Transformation of Sentences

The transformation of sentences means changing its form without altering its sense.

We can change a simple sentence into a compound sentence or a complex sentence. This is done by expanding a word or phrase into a clause.

Similarly, we can change a complex or compound sentence into a simple sentence. This is done by reducing a clause into a word or phrase.

Affirmative to Negative

Rule 1: Only/alone/merely → Replaced by → None but (person)/ nothing but (things)/ not more than or not less than (number). For example:

Affirmative: Only God can help us.
Negative: None but God can help us.

Rule 2: Must →Replaced by → Cannot but/ Cannot help + (v + ing). For example:

Affirmative: We must obey our elders.
Negative: We cannot but obey our elders.
We cannot help obeying our elders.

Rule 3: Both—-and → Replaced by → not only —- but also. For example:

Affirmative: Both Amit and Ajanta were dancing.
Negative: Not only Amit but also Ajanta were dancing.

Rule 4: and (if join two words) → Replaced by → Not only —– but also

Affirmative: She was beautiful and soft spoken.
Negative: She was not only beautiful but also soft spoken.

Rule 5: Everyone/everybody/every person/ (every + common noun)/all → Replaced by → There is no + attached word + but.

Affirmative: Everyone loves sweet.
Negative: There is no one but loves sweet.

Rule 6: As soon as → Replaced by → No sooner had —– Than

Affirmative: As soon as the students saw the teacher, they ran away.
Negative: No sooner had the students saw the teacher, than they ran away.

Rule 7: Absolute Superlative degree → Replaced by → No other + attached word + so + positive form + as + subject

Affirmative: Rajasthan is the biggest state in India.
Negative: No other state is so big as Rajasthan in India.

Rule 8: Sometimes affirmative sentences are changed into negative by using opposite words. Before the word, off course ‘not’ is used.

Affirmative: I shall remember
Negative: I shall not forget

Rule 9: Always → Replaced by → Never

Affirmative: Rama always attends the class.
Negative: Rama never misses the class.

Rule 10: Too —- to → Replaced by → so — that + cannot / could not (in past)

Affirmative: She is too weak to
Negative: She is so weak that she cannot

Rule 11: As – as → Replaced by → Not less – than

Affirmative: Sonam was as wise as
Negative: Sonam was not less wise than

Rule 12: Universal truths are change by making them negative interrogative.

Affirmative: The Sun rises in the east.
Negative: Doesn’t the Sun rise in the east.

Rule 13: Sometimes → Replaced by → Not + always

Affirmative: My son sometimes visits me.
Negative: My son doesn’t always visit me.

Rule 14: Many → Replaced by → Not a few

Affirmative: Aruna have many
Negative: Aruna do not have few friends.

Rule 15: A few → Replaced by → not many

Affirmative: Bhutan has a few scholars.
Negative: Bhutan doesn’t have many scholars.

Rule 16: Much → Replaced by → A little

Affirmative: He has much money.
Negative: He doesn’t have a little money.

Rule 17: A little → Replaced by → not much

Affirmative: Drek has a little riches.
Negative: Drek doesn’t have much riches.

Assertive to Interrogative

Rule 1: If the sentence is in the affirmative you have to change it into negative interrogative. If it is in negative then you have to change it into bare interrogative.

Assertive: She was very honest.
Interrogative: Wasn’t she very honest?
Affirmative: He is not a good human being.
Interrogative: Is he a good human being?

Rule 2: No auxiliary verb in sentence → Change it by using → Do/does/did Or Don’t/doesn’t/didn’t

Assertive: He plays Basketball.
Interrogative: Does he play basketball?

Rule 3: Never → Replaced by → Ever

Assertive: She never drinks tea.
Interrogative: Does she ever drink tea?

Rule 4: Everybody /everyone/All → Replaced by → Who + Don’t/Doesn’t/Didn’t

Assertive: Everyone wishes to be happy.
Interrogative: Who doesn’t wish to be happy?

Rule 5: Every + noun → Replaced by → is there any + noun + Who don’t/doesn’t/didn’t

Assertive: Every person wishes to be happy.
Interrogative: Is there any person who doesn’t wish to be happy?

Rule 6: Nobody / no one / none → Replaced by → Who.

Assertive: Nobody could count my love for you.
Interrogative: Who could ever count my love for you?

Rule 7: There is no → Replaced by → Is there any / Who (person) / What (thing)

Assertive: There is no use of this activity.
Interrogative: What is the use of this activity?

Rule 8: It is no → Replaced by → Is there any / Why

Assertive: It is no use of taking unfair means in the exam.
Interrogative: Why take unfair means in the exam?

Rule 9: It doesn’t matter → Replaced by → what though / Does it matter

Assertive: It does not matter if you fail in school.
Interrogative: What though if you fail in school?

Interrogative to assertive is to be done doing Vice versa.

Exclamatory to Assertive

Rule1: Subject and Verb of exclamatory sentence are to be used as the subject and verb of assertive sentence at the outset of the sentence.

How/what → Replace by → Very (before adjective) / Great (before noun)

Exclamatory: How fortunate Aman is!
Assertive: Aman is very fortunate.

Rule 2: Sometimes the subject and verb may be eclipsed

Exclamatory: What a pity!
Assertive: It is a great pity.

Rule 3: Hurrah / Bravo → Replace by → I/we rejoice that / It is a matter of joy that

Exclamatory: Hurrah! India has won the game.
Assertive: It is a matter of joy that India has won the game.

Rule 4: Alas → Replace by → I/we Mourn that/It is a matter of sorrow or grief that

Exclamatory: Alas! She has failed in the examination.
Assertive: We mourn that she has failed in the examination.

Rule 5: Had/were/If /would that (at the outset) → Replaced by → I wish + subject again + were/ had + rest part.

Exclamatory: Had I the wings of a peacock!
Assertive: I wish I had the wings of a peacock.

Assertive to exclamatory is to be done doing Vice versa.

Imperative to Assertive

Rule 1: Add subject + should in doing assertive

Imperative: Do the homework.
Assertive: You should do the homework.

Rule 2: Please/kindly → Replaced by → you are requested to

Imperative: Kindly, grant me a leave.
Assertive: You are requested to grant me a leave.

Rule 3: Do not → Replaced by → You should not

Imperative: Do not run in the afternoon son.
Assertive: You should not run in the afternoon son.

Rule 4: Never → Replaced by → you should never

Imperative: Never tell a lie.
Assertive: You should never tell a lie.

Rule 5: Let us → Replaced by → We should

Imperative: Let us go out for a picnic.
Assertive: We should go out for a picnic.

Rule 6: Let + noun/pronoun → Replaced by → Subject + might

Imperative: Let him play video game.
Assertive: He might play video game.

Change of Degree

Rule1: If the superlative degree says about the best thing then the rule is:

For comparative use – subject + verb + adjective/adverb (comp. form) + Than any other + rest part

For positive use – No other + rest part after supr. Degree + verb + so/as + positive form of adj/adv + as + sub.

Superlative: Simar is the tallest girl in the class.
Comparative: Simar is taller than any other girl in the class.
Positive: No other girl in the class is as tall as Simar.

Rule 2: If In superlative degree ‘One of the’ is transformed in this way:

Comparative: Sub + verb + comp. form + than most other + Rest part.

Positive: Very few+ rest part after supr. Degree + verb + so/as + positive form of adj/adv + as + sub.

Superlative: Tansen was one of the greatest poets in Akbar’s court.
Comparative: Tansen was greater than most other poets in Akbar’s court.
Positive: Very few poets in Akbar’s court were so great as Tansen.

Note: Superlative: Of all/ of any

Comparative: Than all other/than any other

Positive: It does not exist

Superlative: Mr. Wan is the oldest of all men in the society.
Comparative: Mr. Wan is older than all other men in the society.
Positive: No other man is as old as Mr. Wan.

Rule 3: Simple comparative is transformed into positive by using (not so + adj/adv+as)/ (so+adj/adv+as) if negative. Second noun or pronoun is used first.

Comparative: Rita is wiser than Mita.
Positive: Mita is not so wise as Rita.

Rule 4: No/not less — than is transformed into positive by using as + adj/adv + as

Comparative: Karan is not less hard working than Suman.
Positive: Karan is as hard working as Suman.

Transformation of Sentences