Transformation of Sentences

There are various ways of saying the same thing. Yet, we have to follow certain rules of grammar in order to maintain accuracy and clarity in what we wish to convey. The transformation of a sentence means changing its form without altering its sense.
A simple sentence consists of one main clause. A complex sentence consists of one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

The various methods of Transformation are as follows

1. Changing the Adverb ' too '

  He is too weak to play.

He is so weak that he cannot play.

2.  Harish was too intelligent not to understand this point.

Harish was so intelligent that he could understand this point.

 3. Your essay was too lengthy.

Your essay was so lengthy.

Note

( a ) If ' too ' is followed by a Verb in the Infinitive Mood , the sentence is converted by the use of ' so that ' as in ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) .

(b) If the original sentence contains no negative word, the subordinate clause beginning with ' that ' becomes negative as in (1) above.

(c) If the original sentence does contain a negative word the subordinate clause beginning with ' that ' becomes positive as in (2) above.

(d) If there is no Verb in the Infinitive Mood after ' too ' it can be replaced by the word " beyond the proper limit ‘, ' more than enough ' or ' over ' as in (3) above.

(e) ' Too ' does not mean ' very much “.

Other examples are:

 4. He is too eager for praise. He is over eager for praise.

5. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Cooks beyond the proper number may spoil the broth.

6. It is never too late to mend. It is better to mend at late hour than never to mend at all. Or it is never so late that it cannot be mended.

7. My heart is too full of words. My heart is so full that it cannot be expressed in words.

8. Drinking water cannot be too pure. Drinking water cannot be pure beyond a certain limit .II.

 

Expressing a Condition in Different Ways

 A condition is commonly expressed by using:

1.     If: you do the work, you will get a reward.

2.     (Unless (If not): Unless you do the work, you will not get a reward.

3.     Supposing: Supposing you do the work, you will get a reward.

4.      (Provided: Provided you do the work, you will get a reward.  

5.     In case: In case you do the work you will get a reward.

6.      In Interrogative expression: Will you do the work? Then you will get a reward.

7.     An Imperative expression: as, Do the work and you will get reward.

8.     But: But for your help, I would have failed.

9.      Had: Had you not helped me, I would have failed.

10.                        If: If you had not helped me, I would have failed.

11.                        Where: Where he (If he tore) well, he would have come.

12.                         One more: One more mischief on your part and you will be fined.

13.                         Should : Should ( f or In case ) you meet my brother , please ask him to send me money

 

Expressing a Concession or Contrast in Different Ways

 Concession or Contrast is commonly expressed by using 1:

(a) Though: Though he is weak, he will pass.

 (b) Although: He will pass although he is weak.

(c) Notwithstanding that (= although): Notwithstanding that he is weak, he will pass.

(d) As: Weak as he is, he will not fail.

(e) Even if: Even if he were weak, he would not fail.

(f) All the same: He is weak, all the same he will pass.

(g) Nevertheless: He is weak, nevertheless he will pass.

Note. Nevertheless, all the same ‘, ' at the same time ‘, ' for all that ‘, ' nonetheless ' have more or less the same meaning.

 (h) However: However weak he may be, he will never fail.

(I) grant that: Granting that he is weak, he must pass.

(j) Indeed - but: He is weak indeed, but he will never fail.

 

2.  (A) Whatever: Whatever you might say, I will act according to my programmed.

 (b) In spite of: In spite of what you might say, I will act according to my programmed.

 

Interchanging the Degree of Comparison

 (a)  Degrees that cannot be transformed into the Superlative Degree:

1. Positive - I am not as clever as he. Comparative - He is cleverer than I.

 2. Positive - Jammu is not as cold as Kashmir. Comparative - Kashmir is colder than Jammu.

 3. Positive - The sword is not as mighty as the pen. Comparative - The pen is mightier than the sword.

 

 Interchanging Active and Passive Voice

 (For detailed statement of Active and Passive Voice look up the Chapter on Voice)

1 Active - He told me an interesting story.

  Passive - I was told an interesting story by him.

 

2 Active who does not love flowers?

 Passive By whom is flowers not loved?

3. Active - Set him free. Lend me your pen. Please.

Passive - Let him be set free. You are requested to lend me your pen.

4 Active why should you laugh at the old man?

 Passive - Why should the old man be laughed at by you?

 5. Active - We expected to come in time.

Passive - It was expected (by us) that we would come in time.

 6. Active - It is time to finish our work.

Passive - It is time for our work to be finished.

 

Interchange of Affirmative and Negative Sentences

In order to change an affirmative sentence into a negative one without changing its meaning, we have to add a negative like ‘no’, ‘not’ or ‘never’.

In order to change an affirmative sentence into a negative one without changing its meaning, we have to use the opposite of the word used in the affirmative sentence.

For example :

I am elder to my sister.
My sister is not younger than I.

Affirmative sentences into negative

Only those people who have tickets will be allowed within the premises.
Those people who do not have tickets will not be allowed within the premises.

There are some kingdoms richer than this one.
This kingdom is not the richest one in this world.

We will get late unless we hurry.
If we do not hurry, we will be late.

My grandfather is always on time.
My grandfather will never be late.

We are unhappy with the result of the match.
We are not happy with the result of the match.

 

Negative sentences into affirmative

It is not often that all of us can meet like this.
All of us can meet like this only once in a while.

He was not a very tall man.
He was a short man.

Your parents will not refuse to let you go on the trip.
Your parents will give you permission to let you go on the trip.

Your handwriting is not very legible.
Your handwriting is very illegible.

Please do not be late for the appointment.
Please be there on time for the appointment.
 

 

Interchanging the Exclamatory and Assertive Sentences

1.     Exclamatory - What a lovely scene it was!

 Assertive - It was a very lovely scene.

 2. Exclamatory - How beautiful is that child!

Assertive - That child is very beautiful.

3. Exclamatory - O that I was a king!

 Assertive - I wish I were a king.

4. Exclamatory - Alas, I have lost my honor!

Assertive - It is a pity (or sad) that I have lost my honor.

5. Exclamatory - O, for a prize!

Assertive - I wish I had won a prize.

 

Interchanging of one part of speech for another

Substituting a Noun:

1.     Verb -He helped us voluntarily

Noun - He gave us voluntary help.

2.     2. Adjective- He was kind to me.

Noun - He showed kindness to me.

3.     Adverb - He carried out my orders carefully

 Noun - He carried out my orders with care.  

Adjective - Nothing is successful like success. 3. Adverb - He did it unintentionally. Adjective - He did it though it was not intentional.

 

Conversion of simple sentences into complex

 

A)   Changing a word or phrase into noun clause

 

1         Simple- She seems to be an honest leady.

Complex- It seems that she is an honest leady.

 

2         Simple- Tell me the storey.

Complex- Tell me what the storey is.

 

3         Simple – He seems to be wise.

Complex – It seems that he is wise.

 

 

Conversion of complex sentences into simple

 

A complex sentence can be transformed into a simple sentence by reducing the subordinate clause into a phrase.
Study the example given below.
•    We met a girl who was carrying a basket on her head.
The sentence given above has two clauses:
•    We met a girl. (Main clause)
•    Who was carrying a basket on her head (Subordinate adjective clause modifying the noun girl)
We can change this sentence into a simple sentence by reducing that adjective clause into a phrase.
Study the example given below.
•    We met a girl carrying a basket on her head.
 

Complex- That she will fail is certain.

Simple- His failure is certain.

 

Complex- It is not known where our leader was born.

Simple- The birth place of our leader is not known.

 

 

 

Conversion of simple sentences into compound

 

1         Simple- Being careless, she could not succeed

Compound- She was careless; so she could not succeed.

 

2         Simple- You must work hard to get through.

Compound-You must work hard or you will not get through.

 

 

Conversion of compound sentences into complex

 

1         Compound- Work hard or I will punish you.

Complex- If you do not work hard, I will punish you.

 

2         Compound- He is ill, he can’t go.

3         Complex- As He is ill he can’t go.

 

 

 

Exercise

Change the following complex sentences into simple sentences.

1. After he had learned his lessons, he went out to play.
2. While I was walking along the street, I saw a dead cobra.
3. Although he was wealthy and educated, he never made a name.
4. If you follow my advice, you will win your object.
5. As he was driven out of his country, he sought asylum in a foreign land.
6. A gypsy who was wandering across the fields found the baby.
 

Answers
1. Having learned his lessons, he went out to play.
2. Walking along the street, I saw a dead cobra.
3. In spite of being wealthy and educated, he never made a name.
4. Following my advice, you will win your object.
5. Driven out of his country, he sought asylum in a foreign land.
6. A gypsy, wandering across the fields, found the baby.