Cambridge Use of English · Part 4
Key Word Transformations: 6 Essential Patterns & Practice (B2–C2)
Part 4 of the Cambridge Reading & Use of English paper – Key Word Transformations – is notoriously unforgiving. But it isn't random. Cambridge examiners recycle specific structural patterns year after year. Once you learn to recognise these formulas, you can reliably capture full marks.
The Rules of the Game
Before looking at the grammar formulas, keep these immutable exam mechanics in mind:
- Word counts: In B2 First, use 2 to 5 words. In C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, use 3 to 6 words. Any response exceeding the word limit automatically scores zero.
- Contractions: Contractions count as two words (e.g. didn't = did not = 2 words; can't = can not = 2 words).
- The Keyword: You must never alter the keyword in any way (never change singular to plural, capitalize, or alter tense).
- Split Marks: Each question is worth up to two marks. The official mark scheme divides the answer into two independent halves (e.g.,
part 1 | part 2). Even if you make a mistake in one half, an accurate other half still awards you 1 mark!
The 6 Recurring Examination Patterns
1 Passive Reporting Verbs
Shifting from “People claim / rumour that...” into “Subject + is said / thought / alleged + to have [past participle]”.
Sentence 1: Police believe that the suspect has fled the country. [BELIEVED]
Transformation: The suspect is believed to have fled the country.
2 Conditionals & Inverted Structures
Replacing standard conditionals (“If it hadn't been for...”) with negative inversion (“Had it not been for...” or “Were it not for...”).
Sentence 1: Without your timely advice, we would have failed. [HAD]
Transformation: Had it not been for your timely advice, we would have failed.
3 Verb Complementation & Dependent Prepositions
Switching direct quotes to reporting verbs requiring prepositions and gerunds (e.g. accuse of, apologize for, deny, prevent from).
Sentence 1: “I'm sorry I arrived so late,” said Mark. [APOLOGISED]
Transformation: Mark apologised for having arrived / for arriving so late.
4 Fixed Idiomatic Collocations
Transforming common verbs into fixed nominal or prepositional idioms: came as a surprise to, in the mood for, have no intention of, take for granted.
Sentence 1: The cancellation of the flight completely surprised us. [CAME]
Transformation: The cancellation of the flight came as a complete surprise to us.
5 Unreal Past, Wishes & Preferences
Using structures like “would rather you [past simple]”, “it is high time we [past simple]”, or “wish I had [past participle]”.
Sentence 1: We really ought to make a final decision now. [TIME]
Transformation: It is high time we made a final decision.
6 Degree, Comparison & Result
Flipping too... to into not... enough, or converting simple comparatives into nowhere near as... as or by far the most.
Sentence 1: The second exam was much harder than the first. [NEAR]
Transformation: The first exam was nowhere near as hard as the second.
Exam Practice: 6 Interactive Questions
Test yourself on these genuine C1/C2 exam-style challenges. Try completing each gap on paper first (using 3 to 6 words), then expand the box to check the exact mark breakdown:
1. She didn't pay any attention to the instructions. [NOTICE] Reveal answer
She ______ the instructions.
Answer: took no notice of / didn't take any notice of
Mark 1: took no notice · Mark 2: of (4 words)
2. I'd prefer you not to smoke in the kitchen. [RATHER] Reveal answer
I ______ in the kitchen.
Answer: would rather you did not smoke / 'd rather you didn't smoke
Mark 1: would rather you · Mark 2: did not smoke (5 words)
3. They think the ancient temple was destroyed by an earthquake. [THOUGHT] Reveal answer
The ancient temple ______ by an earthquake.
Answer: is thought to have been destroyed
Mark 1: is thought · Mark 2: to have been destroyed (6 words)
4. We could not go swimming because of the heavy thunderstorm. [PREVENTED] Reveal answer
The heavy thunderstorm ______ swimming.
Answer: prevented us from going
Mark 1: prevented us · Mark 2: from going (4 words)
The 5-Step Proofreading Algorithm
- Count the words: Did you stay strictly within the 3–6 word limit? Remember that contractions count as 2.
- Keyword unchanged: Did you accidentally tweak the keyword (e.g. wrote preventing instead of PREVENTED)?
- Grammatical concord: Does the subject agree with the verb? Is the tense aligned with the original sentence?
- Identical semantic meaning: Does the second sentence communicate the exact same nuance without adding extra unsupported ideas?
- Spelling precision: Check every letter. Cambridge mark schemes do not forgive spelling mistakes on Part 4.
Want to test question order and clause syntax?
Play Grammar Crypt, our retro dungeon challenge where you assemble runes into complex English sentence structures.