De

There are mainly four types of sentences:

1. Declarative/Assertive
2. Imperative
3. Interrogative
4. Exclamatory

The Declarative sentences simply make a statement or express an opinion. In other

words, it makes a declaration. Declarative sentences are of two types – Affirmative
(positive) and Negative (none, no, not, neither, never, no one, nor, nobody). Declarative
sentences end with a period.
The Imperative sentences express a command, order or request. Imperative
sentences end with either an exclamation mark or a period. The Interrogative sentences
ask a question and end with a question mark and the Exclamatory sentences express a
sudden emotion and end with an exclamation mark.

Sentence transformations include converting from one form of the sentence to another
form without changing the meaning of the original sentence.

I] Sentence Transformation – Declarative/Assertive to Exclamatory and vice versa

Assertive or Declarative sentences can either be Affirmative or Negative.

Example: I am going home.
She did not go for the party.

Usually Assertive Sentences are constructed in the following manner:

Subject + verb + adverb (any modifiers) + adjective/noun + .

She + is + very + beautiful + .

Exclamatory sentences express sudden intense emotions. While converting Assertive

sentences to exclamatory sentences the following changes need to be incorporated:

1
- The exclamatory sentence must start with ‘How’ or ‘What’.

- Usually these sentences are constructed in the following manner:

How/What + adjective/noun + subject + verb + !

Example: She + is + very + beautiful.

How + beautiful + she + is!

- The sentence usually starts with ‘How’ in case no article (a, an, the) is used in the
sentence.
Example: She is very beautiful.
How beautiful she is!

- The sentence usually starts with ‘What’ in case an article is used in the sentence.
Example: This is a lovely dress.
What a lovely dress this is!

- While converting the sentence from exclamatory to assertive, usually the adverbs ‘very’
or ‘indeed’ are used.
Example: What a lovely dress this is!
This is indeed a lovely dress.

How pretty she is!

She is very pretty.

Exercise 1: Assertive to Exclamatory

1. He is very obedient. How obedient he is!
2. New York is a very big city. What a big city New York is!
3. You sing very well. How well you sing!
4. It was a splendid performance. What a splendid performance it was!
5. He is very brave. How brave he is!

Exercise 2: Exclamatory to Assertive

1. What a lovely morning! (it is)
2. What a sweet voice she has!
3. What a fine gentleman he is!
4. How fast he runs!
5. How awesome that was!
It is indeed a lovely morning.
She has a very sweet voice.
He is indeed a fine gentleman.
He runs very fast.
That was indeed awesome.
2
Exercise:
1.You are very slow.
2. She is very beautiful.
3. They are very happy here.
4. It was a very marvelous sight.
5. This is a very moving story.
6. I am very fortunate.
7. It was a very difficult puzzle.
8. They are very excited about the journey.
9. I was very surprised when I heard the news.
10. It was a very hot day.

Answers

1. How slow you are!

2. How beautiful she is!
3. How happy they are here!
4. What a marvelous sight it was!
5. What a moving story this is!
6. How fortunate I am!
7. What a difficult puzzle it was!
8. How excited they are about the journey!
9. How surprised I was when I heard the news!
10. What a hot day it was!

Exclamatory TO Assertive :

1. What an interesting story it is!

2. What a fool the boy is!
3.How beautiful the girl was!
4. How fine the afternoon today is!
5. What a beautiful place it is!
6. How honest the man is!
7. How hard he had worked!
8. How fond of children his wife was!
9. How thirsty and tired he was!
10. What an amazing organ the brain itself is!

3
ANSWERS:

1. It is a very interesting story.

2. The boy is a great fool.
3. The girl was very beautiful.
4. The afternoon is very fine today.
5. It is a very beautiful place.
6. The man is very honest.
7. He had worked very hard.
8. His wife was immensely fond of children.
9. He was very thirsty and tired.
10. The brain itself is an amazing organ.

Assertive Exclamatory

01. a/an very/great/fine—————— what

02. Bravo ——————————It is a matter of praise that …

Exclamatory – Bravo! That’s a very good idea.
Assertive – It is a matter of praise that that’s a very good idea.
Exclamatory – Bravo! Well done!
Assertive – It is a matter of praise that you have done well.
Exclamatory – Bravo! You saved millions of lives from this dangerous virus.
Assertive – It is praiseworthy that you saved millions of lives from this dangerous virus.

03. Alas ————— It is a matter of sorry/ regret that …… or We mourn that

Exclamatory – Alas! We lost the game!
Assertive – It is a matter of sorrow that we lost the game.
Exclamatory – Alas! He failed in the examination!
Assertive – It is a matter of sorrow that he failed in the examination.

4
04. Fie ————- It is a matter of shame/contempt that…… Or It is shameful that……….
Exclamatory - Fie! He can not tolerate the poor.
Assertive – It is shameful that he can not tolerate the poor.
Exclamatory - Fie! He doesn't respect seniors.
Assertive – It is shameful that he doesn't respect seniors.

05. Hurrah ———–It is a matter of joy that …. OR We rejoice that …….

Exclamatory – Hurrah! We have won the game.
Assertive – It is a matter of joy that we have won the game.
Exclamatory – hurrah! I got the first prize.
Assertive – It is a matter of joy that I have got the first prize.

06. If + unreal conditional —————— I wish + unreal conditional

Exclamatory: If I were a king!

Assertive: I wish I were a king.

Exclamatory: Had I a computer! Or If I had a computer!

Assertive: I wish I had a computer.

Exclamatory – If I could fly!

Assertive – I wish I could fly

07. If + real conditional ———————— I hope + real conditional

Exclamatory: If you study better for the next examination!

Assertive: I hope you study better for the next examination.

Exclamatory: If you read the book well!

Assertive: I hope you read the book well.

08. Would that/ O that —————- I wish …..

Exclamatory: O that I were a poet!
Assertive: I wish I were a poet.
Exclamatory: O that I could be a teacher!
Assertive: I wish I could be a teacher.

5
Assertive Exclamatory

01. a/an very/great/fine—————— what

02. Bravo ——————————It is a matter of praise that …

03. Alas ————— It is a matter of sorry/ regret that …… or We mourn that

04. Fie ————- It is a matter of shame/contempt that…… Or It is shameful that……….

05. Hurrah ———–It is a matter of joy that …. OR We rejoice that …….

06. If + unreal conditional —————— I wish + unreal conditional

07. If + real conditional ———————— I hope + real conditional

08. Would that/ O that —————- I wish …..

II] Sentence Transformation - Assertive to Interrogative and vice versa

- If a sentence is in the affirmative it is changed into negative interrogative. If it is in
negative then it has to be changed into bare interrogative.
Examples: He was very gentle. (Assertive)
Was he not very gentle? (Interrogative)

He is not a good person. (Assertive).

Is he a good person? (Interrogative)

- If there is no auxiliary verb (must, can, could, might, may, shall, should, are, be, do. will,
would) in the sentence change it by using do/does/did Or don’t /Doesn’t /didn’t.
Examples: He plays football. (Assertive).
Does he not play football? (Interrogative)

- Never is replaced by ever in interrogative sentences.

Examples: I never drink tea. (Assertive Negative)
Do I ever drink tea? (Interrogative)

- Nothing is replaced by anything in interrogative sentences.

Examples: He said nothing about this matter. (Assertive Negative)
Did he say anything about this matter? (Interrogative)
6
- Nothing but is replaced by anything but in interrogative sentences.
Examples: Our life is nothing but a walking shadow. (Assertive Negative)
Is our life anything but a walking shadow? (Interrogative)

- Everybody/everyone/all is replaced by Who

Examples: Everybody wishes to be happy. (Assertive)
Who doesn’t wish to be happy? (Interrogative)

- Every + noun is replaced by Is there any + noun + who + negative

Examples: Every man wishes to be happy. (Assertive)
Is there any man who does not wish to be happy? (Interrogative)

- Someone/ somebody/ everybody/ everyone/ no one/ nobody/ anybody/ anyone is

replaced by who (Affirmative–Negative) (Negative–Affirmative)
Examples: Everybody loves her children. (Assertive)
Who does not love her children? (Interrogative)
Exercise 3: Assertive to Interrogative
1. Manaj reads English newspaper.
2. Ranjan never takes tea.
3. I have nothing to do.
4. He gave me nothing but love.
5. Everybody has some needs.

Exercise 4: Interrogative to Assertive

1. Who trusts a lair?
2. Does not the sun rise in the east?
3. Is there any man who does not wish to be powerful?
4. Is there anything better than honesty?
5. Can you ever forget her?

III] Sentence Transformation – Affirmative to Negative and vice versa

Always ————— Never (Opposite word of Verb, Adjective and Noun)

If we find the word “Always” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word “Never”
instead of that word [Always] and use an appropriate antonym of the verb/noun/adjective
accordingly.

7
Example: Affirmative: I will always remember you.
Negative: I will never forget you.

Affirmative: He is always present.

Negative: He is never absent.

Sometimes——— (Not) always (Opposite word of Verb, Adjective, Noun)

If we find the word “Sometimes” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word not
“Always” instead of that word [Sometimes].

Example: Affirmative: He sometimes smokes.

Negative: He does not always smoke.

Affirmative: The rich are sometimes happy.

Negative: The rich are not always happy.

Must —————- cannot but/ cannot help + verb ending with ‘ing’
If we find the word “Must” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word “Cannot but/
cannot help” instead of Must.

Example: Affirmative: He must buy a grammar book.

Negative: He cannot but buy a grammar book.
Or He cannot help buying a grammar book.

Affirmative: We must love one another.

Negative: We cannot but love one another.
Or We cannot help loving one another.

All ————— No (Opposite word of Adjective, Verb)

If we find the word “All” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word “No” instead of
that word [All] and use an appropriate antonym of the verb/noun/adjective accordingly.

Example: Affirmative: All men are mortal.

Negative: No man is immortal.

Affirmative: All must die.

Negative: No one can escape death./ No one can live forever.

8
For good/ forever ———— Never (Opposite word of Verb)
If we find the word “For good/ forever” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word
“Never” instead of that word [For good/ forever] and use an appropriate antonym of the
verb/noun/adjective accordingly.

Example: Affirmative: I have sold the house forever.

Negative: I will never buy the house.

Affirmative: He has left the village forever.

Negative: He will never come to the village again.

Every ——————– No (Opposite word of Verb, Adjective)

If we find the word “Every” in an affirmative sentence, we will write the word “No”
instead of that word [Every] and use an appropriate antonym of the verb/noun/adjective
accordingly.

Example: Affirmative: Everybody is dependent.

Negative: Nobody is independent.

Affirmative: Everyone loves flowers.

Negative: No one hates flowers.

Have to/ has to ——————— cannot but / cannot but help v-ing
If we find the word “Have to/ has to” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word
“Cannot but/ cannot but help v-ing” instead of that word [Have to/ has to].

Example: Affirmative: I have to buy a new house.

Negative:
OR I cannot help but buy a new house.

As soon as ——————- No sooner...than

If we find the word “As soon as” in affirmative sentences, we will write the word “No
sooner had—- than” instead of that word [As soon as].

Example: Affirmative: As soon as I arrived home, it began to rain.

Negative: No sooner had I arrived home than it began to rain.

A few ————————- (Not) many

9
If we find the word “A few” in affirmative sentence, we will write the word not “Many”
instead of that word [A few].

Example: Affirmative: I have bought a few books.

Negative: I have not bought many books.

Affirmative: He ate a few mangoes.

Negative: He did not eat many mangoes.

Only (Person) ———————– None but / No one other than

If we find the word “Only” after any person in affirmative sentences, we will write the
word “None but or No one other than” instead of that word [Only].

Example: Affirmative: Only God can help us.

Negative: None but God can help us.
No one other than God can help us.
Only (Thing) ———————— Nothing but
If we find the word “Only” after anything in an affirmative sentence, we will write the
word “Nothing but” instead of that word [Only].

Example: Affirmative: Only the moon was visible.

Negative: Nothing but the moon was visible.

Affirmative: I played only cricket.

Negative: I played nothing but cricket.

Only (Number/age) ——— Not more than/ not less than

If we find the word “Only” after any number and age in an affirmative sentence, we will
write the word “Not more than/ not less than” instead of that word [Only].

Example: Affirmative: Amit is only 16 years old.

Negative: Amit is not less than 16 years old.

Affirmative: You got only 50 % marks in English.

Negative: You got not more than 50 % marks in English.

Both___ and ———————– Not only __ but also

10
If we find the word “Both___ and” after that any number and age in an affirmative
sentence, we will write the word “Not only __ but also” instead of that word [Both___ and
].

Example: Affirmative: Both Rita and Gita were beautiful.

Negative: Not only Rita but Gita also was beautiful.

For the last time ————— Never.....again

If we find the word “For good/ forever” in an affirmative sentence, we will write the word
“Never” instead of that word [For good/ forever].

Example: Affirmative: I warn you for the last time.

Negative: I shall never warn you again.

Affirmative: They came here for the last time.

Negative: They will never come here again.

Too—-to So—that
If we find “Too—to” in affirmative sentence, we will use “So—– that” instead of that word
[Too — to].

Example: Affirmative: He is too weak to walk.

Negative: He is so weak that he cannot walk.

Affirmative: The child was too tiny to climb up the tree.

Negative: The child was so tiny that he could not climb up the tree.

Superlative degree (The best) ———— No other

If we find “Superlative degree (The best)” in affirmative sentence, we will use “No other”
instead of that word [Superlative degree (The best).

Example: Affirmative: Arun is the best boy in the class.

Negative: No other boy in the class is as good as Arun.

Affirmative: Tendulkar is the best batsman in India.

Negative: No other batsman in India is as good as Tendulkar.

11
(Comparative degree)Than any other/ than all other ————- No other
If we find “Than any other/ than all other” in affirmative sentence, we will use “No other”
instead of that word [Than any other/ than all other].

Example: Affirmative: Sumit is better than any other boy in the class.
Negative: No other boy in the class is as good as Sumit.

Affirmative: Mumbai is bigger than all other cities in India.

Negative: No other city in India is as big as Mumbai.

Using helping verb + not without

Example: Affirmative: You have power.
Negative: You are not without power.

Affirmative: I hate you.

Negative: I am not without hate for you.

Using double Negative

Every will be “No” and “Un” will be added with verb

Example: Affirmative: He answered every question.

Negative: He left no question unanswered.

Affirmative: You read every story.

Negative: You left no story unread.

Am, is, are, was, were + adjective ————– negative and opposite word of adjective
If we find the word “Am, is, are, was, were + adjective” in affirmative sentence, we will
write the word “Not” instead of that word [Am, is, are, was, were + adjective] and use an
appropriate antonym of the verb/noun/adjective accordingly.

Example: Affirmative: Man is mortal.

Negative: Man is not immortal.

Affirmative: She is present.

Negative: She is not absent.

12
Exercise 5: Affirmative to Negative
1. You should always speak the truth.
2. A scholar is sometimes wrong.
3. You must listen to your teacher.
4. All must submit to destiny.
5. My brother is a good boy.

Exercise 6: Negative to Affirmative

1. No one hates him.
2. None but he can do the sum.
3. I like nothing but mango.
4. We are not without respect for you.
5. The boy left no problem unsolved.

13