Transformation of sentences (prepared by

Riad.du.01672292536)

Changing an exclamatory sentence into an

assertive sentence
• What a wonderful opportunity! (exclamatory)
• It is a wonderful opportunity. (assertive)
• O that I were young again! (exclamatory)
• I wish I were young again. (assertive)
• How kind of you to help him like that! (exclamatory)
• It is very kind of you to help him like that. (assertive)
• How noble he is! (exclamatory)
• He is truly noble. (assertive)
• What a great pleasure it is! (exclamatory)
• This is indeed a great pleasure. (assertive)

Changing an interrogative sentence into an

assertive sentence
• Is not wisdom better than riches? (interrogative)
• Wisdom is better than riches. (assertive)
• Why worry about what people say? (interrogative)
• It is foolish to worry about what people say.
(assertive)
• Did I ever ask you to do it? (interrogative)
• I never asked you to do it. (assertive)
• Is there any sense in doing that? (interrogative)
• There is no sense in doing that. (assertive)
• What does it matter whether we win or lose?
(interrogative)
• It matters little whether we win or lose. (assertive)

Changing an imperative sentence into an

interrogative sentence
• Stop talking. (imperative)
• Will you stop talking? (interrogative)
• Shut the door. (imperative)
• Will you shut the door? (interrogative)
• Please, get me a glass of water. (imperative)
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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• Will you, please, get me a glass of water?

(interrogative)
• Get out of here. (imperative)
• Will you get out of here or not? (interrogative)

Transformation of Sentences Part II

Changing an exclamatory sentence into an assertive

sentence and vice versa

Exclamatory: What a beautiful flower!

Assertive: It is a beautiful flower.

Exclamatory: What a great victory!

Assertive: It is a great victory.

Exclamatory: How kind of you to help him like that!

Assertive: It is very kind of you to help him like that.

Exclamatory: What a glorious morning!

Assertive: It is indeed a glorious morning.

Transformation of an assertive sentence into an

exclamatory sentence

Assertive: He is truly noble.

Exclamatory: How noble he is!

Assertive: This is indeed a pleasant surprise.

Exclamatory: What a pleasant surprise this is!

Assertive: It was an extremely delightful party.

Exclamatory: What a delightful party it was!

Assertive: I wish I were young again.

Exclamatory: O that I were young again!

Changing an interrogative sentence into an assertive

sentence and vice versa
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An assertive sentence can be changed into an interrogative sentence by putting the

auxiliary verb before the subject.

Assertive: She is my friend.

Interrogative: Is she my friend?

Assertive: He has finished his work.

Interrogative: Has he finished his work?

Assertive: He is very intelligent.

Interrogative: Is he very intelligent?

Notes: If the assertive sentence contains the adverb never, it becomes ever in
the interrogative sentence.

Assertive: I never asked you to do it.

Interrogative: Did I ever ask you to do it?

If the assertive sentence contains the adverb no, it becomes any in the
interrogative sentence.

Assertive: There is no sense in doing that.

Interrogative: Is there any sense in doing that?

Changing an imperative sentence into an interrogative

sentence and vice versa

Imperative: Stop it.

Interrogative: Will you stop it?

Imperative: Please, give me a glass of water.

Interrogative: Will you, please, give me a glass of water?

Imperative: Come here.

Interrogative: Come here, will you?

Note that the interrogative is a milder form of the imperative. But the
addition of ‘or not’ to the interrogative form will add a touch of threat to it.

Imperative: Shut up.

Interrogative: Will you shut up or not?
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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Imperative: Get out of here.

Interrogative: Will you get out of here or not?

Imperative: Speak loudly.

Interrogative: Will you speak loudly?

Imperative: Please take me to the Director of the Institute.

Interrogative: Will you, please, take me to the Director of the Institute?

(Interchange of the degrees of comparison)

No other man was as strong as Hercules. (positive)

Hercules was stronger than any other man. (comparative)
Hercules was the strongest of all men. (superlative)

Mt Everest is higher than all other peaks. (comparative)

No other peak in the world is as high as Mt Everest. (positive)
Everest is the highest peak in the world. (superlative)

Kashmir is the most beautiful place I have seen. (superlative)

No other place I have seen is as beautiful as Kashmir.
(positive)
Kashmir is more beautiful than any other place I have seen.
(comparative)

Nothing else travels as fast as light. (positive)

Light travels faster than anything else. (comparative)
Of all things in the world light travels

fastest. (superlative)

Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in India. (superlative)

Very few cities in India are bigger than Mumbai. (comparative)

Most cities in India are not as big as Mumbai. (positive)

Transforming sentences beginning ‘no sooner’

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(This can be done in two ways – using the

expressions as soon as and scarcely (hardly) had …
when …)/Sentences containing no sooner…than can be
transformed using as soon as or scarcely/hardly had…when.

No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.

As soon as I reached the station, the train left.
Scarcely (or hardly) had I reached the station when the
train left.

No sooner had the thief run out of the jail than the guard fired at
him.
As soon as the thief ran out of the jail, the guard fired at him.
Scarcely had the thief run out of the jail when the guard fired at
him.
No sooner did I enter the room than the intruder
ran away.
As soon as I entered the room, the intruder ran
away.
Scarcely had I entered the room when the intruder
ran away.

Transforming sentences containing too … to

(This can be done by using so … that)./ Sentences

containing the adverb too can be transformed by using the
structure so…that.

The boy was too clever to be taught.

The boy was so clever that he could not be taught.
John is too poor to continue his studies.
John is so poor that he cannot continue his studies.
We are too late to catch the train.
We are so late that we cannot catch the train.
The old man was too tired to walk.
The old man was so tired that he could not walk.
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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Changing an interrogative sentence into the

passive

Active: Do the children play football?

Passive: Is football played by the children? (NOT Do
football played by the children?)
Active: Did Alice invite you?
Passive: Were you invited by Alice? (NOT Did you invited
by Alice?)

Note:

As you may have noticed, the auxiliaries do, does and did
are not used in the passive.

Active: Have you finished the work?

Passive: Has the work been finished by you?

Notes: The auxiliaries have, have and had are used in the
passive, but they change their form according to the
number and person of the passive subject.

Active: Can anyone cure it?

Passive: Can it be cured?
Active: Will he accept our invitation?
Passive: Will our invitation be accepted by him?

Note:

The auxiliaries can, may, will and shall do not change their
beginning position when active voice is changed into the
passive voice.

Active: Whom did you laugh at?

Passive: Who was laughed at by you?
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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Active: Who killed the snake?

Passive: By whom was the snake killed?

Note:

Who changes to by whom in the passive; (by) whom

changes to who in the passive.

Active: Why did he punish you?

Passive: Why were you punished by him?

Notes:
The question words when, where, why, how and
what do not change their beginning position when
the sentence is changed from the active to the
passive.

Conflict among the uses of At, In,

On

At, on and in (time)

At
At + clock time
In + part of day
On + particular day
At + weekend, public
holiday
In + longer period
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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At
With clock times we usually use at.

The meeting is at 5 pm.

I usually get up at seven o’clock.
Call me at lunch time.

In an informal style, we usually leave out at before ‘what time’.

What time does the train leave? (More natural than ‘At
what time does the train leave?’)

In
We usually use in with parts of the day.

I work best in the evening.

I got up early in the morning.
I have a meeting in the afternoon.

Notes: In the night = during one particular night

At night = during any night

On
We usually use on with days of the week and month.

He will come on Monday.

I was born on April 18th.

Public holidays

With public holidays and weekends we usually use at. For

example, we say at New Year, at Christmas, at Diwali etc.
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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To talk about one day of the holiday, we use on.

I am visiting my grand parents on Easter Monday.

Notes:

British people usually say at the weekend; Americans usually say

on the weekend.

In
In is usually used with longer periods of time.

I was born in May.

Our house was built in the 19th century.
He died in 1995.

Expressions without prepositions

Prepositions of time are not normally used before next, last, this,
that, one, any, each, some, all and every.

Come any day.

See you next week.
We were up all night.

Change the following sentences into the

passive voice.

1. They elected him Chairman.

2. The children laughed at the beggar.
3. The guard caught the thief.
4. The soldiers attacked the enemy barracks.
5. The cat drank all the milk.
6. The old man takes snuff.
7. Somebody hit the dog with a stick.
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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8. I will order the carriage.

9. One may accomplish anything with a little effort.
10. A thunderstorm often turns milk sour.
11. The boy was climbing the cliff.
12. Will you ever forget those happy days?
13. All desire wealth and some acquire it.
14. They laughed at his warnings.
15. He made the child drink the milk.

Answers

1. He was elected chairman (by them).

2. The beggar was laughed at by the children.
3. The thief was caught by the guard.
4. The enemy barracks were attacked by the soldiers.
5. All the milk was drunk by the cat.
6. Snuff is taken by the old man.
7. The dog was hit with a stick (by somebody).
8. The carriage will be ordered (by me).
9. With a little effort anything can be accomplished.
10. Milk is often turned sour by a thunderstorm.
11. The cliff was being climbed by the boy.
12. Will those happy days ever be forgotten (by you)?
13. Wealth is desired by all and acquired by some.
14. His warnings were laughed at.
15. The child was made to drink the milk.
Notes:
Note that the subject of the active verb is not always mentioned
in the passive voice.

Change the degree of comparison without changing the

meaning.

1. Malacca is the oldest town in Malaysia.

2. Peter is cleverer than any other boy in the class.
3. Jupiter is the biggest of all planets.
4. Very few boys are as industrious as John.
5. India is the largest democracy in the world.
6. Shakespeare was greater than any other playwright.
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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7. Asoka was one of the greatest Indian kings.

8. Greenland is the largest island in the world.
9. Lead is heavier than any other metal.
10. Very few animals are as useful as the cow.

Answers

1. No other town in Malaysia is as old as Malacca. (Positive)

Malacca is older than any other town in Malaysia. (Comparative)

2. No other boy in the class is as clever as Peter. (Positive)

Peter is the cleverest boy in the class. (Superlative)

3. Jupiter is bigger than any other planet. (Comparative)

No other planet is as big as Jupiter. (Positive)

4. John is more industrious than most other boys. (Comparative)

John is one of the most industrious boys. (Superlative)

5. India is larger than any other democracy in the world.

(Comparative)
No other democracy in the world is as large as India. (Positive)

6. No other playwright is as great as Shakespeare. (Positive)

Shakespeare is the greatest of all playwrights. (Superlative)

7. Very few Indian kings were as great as Asoka. (Positive)

Asoka was greater than most other Indian kings. (Comparative)

8. No other island in the world is as large as Greenland. (Positive)

Greenland is larger than any other island in the world.
(Comparative)

9. No other metal is as heavy as lead. (Positive)

Lead is the heaviest of all metals. (Superlative)

10. The cow is more useful than most other animals.

(Comparative)
The cow is one of the most useful animals. (Superlative)

TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO INDIRECT SPEECH.

1. ‘What do you want?’ she asked him.

2. ‘Are you coming with us?’ he asked me.
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3. He asked, ‘When do you intend to make the payment?’

4. ‘Do you come from China?’ said the prince to the girl.
5. The poor man exclaimed, ‘Will none of you help me?’
6. ‘Which way should I go?’ asked the little girl.
7. Alladin said to the magician, ‘What have I done to deserve so
severe a punishment?’
8. ‘Don’t you know the way home?’ I said to her.
9. ‘Do you write a good hand?’ the teacher said to the student.
10. ‘Have you anything to say on behalf of the accused?’ said the
judge finally.
11. ‘Have you anything to tell me, little bird?’ asked Ulysses.
12. ‘Who are you, sir, and what do you want?’ they asked.
13. The king was impressed with the magician and asked, ‘What can
I do for you?’
14. She asked, ‘What is it that makes you stronger and braver than
other men?’
15. ‘Can you solve this problem?’ he asked me.

Answers

1. She asked him what he wanted.

2. He asked me if I was coming/going with them.
3. He enquired when I/he/she intended to make the payment.
4. The prince asked the girl if she came from China.
5. The poor man exclaimed whether none of them would help
him.
6. The little girl asked which way she should go.
7. Alladin asked the magician what he had done to deserve
so severe a punishment.
8. I asked her whether she did not know the way home.
9. The teacher asked the student if he/she wrote a good
hand.
10. The judge finally asked whether he/she had anything to
say on behalf of the accused.
11. Ulysses asked the little bird whether it had anything to
tell him.
12. They asked who he was and what he wanted.
13. The king was impressed with the magician and asked
what he could do for him.
14. She asked him what was it that made him stronger and
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braver than other men.

15. He asked me if I could solve that problem.

TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO INDIRECT SPEECH.

1. John said, ‘I am very busy now.’

2. He said, ‘The horse has been fed.’
3. ‘I know her name and address,’ said John.
4. ‘German is easy to learn,’ she said.
5. He said, ‘I am writing letters.’
6. ‘It is too late to go out,’ Alice said.
7. He said to me, ‘I don’t believe you.’
8. He says, ‘I am glad to be here this evening.’
9. He said to me, ‘What are you doing?’
10. ‘Where is the post office?’ asked the stranger.
11. He said, ‘Will you listen to me?’
12. John said to Peter, ‘Go away.’
13. She said to me, ‘Please wait here till I return.’
14. ‘Call the witness,’ said the judge.
15. The speaker said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’

Answers

1. John said that he was very busy then.

2. He said that the horse had been fed.
3. John said that he knew/knows her name and address. (Note that
the tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a
universal truth.)
4. She said that German is/was easy to learn.
5. He said that he was writing letters.
6. Alice said that it was too late to go out.
7. He told me that he didn’t believe me. OR He said he didn’t believe
me.
8. He says that he is glad to be here this evening. (When the
reporting verb is in the present tense, adverbs of time and place do
not normally change in indirect speech.)
9. He asked me what I was doing.
10. The stranger asked where the post office is/was.
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 Transformation of sentences (prepared by
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11. He asked me if I would listen to him.

12. John ordered Peter to go away.
13. She asked me to wait there till she returned.
14. The judge commanded them to call the first witness.
15. He urged them to be quiet and listen to him.10/7/201010/9/2010
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