TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

FROM ACTIVE TO PASSIVE VOICE

Read these sentences carefully:
1. (a) The young people watch the IPL series in the
stadium.
2. (a) the policeman has arrested the thief.
3. (a) My mother purchased a new car
4. (a) The engineers will complete the project soon.
1. (a) The young people watch the IPL series in the
stadium.
(b) The IPL series is watched by the young people in
the stadium.
2. (a) the policeman has arrested the thief.
(b) The thief has been arrested by the policeman.
3. (a) My mother purchased a new car.
(b) A new car was purchased by my mother.
4. (a) The engineers will complete the project soon.
(b) The project will be completed by the engineers
soon.
In the examples given above 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, are ACTIVE
VOICE and 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b are
passive voice.
How to Change ACTIVE VOICE into PASSIVE VOICE
We can change a sentence from Active into Passive
only if the sentence has a TRANSITIVE
verb that is, a verb that takes an OBJECT after it.
Step 1 – The object of the verb becomes Subject.
Step 2 – The Subject becomes Object (Agent)
Step 3 – The main verb is changed into PAST
PARTICIPLE. (The third form of the verb) and an
appropriate form of the helping verb according to
Tense in the Active Voice.
Step 5 – The Modals also change as Modals +Be + third
form of the Verb.
Active Voice:
My mother purchased a new car.
Subject Verb Object
Passive Voice:
a new car by My mother
Subject was purchased Object (Agent)

Step 4 – The Pronoun in the SUBJECT changes its form

in OBJECT form. For
example:

SUBJECT Position OBJECT Position

I Me
He Him
She Her
They Them
We Us
TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
Transformation is a process of changing the form of a
sentence without changing its basic meaning. It
enables a person to express the same thing in a
different way without affecting the meaning.
From Simple to Complex
1. By removing too and to
The man is too poor to pay his bills. (Simple sentence)
The man is so poor that he can not pay his bills.
(complex sentence)
Shyam is too honest to cheat. (simple)
Shyam is so honest that he can not cheat. (complex
sentence)
Points to remember:
1. too is replaced by so/such
2. Infinitive is changed into ‘that + Negative adverb
clause of result.
Shyam is too honest to cheat
So + that + he cannot
Shyam is so honest that he cannot cheat.
By removing ENOUGH and TO
Look at the example given below:
He is tall enough to touch the fan.
So that he can
He is so tall that he can touch the fan.

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(iii) Transformation from comparative to superlative

degree:
1. Babu is faster than any other boy in the class.
Babu is the fastest boy in the class.
2. Gold is more expensive than any other metal.
Gold is the most expensive metal.
Points to remember:
(a) Any other/no other is left out.
(b) The comparative form is changed into superlative
form.
(c) ‘Than’ is removed, ‘the’ is added before superlative
degree.
(iii) Transformation from Positive to Superlative.
1. No other poet is as great as Kalidas.
Kalidas is the greatest poet.
2. No other metal is as costly as gold.
Gold is the costliest metal.
• No other/any other is left out
• As ........................ as/ So ........................ as is
changed into superlative degree of adjectives.
(iv) Transformation of different types of statements.
(a) Interrogative to Assertive—
Does man live by water alone?
Man does not live by water alone.
Who can deny the fact?
No one can deny the fact.
• An affirmative question becomes a negative
statement.
• A negative question becomes a positive statement.

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83 XI – English

(ii) Affirmative to Negative (–)

As soon as the students saw the teacher, they rushed
to their class.
No sooner did the students see the teacher, than they
rushed to their class.
He is a fast runner.
He is not a slow runner.
• Affirmative word is removed.
• Opposite of the key word is used.
• Change in key words—
Affirmative Negative
A few Not many
As soon as No sooner – than
Always never
All none
Everybody nobody
Everyone none
(iii) Transformation of Statement to Exclamatory
sentence :
It is a very pleasant weather. (statement)
What a pleasant weather it is ! (exclamatory)
It is nice of you to help me. (statement)
How nice of you to help me ! (exclamatory)
• ‘Very’ is left out in exclamatory sentences.
• ‘Full stop’ is replaced by mark of exclamation.
• ‘What/how’ is placed in the beginning of sentence.
(What is used with a Noun, where
as ‘How’ is used with an Adjective.)
• The words of exclamation like ‘oh’, ‘Ah’, ‘Alas’,
‘hurry’, etc. are used to express the
emotions.
Transformation from simple to complex:
(ii) By expanding a word or a phase into a noun clause
—
I heard the news of his arrival.
I heard that he had arrived.
The news of his death made everyone sad.
The news that he had died made everyone sad.
(iii) By expanding a word or phrase into an Adjective
clause.
An honest man needs no evidence.
A man who is honest needs no evidence.
The lady in the red dress was very smart.
The lady who was in the red dress was very smart.
Transformation of Simple, Complex,
Compound Sentences Exercises
Q1

How to transform a simple sentence into a compound

sentence?
Converting a simple sentence into a compound
sentence can be done by changing the participle or
infinitive phrase into a clause and combining the two
clauses using a coordinating conjunction.
Q2

How to transform a compound sentence into a complex

sentence?
To transform a compound sentence into a complex
sentence, you should replace the coordinating
conjunction with a subordinating conjunction and
convert an independent clause into a dependent
clause.
Q3

What should you do to transform a complex sentence into a

simple sentence?
In order to transform a complex sentence into a simple
sentence, all you have to do is convert the dependent
clause into a participle/infinitive phrase, remove the
subordinating conjunction and write the independent
clause as it is.\

Exercise 1 –
Transformation of
Simple Sentences into
Compound Sentences
Read through the following simple sentences
and transform them into compound sentences
by using appropriate coordinating
conjunctions.
1. Following the trail, we reached our
destination.
2. Being sick, I went to the doctor.
3. In spite of the rain, the children went out to
play.
4. Having handed over the flowers to my mom,
I hugged her.
5. In the event of you not reaching in time, we
will postpone the operation.
6. Despite the train being late, Preetha waited
for the train.
7. On account of the new rules and
regulations, we were asked to work for an
extended period.
8. On seeing his mom, the little boy ran to her.
9. I was too tired to do any more work.
10. In order to reduce weight, Anjali has to eat
a balanced diet.
Answers for Exercise 1
1. We followed the trail and reached our
destination.
2. I was sick, so I went to the doctor.
3. It was raining but the children went out to
play.
4. I handed over the flowers to my mom and
hugged her.
5. You should reach in time or we will
postpone the operation.
6. The train was late yet Preetha waited for the
train.
7. There were new rules and regulations, so
we were asked to work for an extended period.
8. The little boy saw his mom and at once ran
to her.
9. I was very tired, so I could not do any more
work.
10. Anjali has to reduce weight, so she has to
eat a balanced diet.

Exercise 2 –
Transformation of
Simple Sentences to
Complex Sentences
Go through the following simple sentences
and transform them into complex sentences by
using suitable subordinating conjunctions.
1. Because of the rain, we decided to stay
back home.
2. To finish your project in time, you should
start now.
3. Besides being a good doctor, Sheena is a
great artist.
4. Despite several obstacles, Aaron made it to
the end.
5. On seeing the bride, all her friends were
moved to tears.
6. Without accepting your mistakes, you will
not be able to move forward in life.
7. It is too soon to determine the outcome.
8. Stretching itself, the cat crawled into a
comfortable position on the couch.
9. Owing to the lack of financial resources, the
construction work will not be complete within
the said time. .
10. In spite of trying multiple times, she could
not clear the forty-fifth level.
Answers for Exercise 2
1. As it was raining, we decided to stay back
home.
2. If you want to finish your project in time, you
should start now.
3. Not only is Sheena a good doctor but also a
great artist.
4. Though there were several obstacles, Aaron
made it to the end.
5. As soon as all her friends saw the bride,
they were moved to tears.
6. You will be able to move forward in life only
if you accept your mistakes.
7. It is so soon that the outcome cannot be
determined.
8. As the cat stretched itself, it crawled into a
comfortable position on the couch.
9. Because there was a lack of financial
resources, the construction work will not be
completed within the said time.
10. Even though she tried multiple times, she
could not clear the forty-fifth level.

Exercise 3 –
Transformation of
Compound Sentences
to Complex Sentences
Check out the following compound sentences
and convert them into complex sentences by
replacing the coordinating conjunction with the
most appropriate subordinating conjunction.
1. I finished my homework and went out to
play with my friends.
2. It was very cold, so I wore a sweater.
3. Harold is not keeping well, yet he helps his
sister out with the household chores.
4. You must practise well, or you will not be
able to perform well.
5. It was cloudy, therefore we went by car.
6. My bike was out of petrol, so I had to go to
the nearest petrol station.
7. Naina was very ill, therefore we had to take
Naina to the hospital.
8. Rahul worked at the grocery store and
studied French at the college as well.
9. You must follow the traffic rules or you will
be punished.
10. The bell rang and at once the students
assembled on the ground according to their
sports houses.
Answers for Exercise 3
1. After I finished my homework, I went out to
play with my friends.
2. It was so cold that I had to wear a sweater.
3. Although Harold is not keeping well, he
helps his sister out with the household chores.
4. If you do not practise well, you will not be
able to perform well.
5. Since it was cloudy, we went by car.
6. Since my bike was out of petrol, I had to go
to the nearest petrol station.
7. As Naina was very ill, we had to take her to
the hospital.
8. Not only did Rahul work at the grocery store
but also studied French at the college.
9. If you do not follow the traffic rules, you will
be punished.
10. As soon as the bell rang, the students
assembled on the ground according to their
sports houses.
Exercise 4 –
Transformation of
Sentences as Directed
Go through the following sentences and
transform them as directed.
1. If you don’t leave now, you will get caught in
the rain. (Change into a simple sentence)
2. Though we were not sure if we could finish
it, we volunteered to help them. (Change into a
compound sentence)
3. Not only did Leslie work on his assignment
but also helped me finish mine. (Change into a
compound sentence)
4. As a result of our continuous efforts, we
were able to create a working model of the
hospital bed successfully. (Change into a
complex sentence)
5. Morgan was a nurse and so her job was to
take care of her patients. (Change into a
simple sentence)
6. I looked for Danny everywhere but I could
not find him. (Change into a complex
sentence)
7. My cousins and I went for a movie
yesterday as we were bored. (Change into a
compound sentence)
8. Tinku wanted to play with his friends and so
he finished all his homework quickly. (Change
into a simple sentence)
9. As Balu reached his office, he realised that
he had forgotten his files. (Change into a
simple sentence)
10. Bidding goodbye, Mazeeka hugged Raimy
for one last time. (Change into a compound
sentence)
Answers for Exercise 4
1. In the event of you not leaving now, you will
get caught in the rain.
2. We were not sure if we could finish it, but
we volunteered to help them.
3. Leslie worked on his assignment and
helped me finish mine as well.
4. Since we put in continuous efforts, we were
able to create a working model of the hospital
bed successfully.
5. Being a nurse, Morgan’s job was to take
care of her patients.
6. Though I looked for Danny everywhere, I
could not find him.
7. My cousins and I were bored, therefore we
went for a movie yesterday.
8. In order to play with his friends, Tinku
finished all his homework quickly.
9. On reaching his office, Balu realised that he
had forgotten his files.
10. Mazeeka bid goodbye and hugged Raimy
for one last time.