Most common sentence transformations
- 1. In your own words….
- 2. Most common transformations to passive James was offered a job to causative form (have sth done) I am having my room painted next week to reported speech Ian said that he had a lot of work to do 1. From active They offered James a job 2. From active They are painting my room next week 3. From direct speech “I have a lot of work to do”, Ian said.
- 3. Most common transformations 1. Joining sentences Jim didn’t speak any languages. He travelled around the world, though. 2. Joining sentences My sister has got a friend. She speaks Japanese. 3. Joining sentences I’d like to spend my holidays in Dubai, but I can’t afford it. 4. Joining sentences You aren’t working hard. You will fail the exam. with a conjunction Although Jim didn’t speak any languages, he travelled around the world. with a relative pronoun My sister has got a friend who speaks Japanese with a conditional If I could afford it, I would spend my holidays in Dubai. with ‘unless’ - conditional Unless you work hard, you will fail the exam
- 4. Most common transformations Using modal verbs There’s no need to copy the questions You don’t have to /needn’t copy the questions Entering the country without a visa is forbidden You mustn’t enter the country without a visa It’s wrong to phone him so late You shouldn’t / oughtn’t to phone him so late He knows how to speak German He can speak German Perhaps we’ll invite you to the party We may / might invite you to the party I’m sure he made a fortune in the USA He must have made a fortune in the USA
- 5. Most common transformations Using reporting verbs “Shall I help you with your luggage?” He offered to help her with her luggage “No, it wasn’t me. I didn’t take it!” He denied taking it “I won’t go with you. No way.” She refused to go with them “Don’t worry. I’ll pay you back” He promised to pay him back “Don’t say a word, or I’ll punch your nose!” He threatened to punch his nose “Don’t play with the ball at home!” He told them not to play with the ball “It’s true! I’ve made a mistake!” She realised she had made a mistake “Let’s have breakfast in the garden!” They suggested having breakfast in the garden
- 6. Most common transformations With adjectives/adverbs 1. very + adv/adj(+noun) so - such (a/an)(+noun) that… He is very nice. All his students love him. He is so nice that all his students love him. He is such a nice person that all his ….. She works carefully. She never makes mistakes. She works so carefully that she never makes... She is such a careful worker that she never… 2. too + adj/adv not + adj/ adv + enough James is too shy to speak in front of an audience James is not confident enough to speak in front of a an audience
- 7. Most common transformations 1. simple past + ago for / since Jim went to London 3 years ago Jim hasn’t been to London for 3 years Jim hasn’t been to London since 2011 * For… since… three days (last) Monday a week last week two years 2012 some/ a long time June, 1999 a couple of months December a fortnight the 1oth of March many years Tom’s party a few years that day
- 8. Most common transformations 1.- Using comparatives / superlatives She runs very fast. No one can beat her at school She is the fastest runner at school. She runs faster than any other at school. No one at school can run as fast as her. 2.- Using comparatives & conditionals You are not 18. You aren’t allowed at the disco. If you were older, you would be allowed at the disco. I have little money. I can’t afford to go on holiday this year. If I had more money, I would go on holiday this year.
- 9. Most common transformations Although / even though / Despite / in spite of + -ing however / though + the fact that+clause Although/ Even though the exam was very difficult, James got a high mark. The exam was very difficult. However, James got a high mark. The exam was very difficult. James got a high mark, though. Despite being a difficult exam, James got a high mark. In spite of being a difficult exam, James got a high mark. Despite the fact that the exam was very difficult, James got a high mark. In spite the fact that the exam was very difficult, James got a high mark.
- 10. Most common transformations Expressing preference: prefer & would rather 1. prefer x to x would rather x than x I prefer Coke to Pepsi I’d rather drink coke than Pepsi I prefer black to white I’d rather wear black than white 2 . prefer -ing to -ing would rather v-inf than v-inf I prefer drinking Coke to (drinking) Pepsi I’d rather drink Coke than (drink )Pepsi I prefer wearing black to (wearing) white I’d rather wear black than (wear) white 3. prefer to v-inf rather than v-inf I prefer to drink Coke rather than (drink) Pepsi. 4. would prefer to v-inf rather than v-inf I ‘d prefer to drink Coke rather than (drink) Pepsi 5.would rather sb DID sth I’d rather you phoned me in the morning I’d rather you didn’t phone so late at night
- 11. Most common transformations Using the passive 1. From active to passive / From passive to active They sent me a letter I was sent a letter / A letter was sent to me 1. Passive with verbs like believe, say, claim, understand, think, suppose, expect, report, acknowledge, assume, estimate, consider etc. The police believe he’s living abroad now He’s believed to be living abroad now It’s believed that he’s living abroad now People expect this crisis will soon be over This crisis is expected to be over soon It’s expected that this crisis will soon be over 1. Causative form: ‘have/get sth done’ I’m going to the opticians’ to get my eyes tested I have my hair cut at the hairdresser’s twice a year.