Transformation of Sentences

 Affirmative to negative: 

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

Ex: Aff: Only Allah can save us. Neg: None but Allah can save  us.

Aff: He has only a pen. Neg: He has nothing but a pen.

Aff: He has only twenty taka. Neg: He has not more than twenty taka.

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

Ex: Aff: We must obey our parents. Neg: we cannot but obey our parents/ we cannot help obeying our parents.

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

Ex: Aff: Both Ria and Suchi were excited.

Neg: Not only Ria but also Suchi were excited.

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

Ex: aff: He was loyal and gentle. Neg: He was not only loyal but also gentle.

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

Ex: Aff: Every mother loves her child.

Neg: There is no mother but loves her child.

Rule 6: As soon as → Replaced by → No sooner had ----- Than.

Ex: Aff: As soon as the thief saw the police, he ran away. Neg: No sooner had the thief seen the police, he ran away.

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

Ex: aff: Dhaka is the biggest city in Bangladesh.

Neg: No other city is as big as Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Rule8: Sometimes affirmative sentences are changed into negative by using opposite words. Before the word, off course ‘not’ is used.

Ex: Aff: I shall remember you. Neg: I shall not forget you.

Rule 9: Always → Replaced by → Never.

Ex: aff: Rakib always attends the class. Neg: Rakib never misses the class.

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

Ex: Aff: He is too weak to walk. Neg: He is so weak that he cannot walk.

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

Ex: Aff: Ria was as wise as Rimi. Neg: Ria was not less wise than Rimi.

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

Ex: Aff: The Sun sets in the west. Neg: Doesn’t the Sun set in the west.

Rule 13: Sometimes → Replaced by → Not + always.

Ex: Aff: Rimon sometimes visits me. Neg: Rimon doesn’t always visit me.

Rule 14: Many → Replaced by → Not a few.

Ex: Aff: You have many friends. Neg: you don't have few friends.

Rule 15: A few → Replaced by → not many.

Ex: Aff: Bangladesh has a few scholars. Neg: Bangladesh doesn’t have many scholars.

Rule 16: Much → Replaced by → A little.

Ex: Aff: He belongs much money. Neg: He doesn’t belong a little money.

Rule 17: A little → Replaced by → not much.

Ex: Aff: Ria has a little riches. Neg: Ria doesn’t have much riches.

Patriotism is a noble virtue ( Negative)

= Patriotism is not an ignoble virtue.

ASSERTIVE TO INTERROGATIVE

Rule 1: If the sentence are 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.

Ex: Ass: She was very polite.

Int: Wasn't she very gentle?

Aff: He is not an honest person?

Int: Is he an honest person?

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

Ex: Ass:He plays cricket.

Int: Does he play cricket?

Ass: They did not play football yesterday.

Int: Did they play football yesterday?

Rule3: Never → Replaced by → Ever.

Ass: I never drink coffee.

Int: Do I ever drink coffee?

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

Ex: Everybody wishes to be happy.

Int : Who doesn’t wish to be happy?

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

Ex: Ass: Every man wishes to be happy.

Int: Is there any man who doesn’t wish to be happy?

Rule 6: No body/ no one / None → Replaced by → Who.

Ex: Nobody could count my love for you.

Int: Who could ever count my love for you?

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

Ex: Ass: There is no use of this law.

Int: What is the use of this law.

Ass: There is no man happier than Robin.

Int: Who is happier than Robin?

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

Ex: Ass: It is no use of taking unfair means in the exam.

Int: Why take unfair means in the exam? Or,

Is there any use of taking unfair means in the exam?

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

Ex: Ass: It does not matter if you fail in the exam.

Int: What though if you fail in the exam?

Interrogative to assertive is to be done doing Vice versa.

Exclamatory sentence to Assertive sentence

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)

Ex: How fortunate you are!

Ass: You are very fortunate.

Exc: What a fool you are!

Ass: You are a great fool.

Rule 2: Sometimes the subject and verb may be eclipsed.

Ex: What a wonderful scenery!

Ass: It is a very wonderful scenery.

Ex: What a pity!

Ass: It is a great pity.

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

Ex: Hurrah! We have won the game.

Ass: It is a matter of joy that we have won the game.

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

Ex: Alas! He has failed.

Ass: We mourn that he has failed.

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

Ex: Had I the wings of a bird!

Ass: I wish I had the wings of a bird.

Ex: Were I a bird!

Ass: I wish I were a bird.

Ex: If I were young again!

Ass: I wish I were young again.

Ex: would that I could be a child!

Ass: I wish I could be a child.

Assertive to exclamatory is to be done doing Vice versa.

Imperative to assertive

Rule 1: Add subject + should in doing assertive.

Ex: Do the work.

Ass: You should do the work.

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

Ex: Please, help me.

Ass: You are requested to help me.

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

Ex: Do not run in the sun.

Ass: You should not run in the sun.

Rule 4: Never → Replaced by → You should never.

Ex: Never tell a lie.

Ass: You should never tell a lie.

Rule 5: Let us → Replaced by → We should.

Ex: Let us go out for a walk.

Ass: We should go out for a walk.

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

Ex: Let him play chase.

Ass: He might play chase.

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.

Ex: Su: Rakib is the tallest boy in the class.

Com: Rakib is taller than any other boy in the class.

Pos: No other boy in the class is as tall as Rakib.

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.

Ex: Rabindranath Tagore was one of the greatest poets in Bangladesh.

Comp: Rabindranath Tagore was greater than most other poets in Bangladesh.

Positive: Very few poets in Bangladesh were so great as Rabindranath Tagore.

Note: Superlative: Of all/ of any

Comparative: Than all other/than any other.

Positive: It does not exist.

Ex: Sup: Mr. Taleb is the oldest of all men in the village.

Com: Mr. Taleb is older than all other men in the village.

Pos: No other man is as old as Mr. Taleb.

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.

Ex: 1. com: Rina is wiser than Reba.

Pos: Rina is not so wise as Reba.

2. Com: Ria is not wiser than Rina.’

Pos: Rina is as wise as Ria.

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

Ex: com: Ambreen is not less meritorious than Sumona.

Pos: Ambreen is so meritorious as Sumona.

Complex →→→ Simple →→→ compound

Rule 1:Since/As/When Change is to be made in the subordinate clause .

When subjects are same.

Simple: 1) Omit since/as/when.

2) (Verb+ing) of the subordinate clause.

3) then write the rest part.

4) use subject with the principal clause.

5) Principal clause remains unchanged.

Ex: Since the girl worked hard, he made a good result.

Simple: Working hard, the girl made a good result.

Compound: 1) Omit since /as /when

2) write down the rest part.

3) join clauses by using and, and so, and therefore

4) write the main clause unchanged.

Ex: The girl worked hard and made a good result.

Rue2: In case of Be verb in subordinate clause:

1) Use being/ Because of + Pronoun/noun(possessive form)+ being.

Ex: Since he was weak, he could not work hard.

Simple: Because of his being weak, he could not work hard.

Compound: He was weak and therefore could not work hard.

Note: and therefore, is used for showing reasons.

Rule3: When the subject of clauses are different:

Simple:

1)Subject of subordinate clause

2) Verb+ing ( be verb → being; Have verb → having)

Ex: Since the weather was foul, we did not go out.

Sim: The weather being foul, we did not go out.

Compound: use ‘and therefore’to join two clauses.

Ex: The weather was foul and therefore we did not go out.

Rule 4: If,’ is Replaced by – ‘by + (verb+ing)

Ex: If you work hard, you will succeed in life.

Simple: By working hard, you will pass in the exam.

Compound: 1) Omit if+subject.

2. use ‘and’ to join two clauses.

Ex: Compound: Work hard and you will pass in the exam.

Rule 5: Simple: If-not/unless, is replaced by, - without+( verb+ing)

Ex: Complex: If you do not work hard, you will fail in the examination.

Sim: Without working hard, you will fail in the examination.

Compound: Use or’/otherwise to join two clauses.

Ex: Work hard or you will fail in the examination.

Rule 6: Simple: Though’ is replaced by In spite of+ Possessive form of the subject+ (verb+ing)

Ex: Com: Though he tried heart and soul, he could not pass  in the exam.

Sim: In spite of his trying heart and soul he could not pass in the exam.

Compound: Use ‘but’ to join two clauses.

Rule 7: Simple: So that is replaced by to/in order to.

Ex: Comp: He works hard so that he may prosper in life.

Sim: He works hard to/in order to prosper in life.

Compound: “and want/wants to” is used to join two clauses.

Ex: He works hard and wants to prosper in life.

Rule 8: Simple: ‘so + adjective + that’ is replaced by ‘Too + adjective + to’

Ex: The boy is so foolish that he cannot understand it.

Sim: The boy is too foolish to understand it.

Compound: Use ‘And Therefore’ to make it a compound sentence.

Ex: He is so foolish and therefore cannot understand it.

Rule 9: When(if mentions time) is replaced by

For short time – At

For month or Season – In

For age--- at the age of.

Ex: She woke up when it was midnight.

Simple: She woke up at midnight.

Com: When it is spring, the cuckoo sings.

Sim: In Spring the cuckoo sings.

Con: When Sarika was five she went to school.

Sim: At the age of five Sarika went to school.

Compound: Use and to join clauses.

Ex: She woke up and it was midnight.

Rule 10: Simple: If the clause says about a continuous fact then use-

At the time of instead of ‘When’

Ex: When I was eating, the phone rang.

Sim: At the time of my eating, the phone rang.

Compound: Use ‘And’.

Ex: I was eating and the phone rang.

Rule 11: Simple: Noun clause can be replaced by noun.

Ex: Com: He admitted that he was guilty.

Sim: He admitted his guilt.

Com: That he is honest is known to all.

Sim: His honesty is known to all.

Compound: Use ‘And’.

Ex: He is honest and it is known to all.

Rule 12: Simple: If Complex sentence is made with relative pronoun(who, what, which, that), omit it and make (verb+ing).

Com: The Doctor who is working in the hospital is known to all.

Sim: The doctor working in the hospital is known to all.

Note: If the verb is in the past participle it remains unchanged.

Ex: The picture which was drawn by Ria is very fine.

Sim: The picture drawn by Ria is very fine.

Rule 13: Simple: Adjective Clause is changed into - Adjective, Past participle Phrase, Noun in apposition, infinitive.

Adjective:

ex: A man who is drowning catches at a straw.

Sim: A drowning man catches at a straw.

Compound: A man is drowning and so catches at a straw.

Past participle phrase:

Ex: The answer that he wrote was not correct.

Sim: The answer written by him was not correct.

Compound: He wrote the answer and it was not correct.

Gerundial Infinitive:

Ex: I have no money that I can lend you.

Sim: I have no money to lend you.

Compound: I have no money and I cannot lend you.

Rule 14: In the compound “ not only---- But also” is Changed by “Besides + (Verb +ing)”

In the simple.

Ex: Mr.Noor not only teaches us English but also writes books.

Sim: Besides teaching us English, Mr. Noor Writes books.

Example-1: 

• When can their glory fade?

This is an interrogative sentence.

This sentence can be transformed into an assertive sentence as follows.

• Their glory can never fade.

Example-2: 

• Was he not a villain to do such a deed?

This interrogative sentence can be transformed into an assertive sentence as follows.

• He was a villain to do such a deed.

Example-3: 

• Who can touch ditch without being defiled? (Interrogative Sentence)

• No one can touch ditch without being defiled. (Assertive Sentence)

You can see How the Transformation-of-Sentence takes place into the following version without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Example-4: 

• Who does not know him? (Interrogative Sentence)

• Everybody knows him. (Assertive Sentence)

Example-5: 

• Is this the kind of dress to be worn for a school function? (Interrogative Sentence)

• This is not the kind of dress to be worn for a school function. (Assertive Sentence)

In this same way an assertive sentence can be transformed into an interrogative sentence.

Example-1: 

• We were not sent to this world simply to make money. (Assertive Sentence)

• Were we sent to this world simply to make money? (Interrogative Sentence)

Example-2: 

• I never forget those happy days. (Assertive Sentence)

• Shall I ever forget those happy days? (Interrogative Sentence)

Prepared by Noor E Alam

HopeLand

Passion to Education