • A 'yes' vote is the likely outcome.
3. =  plausible, possible, reasonable, credible, feasible, believable, verisimilar • It's likely that he still loves her.
4. =  appropriate, promising, pleasing, fit, fair, favourite, qualified, suitable, acceptable, proper, hopeful,agreeable, up-and-coming, befitting • He seemed a likely candidate to become Prime Minister.

adverb

1. =  probably, no doubt, presumably, in all probability, like enough (informal), doubtlessly, like as not(informal) • Very likely he'd told them of his business interest.

When using likely as an adverb, it is usual to precede it by another, intensifying, adverb such as very or most, for example "it will most likely rain". The use of likely as an adverb without an intensifier, for example "it will likely rain", is considered nonstandard in British English, though it is common in colloquial U.S. English.

from Collins Thesaurus

Use of English – Rephrasing #001 (CAE)

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 three and six words, including the word given. Answers in blank ink, highlight with your mouse to see them.

1. ‘Where do you think he is?’ she said. WONDERED
She …………………

2. It wasn’t until I finished going out with him that I realized I missed him. BROKE
I realized ……………….that I missed him.

3. I hadn’t seen such a wonderful painting before. NEVER
……………………………. such a wonderful painting.

4. I lost my keys so I was late. IF
I ……………… I hadn’t lost my keys.

5. She was beginning to change her mind about taking the job. SECOND
She was …………….. the job.

6. The problem is not my fault. BLAME
I……………… the problem.

7. The police thought he had been living in Canada. HAVE
He……………. in Canada.

8. His wallet isn’t here so I’m sure it was stolen. MUST
His wallet ……………………….

ANSWERS:
1. She wondered where he was.

2. I realized after I had broken up with him that I missed him.

3. I had never seen such a wonderful painting.

4. I would have arrived on time if I hadn’t lost my keys.

5. She was having second thoughts about the job.

6. I am not to blame for the problem.

7. He was thought to have been living in Canada.
8.His wallet must have been stolen.

Use of English - ON TIME vs. IN TIME

On time

at the planned time; neither late nor early

"Peter wants the meeting to start exactly on time. "

In time

with enough time to spare; before the last moment

"He would have died if they hadn’t got him to the hospital in time."

Grammar - Causatives (let, make, have, get)

Let

FORM

[let + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to allow someone to do something."

Examples:

“Tony’s parents wouldn’t let him have a new smartphone.”

“Let me live!”

“Sheila didn’t let him enter after what he had done to her.”

Make

FORM

[make + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to force someone to do something."

Examples:

"My mother made me attend that stupid speech."

"Our teacher has made us do an insane amount of work."

"Oliver made Charlie kiss the frog. Yuck!"

Have

FORM

[have + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to give someone the responsibility to do something."

Examples:

"Mrs. Weasley had his husband swipe the landing."

"I’ll have my brother send you the package, auntie."

"Please have your secretary fax me the document."

Get

FORM

[get + person + to + verb]

USE

This construction usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something."

Examples:

"He got her wife to stop watching that reality show."

"They are getting their uncle to lend them his cottage in the country."

"We’ll get the builders to move the skip tomorrow morning."

Get vs. Have

Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.

Examples:

·       I got the mechanic to check my brakes.
At first the mechanic didn't think it was necessary, but I convinced him to check the brakes.

·       I had the mechanic check my brakes.
I asked the mechanic to check the brakes.

FCE, CAE & CPE useful language for the writing exam – Report

Introducing the report

The aim of this report is to …
In this report, I will …
This report presents …
This report is for …

Making recommendations

In the light of … it seems to me that the best approach to take is …
I would recommend … as …
I would suggest …
I definitely recommend this book/film because …

Finishing the report

For the reasons stated, I feel that …
In conclusion, I feel that …
In short, I feel confident in recommending …
Overall, …

FCE, CAE & CPE useful language for the writing exam – Letter

Beginning an informal letter

Thanks so much for your email.
Sorry not to have contacted you earlier.
Thought it was time I dropped you a line.
What’s up?
Sorry about my delay in answering your letter.
Great to hear from you.

Referring to a previous letter

You said in your letter that you want to …
Last time you wrote, you mentioned …
I remember that you spoke about …

Ending an informal letter

I think that’s all for now. Do write soon!
Once again, thanks for contacting me.
Give my love to …
Let me know if…
Speak to you soon.
All the best.

Ending a formal letter

Yours sincerely. (if beginning with the person’s name)
Yours faithfully. (if beginning with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’)