TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

He bought a bag. (assertive)

Did he buy a bag ? (interrogative)
He did not buy a bag. (negative)
She has not done her homework. (negative)
She has done her homework. (affirmative)
Has she done her homework? (yes/no-question)
We can change a type of sentence into another one. Generally we change affirmative sentences into
negative, and into interrogative, and vice-versa as presented in the above examples.
Some Basic Rules
a. A sentence having auxiliary verb takes 'not' immediate after the auxiliary verb while changing
into negative and auxiliary verb comes at the initial position of the sentence while changing into
interrogative.
They are playing football. Sub+ aux+ (verb).... (affirmative)
Are they playing football? (interrogative) Sub+ aux+ not+ (verb).... (negative)
They are not playing football. (negative) Aux+ sub+ (verb)...? (interrogative)
He will go to school tomorrow.
Will he go to school tomorrow? (interrogative)
He won't (will not) go to school tomorrow. (negative)
b. A sentence having a main verb takes the auxiliaries (do, does, did) while changing it into
negative and interrogative.
They bought books yesterday.
They did not buy books yesterday (negative)
Did they buy books yesterday? (interrogative)
Amisha likes swimming .
(V1=do, V2=did, V5=does)
Amisha does not like swimming. (negative)
Sub+main verb+... (affirmative)
Does Amisha like swimming? (interrogative) Sub+do/does/did+not+v1+.... (negative)
They have dinner at 9 pm. Do/does/did+sub+v1...? (interrogative)
They don't have dinner at 9 pm (negative)
Do they have dinner at 9 pm? (interrogative)
c. But if ‘have’ verb means possession , either (a) not after have (for negative) or (b) do can be
used. However, transformation with do is more common.
He has a car.
He has not a car. or He doesn’t have a car. (negative)
Has he a car? or Does he have a car? (question)
*In British English, He has got a car. and thus,
He has not got a car. (negative) and Has he got a car? (interrogative)
They have a computer.
They have not a computer. Or They don’t have a computer. (negative)
Have they a computer? Or Do they have a computer? (question)
She had a watch.
She had not a watch. Or She didn’t have a watch. (negative)
Had she a watch? Or Did she have a watch? (yes/no-question)
d. A sentence having has / have/ had+ to +V1 takes (does/ do / did)
She has to buy a book.
She does not have to buy a book. (Negative)
Does she have to buy a book? (Interrogative)
They had to write a story.
 They did not have to write a story. (Negative)
Did they have to write a story? (Interrogative)
The boys have to submit the proposal.
They boys don't have to submit the proposal.
Do the boys have to submit the proposal? (Interrogative)
e. Imperative sentences
Close the window. Verb... (affirmative)
Don’t close the window . (negative) Don’t +verb.... (negative)
Will you close the window? (interrogative) Will you+ verb...? (interrogative)

f. Let+... +v1 ...

Let him write a novel.
Let+...+not +v1/Don’t let+...+v1
Let him not write a novel.
Will you+ let+...+v1...?
Or Don’t let him write a novel. (negative)
Will you let him write a novel? (interrogative)
g. Let’s+v1...
Let’s cook rice. Let’s not+v1.... or (informal, Don’t let’s +v1...)
Let’s not cook rice. (negative) Shall we + v1...?
Shall we cook rice? (interrogative)
h. There are two ways of changing negative statements into interrogative sentences.
Sub +aux/do/ does/did +not + (verb)...
Aux/ do/does/ did+ sub +not + (verb)...?
Aux/ do/does/ did + n’t + sub + (verb)...?

They did not come here. (negative statement)

Did they not come here? Or Didn’t they come here?
i. Some general changes in negative
some/every – no (in the beginning ) any (elsewhere) as …as – so …as
too/also/as well –either very – not so
just/already/lately/recently – yet still – anymore/ any longer
as soon as – no sooner...than a few – not many
many/a lot of/enough– much (for uncountable)/ any (for plural)
Someone is crying. No one is crying.
She has bought some sugar. She has not bought any sugar.
She also danced. She didn’t dance either.
I’m very busy today. I’m not so busy today.
She has already finished her task. She has not finished her task yet.
He bought a lot of vegetables. He did not buy any vegetables.
Raman is as clever as Sarita. Raman is not so clever as Sarita.
As soon as Mira saw the teacher, she fled.
No sooner did Mira see the teacher than she fled.
j. We can directly replace some affirmative expressions with the negative ones and which require
no help of ‘do’ verb and ‘not’.
always – never some – no (in the beginning)
if – unless either...or – neither...nor
and so – and neither some of/any of/most of – none of
any one – no one/ none(objects) everyone – no one/ none
often/usually – seldom somebody – nobody
 something – nothing sometimes – never (negative)/ever (question)
only/alone – none but all – none
He always drinks tea. He never drinks tea.
Either Sohan or Anita plays here. Neither Sohan nor Anita plays here.
Some of the boys are playing there. None of the boys are playing there.
He sometimes comes here. He never comes here.
Only I danced there. None but I danced there.

A. Change the following affirmative sentences into negative.

1. Amit has fallen ill.

2. He smokes.

3. The thief was hiding behind the house.

4. They made her queen.

5. You look sad.

6. The milk turned sour.

7. The peon rang the bell.

8. He will come here.

9. I can buy a book.

10. She did it.

11. I have already done it.

12. She has two houses.

13. She always goes to market.

14. I brought some apples.

15. Write your name here.

16. Let’s go to the park.

17. He invited me, too.

B . Change the following sentences into affirmative.

1. He didn’t come here.

2. I don’t play here.

3. She never goes to temple.

4. Neither she nor he cooks rice.

5. I haven’t done my homework yet.

6. She didn’t come either.

7. Don’t make a noise.

8. She didn’t have to go there.

9. I haven’t bought any books.

10. He didn’t use to walk on foot.

11. No sooner did I get the job, I informed my friends.

12. None but Suman can do it.

13. I didn’t write the answer correctly.

14. No one is crying now.

15. Let’s not do it.

C. Change the following sentences into interrogative.

1. I respect my parents.

2. She bought some oranges.

3. I have a big house.

4. She had dinner at 8 pm.

5. Bring your book.

6. She sometimes brings her mobile.

7. Let’s buy a watch.

8. Let him do it.

9. She has to call me.

10. He wrote some articles.

11. She did it.

12. Switch off your mobile.

13. He wants to come with us.

14. I like reading.

15. She is a doctor.

D. Change the following sentences as indicated in brackets.

1. I invited her in my party. (Interrogative)

2. She was not reading a book. ( Affirmative)

3. He is a good person. (Interrogative)

4. I never drink tea. (Interrogative)

5. Milan sometimes visits me. (Negative)

6. I have many friends. (Negative)

7. Nisa never misses the class. (Affirmative)

8. We pluck flowers. (Interrogative)

9. I never speak the truth. (Affirmative)

10. They have two children. (Negative)

11. Speak the truth. (Interrogative)