Download Sentence Transformation Techniques in English Grammar and more Exercises English Literature in PDF only on Docsity!
We have already learnt that a phrase can be expanded into a clause and a clause contracted into a phrase; that is, the form of a sentence can be changed without changing the meaning. Let's have a look at some other ways of changing the form of a sentence.
- Sentences containing the Adverb 'too'
We can change the form of a sentence containing the adverb 'too' as shown below:
■ These apples are too cheap to be good. These apples are so cheap that they cannot be good.
■ The thief ran too fast for the police to catch. The thief ran so fast that the police could not catch him. ■ The information is too good to be true. The information is so good that it cannot be true.
- Interchange of the Degrees of Comparison
The examples below show that it is possible to change the Degree of Comparison of an Adjective or Adverb in a sentence, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
■ Positive : I am as smart as him. Comparitive : He is not smarter than me.
■ Positive : Few authors write as interestingly as Ruskin Bond. Comparitive : Ruskin Bond writes more interestingly than most authors.
■ Superlative : Mumbai is one of the richest cities in India. Comparative : Mumbai is richer than most other cities in India. ■ Superlative : India is the largest democracy in the world. Comparative : India is larger than any other democracy in the world. ■ Superlative : Priya is one of the cleverest girls in office. Comparative : Some girls in office are cleverer than Priya. OR
Positive : Priya is not so clever as some other girls in office.
- Interchange of Active and Passive Voice
A sentence in the Active form can be changed into Passive form and vice versa.
■ Active : The murdered stabbed the victim. Passive : The victim was stabbed by the murderer.
■ Active : Who taught you Spanish? Passive : By whom were you taught Spanish?/ Who were you taught Spanish by?/ By whom was Spanish taught to you?
■ Active : The President gave him an award. Passive : He was given an award by the President./ An award was given to him by the President. ■ (^) Active : I know her. Passive : She is known to me.
■ (^) Active : One should keep one's promises. Passive : Promises should be kept.
- Interchange of Affirmative and Negative Sentences
Study the following examples:
■ I was doubtful it was her. I was not sure that it was her.
■ She is greater than me. I am not so great as her. ■ Romeo loved Juliet. Romeo was not without love for Juliet.
- Interchange of Interrogative and Assertive Sentences
Study the following examples:
■ Why waste time in reading trash? It is extremely foolish to waste time in reading trash. ■ (^) Was he not a hero to do such a deed? He was a hero to do such a deed. ■ When can their glory fade? Their glory can never fade.
- (^) Interchange of Exclamatory and Assertive Sentences
Study the following examples:
■ If only I were young again. I wish I were young again. ■ Alas that youth should pass away. It is sad to think that youth should pass away. ■ How beautiful is dawn! Dawn is very beautiful.
- Interchange of One Part of Speech for Another
Study the following examples:
■ (^) It costs forty rupees. The cost is forty rupees. ■ She fought bravely. She put up a brave fight. ■ He gave a rude reply. He replied rudely.
■ I see them every day. I see them daily. ■ We passed an anxious hour. We passed an hour anxiously.
- Conversion of Simple sentences to Compound
■ (^) Complex: He said that he was guilty. Simple: He declared his guilt. ■ Complex: Tell me where you live. Simple: Tell me your address. ■ Complex: I remarked how impudent the girl was. Simple: I remarked on the girl's impudence.
■ Complex: How long she will stay is uncertain. Simple: The duration of her stay is uncertain. ■ Complex: Except that he hurt his leg , he was lucky. Simple: Except for the hurt to his leg , he was lucky.
Adjective Clause
■ Complex: The moment which is lost is lost forever. Simple: A lost moment is lost forever. ■ Complex: We came upon a hut where a mason lived. Simple: We came upon a mason's hut. ■ Complex: I have no suggestion that I can offer you. Simple: I have no suggestion to offer you.
■ Complex: She died in the village where she was born. Simple: She died in her native village. ■ (^) Complex: Men who have risen by their own efforts are respected. Simple: Self-made men are respected.
Adverb Clause
■ Complex: You can talk as much as you want. Simple: You can talk to your heart's content. ■ Complex: She was so tired that she could not walk. Simple: She was too tired to walk. ■ Complex: I was so surprised when I heard him say so. Simple: I was surprised to hear him say so.
■ Complex: While there is love there is hope. Simple: Love and hope are inseparable. ■ Complex: You have succeeded better than you hoped. Simple: You have succeeded beyond your hopes.
- Conversion of Compound Sentences to Complex Sentences
Study the following examples:
■ Compound: Search his bag and you will find the book. Complex: If you search his bag, you will find the book.
■ Compound: The soldier was wounded but not killed. Complex: Although the soldier was wounded, he was not killed. ■ Compound: He had to surrender, or be executed. Complex: If he had not surrendered, he would have been executed.
■ (^) Compound: He saw the danger and stopped. Complex: When he saw the danger he stopped. ■ Compound: He aimed at winning the prize and worked hard. Complex: He worked hard so that he might win the prize.
- (^) Conversion of Complex Sentences to Compound Sentences
Study the following examples:
■ Complex: I have found the watch that I had lost. Compound: I had lost my watch but I found it. ■ Complex: We sow so that we may reap. Compound: We desire to reap, therefore we sow. ■ Complex: If you do not hurry you will miss the flight. Compound: You must hurry, or you will miss the flight.
■ Complex: As soon as he got the notice, he left in a taxi. Compound: He got the notice, and immediately he left in a taxi. ■ Complex: She is more a writer than a poet. Compound: She is something of a poet, but rather more of a writer.
