TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCE 1

Transformation of Sentence means changing the form of a sentence without changing its meaning. The transformation can be done in a number of ways. 

1. Transformation of sentences containing the adverb ‘too’: Sentences containing the adverb ‘too’ can be transformed by using the structure ‘so’….‘that’. 

E.g.: He is too proud to beg. 

He is so proud that he cannot beg.

 2.  Sentence transformation using too…to: Sentences containing ‘too ..... to’ can be transformed by using the structure ‘so….‘that’. 

 E.g.: He was so tired that he could not walk. 

 He was too tired to walk. Note: 

The adverb too means ‘more than is necessary or expected’. It has a negative meaning. The structure too…to has a similar meaning.

3. Transformation of sentences containing the adverb ‘no sooner…‘than’: Sentences containing 'no sooner…than' can be transformed using 'as soon as' or 'scarcely/hardly had…when'. 

E.g.: No sooner had I reached the station than the train arrived. 

As soon as I reached the station the train arrived. 

Hardly had I reached the station when the train arrived. 

Scarcely had I reached the station when the train arrived. 

4. Interchange of the degrees of Comparison: It is possible to change the degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb in a sentence, without changing the meaning of the sentence. 

E.g.: No other metal is as useful as iron. (Positive) 

Iron is more useful than any other metal. (Comparative) 

Iron is the most useful of all metals. (Superlative)

5. Interchange of Active and Passive Voice: (a)A sentence in the active form can be changed into the passive form.

E.g.: I read the book long ago. (Active). 

The book was read by me long ago. (Passive) 

(b) A sentence in the passive form can be changed into active form. 

E.g.: The letter was written by the clerk. (Passive) 

The clerk wrote the letter. (Active)

6. Interchange of Affirmative and Negative sentences: (a) An Affirmative sentence can be converted into Negative sentence. 

E.g.: I care very little what he says about me. (Affirmative) 

I do not care what he says about me. (Negative) 

(b) A Negative sentence  can be converted into Affirmative sentence. 

E.g.: Nobody was absent. (Negative) 

Everybody was present. (Affirmative)

7. Interchange of Interrogative and Assertive Sentences: (a) An Interrogative sentence can be converted into an Assertive sentence. 

E.g.: Who does not know him? (Interrogative Sentence) 

Every one knows him. (Assertive Sentence) 

(b) An Assertive sentence can be converted into an Interrogative sentence. 

E.g.: She has finished her work. (Assertive Sentence) 

Has she not finished her work? (Interrogative Sentence)

8. Interchange of Exclamatory and Assertive Sentences: (a) An Exclamatory sentence can be converted into an Assertive sentence. 

E.g.: What a delicious meal! (Exclamatory sentence) 

It was a very delicious meal. (Assertive Sentence) 

(b) An Assertive sentence can be converted into an Exclamatory sentence. 

E.g.: This is indeed a pleasant surprise. (Assertive Sentence) 

What a pleasant surprise this is! (Exclamatory sentences)

9. Interchange of Exclamatory and Affirmative sentences: (a) An exclamatory sentence can be converted into an Affirmative sentence. 

E.g.: What a beautiful sight it was! (Exclamatory sentence) 

It was a very beautiful sight. (Affirmative sentence)  

(b) Similarly, an Affirmative sentence can be converted into an Exclamatory sentence. 

E.g.  It is a very cold night. (Affirmative sentence)

What a cold night it is! (Exclamatory sentence) 

10. Interchange of Imperative and Interrogative sentences: (a) An Imperative sentence can be converted into an Interrogative sentence. 

E.g.: Speak loudly. (Imperative sentence) 

Will you speak loudly? (Interrogative sentence) 

(b) An Interrogative sentence can be converted into an Imperative sentence. 

E.g.: Will you shut the door? (Interrogative sentence) 

Shut the door. (Imperative sentence)

TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCE 2

1. Conversion of Simple Sentences to Compound Sentences: A simple sentence can be converted into a compound one by enlarging a word or a phrase into a co-ordinate clause. 

E.g.: He must work very hard to make up for the lost time. (Simple) 

He must work very hard and make up for the lost time. (Compound) 

E.g.: The man, being very hungry, ate too much. (Simple) 

The man was very hungry and so ate too much. (Compound) 

2. Conversion of Compound Sentences to Simple Sentences: A compound sentence can be converted to a simple sentence by contracting a co-ordinate clause into a word or a phrase. 

E.g.: He is rich, yet he is not contented. (Compound) 

In spite being rich, he is not contented. (Simple) 

He finished his exercise and put away his books. (Compound) 

Having finished his exercise, he put away his books. (Simple)

3. Conversion of Simple Sentences to Complex Sentences: A simple sentence can be transformed into a complex sentence by expanding a word or phrase into a subordinate clause. The clause may be Noun, Adjective or Adverb. 

(a) He confessed his crime. 

He confessed that he was guilty of the crime. Here the noun (his crime) has been changed into a subordinated clause. 

(b) On the arrival of the mails, the ship will leave.  

The ship will leave as soon as the mails arrive. Here the adverbial phrase has been changed into a subordinate clause. 

(c) I saw a wounded dog.  

I saw a dog that was wounded. Here the adjective phrase has been changed into a subordinate clause.

4. Conversion of Complex Sentences to Simple Sentence: A complex sentence can be transformed into a simple sentence by contracting the sub-ordinate clause to a word or a phrase. 

(a) How long I will stay is a doubtful?  

The duration of my stay is doubtful. Here, the Subordinate Clause has been changed into a Noun Clause. 

(b) The moment that is lost is lost for ever.  

The lost moment is lost forever. Here also the Subordinate Clause has been changed into an Adjective Clause. 

(c) He was too tired that he can not stand.  

He was too tired to stand. Here the Subordinate Clause has been changed into an Adverb Clause.

5. Conversion of Compound Sentences to Complex Sentence: A compound sentence can be converted to a complex sentence by converting a co-ordinate clause to a sub-ordinate clause. 

(a) He aimed at winning the prize and worked hard.(Compound) 

He worked hard so that he might win the prize.(Complex ) 

(b) Do this, or you will be punished. 

Unless you do this, you will be punished. 

6. Conversion of Complex Sentences to Compound Sentence: A complex sentence can be converted to a compound sentence by converting the sub-ordinate clause into a co-ordinate clause. E.g.:

a) We can prove that the earth is round. (Complex) The earth is round and we can prove it. (Compound)

b) If you eat too much you will be ill. (Complex) Don’t eat too much or you will be ill. (Compound)

Convert the following simple sentences into complex sentences.

1. I saw a wounded dog.

Answer:  I saw a dog that was wounded.
2. The girl sitting next to Sameer is his sister.

Answer: The girl who is sitting next to Sameer is his sister.
3. I was the first to reach the spot.

Answer: I was the first who reached the spot.
4. He liked his former place.

Answer: He liked the place where he lived formerly.
5. We need a house to live in.

Answer: We need a house where we can live in
6. He is the man to solve this problem.

Answer: He is the man who can solve this problem.

7. He bought his uncle’s house.

Answer: He bought the house which belonged to his uncle. 

8. Aman could not go to school due to his mother’s illness.

Answer: Aman could not go to school because his mother was ill.

Or

Aman could not go to school since his mother was ill.

9. He pleaded for his innocence.

Answer: He pleaded that he was innocent.

10. Mohit knows Mr. Rashid.

Answer: Mohit knows who Mr. Rashid is.

11. I prayed for your job.

Answer: I prayed so that you could get the job. 

12. He was an outstanding actor.

Answer: He was an actor who was outstanding.

13.  I lost the most beautiful pen yesterday.

Answer: I lost the pen which was most beautiful.

14. He was a remarkable man.

Answer: He was a man who was remarkable.

15. I want an extensive encyclopaedia.

Answer: I want an encyclopaedia which is extensive.

16. He is too weak to carry this heavy bag.

Answer: He is so weak that he cannot carry that heavy bag.

17. He is working relentlessly to finish the work.

Answer: He is relentlessly working so that he can finish the work.

18. He was born in the year of liberation war.

Answer: He was born when it was the year of liberation war.

19. In spite of being a good student, he could not do well on the exam.

Answer: Although he is a good student, he could not do well on the exam.

20. Despite being sick, Robin went to school.

Answer: Though Robin was sick, he went to school.

21. Without playing well, we cannot win this match.

Answer: If we do not play well, we cannot win this match.

Or 

We cannot win this match unless we play well.

22. Without being there myself, I cannot do it.

Answer: If I am not there myself, I cannot do it.

Or

I cannot do it unless I’m there myself. 

23. He is too weak to continue walking.

Answer: He is so weak that he cannot walk.

24. They are too strong to lose.

Answer: They are so strong that they cannot lose.

Note: Connector – ‘so that’ requires the modal – ‘can/could’ in the following clause.

25. The purpose of his visit to this place is not known.

Answer: It is not known what the purpose of his visit to this place is.

26. On seeing the policeman, the thief fled away.

Answer: The thief fled away when he saw the police man.

27. You cannot succeed without working hard.

Answer: Unless you work hard you cannot succeed.

28. I do not know the way leading to his house.

Answer: I do not know the way which leads to his house.

29. She hoped to be successful in the examination.

Answer: She hoped that she would be successful in the examination.

30. He confessed his crime.

Answer: He confessed that he had committed a crime. 

31. He bought his uncle’s factory.

Answer: He bought the factory that belonged to his uncle. 

32. He worked hard to pass the test.

Answer: He worked hard that he might pass the test.

33. On seeing the lion, the hunter climbed up a tree.

Answer: When he saw the lion, the hunter climbed up a tree.