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Transformation of Sentences — Advanced Notes
Concise rules & examples for higher-level classes. Use these as classroom notes or quick revision.
1Active ⇄ Passive Voice
- Rule (Simple present/simple past): Object +
am/is/are/was/were+ past participle (+ by + subject).
Useis/arefor present;was/werefor past. If object is pronoun, use it first (e.g., He → Him). - Modal verbs: Object + modal + be + past participle. (e.g., They can finish → It can be finished)
- Imperatives:
Let/Do notforms, use passive: Be + past participle or Let + object + be + V3.
Example:
Active: The students wrote the essay.
Passive: The essay was written by the students.
Active: The students wrote the essay.
Passive: The essay was written by the students.
2Direct ⇄ Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)
- Backshift of tense: Present → Past, Present Perfect → Past Perfect, Will → Would, Can → Could.
- Change of pronouns & time words:
now→then,today→that day,here→there,this→that. - Imperatives: Use asked/ordered/ requested + infinitive (e.g., He said, “Do it.” → He ordered him to do it.)
- Yes/No questions: Use if/whether + clause.
Beginner tip: remove question word order.
Example:
Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: She said (that) she was tired.
Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: She said (that) she was tired.
3Affirmative ⇄ Negative
- Simple present/past: Add
do/does/did+ not + base verb (I like → I do not like). - With auxiliaries/modals: Put
notafter auxiliary/modal (She has finished → She has not finished). - Use contractions:
don't/doesn't/didn't,isn't/aren't/wasn't,can't/won't.
Example:
Affirmative: They have solved the problem.
Negative: They have not solved the problem.
Affirmative: They have solved the problem.
Negative: They have not solved the problem.
4Simple ⇄ Complex Sentences (Use of Clauses)
- Combine using conjunctions:
and, but, or, so→ compound sentence. - Use subordinate clauses:
when, because, if, although, which, whoto form complex sentences. - Reduce clauses: Remove subject +
-ingorto + infinitivewhen possible (While waiting → Waiting).
Example:
Simple: He was tired. He went to bed early.
Complex: Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
Simple: He was tired. He went to bed early.
Complex: Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
5Degrees of Comparison & Adjective Transformations
- Positive → Comparative: Add
-eror usemorefor long adjectives (taller / more beautiful). - Comparative → Superlative: Add
-estor usemost(tallest / most interesting). - Change structure: As + adj + as ↔ Not as + adj + as / Less + adj + than.
Example:
Positive: She is clever.
Comparative: She is cleverer than him.
Superlative: She is the cleverest in the class.
Positive: She is clever.
Comparative: She is cleverer than him.
Superlative: She is the cleverest in the class.
6Conditional Sentences — Transformations
- Type 0 (General truth): If + present simple, present simple. (If you heat ice, it melts.)
- Type 1 (Real future): If + present simple, will + base. (If it rains, I will stay home.)
- Type 2 (Unreal present): If + past simple, would + base. (If I were rich, I would travel.)
- Type 3 (Past unreal): If + past perfect, would have + past participle. (If you had studied, you would have passed.)
7Interrogative Transformations
- Yes/No questions: Auxiliary + subject + main verb (Do you like tea?).
- Wh- questions: Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb (Where did she go?).
- Convert statements: Use appropriate auxiliary (do/does/did/is/are/has/have/will).
Example:
Statement: You are coming tomorrow.
Question: Are you coming tomorrow?
Statement: You are coming tomorrow.
Question: Are you coming tomorrow?
8Noun ⇄ Adjective ⇄ Adverb (Form Changes)
- Noun → Adjective: add
-ful/-less/-ous/-icor use related adjective (help → helpful). - Adjective → Adverb: usually add
-ly(quick → quickly). Irregular: good → well. - Adjective to noun: use
-ness/-ityor abstract form (happy → happiness).
Quick Reference Table — Common Transformations
| Change | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active → Passive | O + be + V3 (+ by S) | They built the bridge → The bridge was built by them. |
| Direct → Indirect | “S says, \”…\”” → S said (that) … | He said, “I am hungry.” → He said (that) he was hungry. |
| Affirmative → Negative | S + auxiliary + not + V | She likes coffee → She does not like coffee. |
| Simple → Complex | S1. S2 → S1 + conjunction + S2 | He was tired. He slept early → Because he was tired, he slept early. |
| Statement → Question | Aux + S + V? | You are ready → Are you ready? |
Pro tip: Always spot the subject, verb, and object before transforming — this reduces errors.