Sanjida Sultana Rika

Lecturer, Department of English

Varendra University
Transformation of Sentence
Transformation of sentences is the process by which a sentence in a particular form is transferred to
another without altering its meaning.
The general rules of sentence transformation are as follows:
 To transform an affirmative sentence into a negative sentence, the common rule is to add ‘not’ to
the principal verb in the sentence.
 To convert an assertive sentence into an interrogative sentence, the first thing you will need to do
is to invert the position of the subject and the auxiliary verb, while the rest of the sentence mostly
remains unchanged. Also, do not forget to insert a question mark after the interrogative sentence.
 To convert a simple sentence into a compound sentence, you will have to alter the infinitive
phrase or the participle phrase into an independent clause while the remaining clause in the
simple sentence remains unchanged. Once you do that, use a coordinating conjunction to link the
two clauses.
 To transform a simple sentence into a complex sentence, you will have to change the
infinitive/participle phrase into a dependent clause using a subordinating conjunction while the
rest of the simple sentence remains the same.
 To convert a compound sentence into a complex sentence, you will just need to convert one
clause into a dependent clause with the addition of a subordinating conjunction and remove the
coordinating conjunction.
 To convert a complex sentence into a compound sentence, all you have to do is convert the
dependent clause into an independent clause and replace the subordinating conjunction with a
suitable coordinating conjunction.
 To transform a conditional sentence into a negative sentence, you can add ‘not’ to the principal
verbs in both the clauses if it is a complex sentence. In other cases, you will be required to change
the pronoun or use the opposite of the verb to make it negative.
What is Clause?
The clause is where there will be a subject and a predicate as a group of words, but that will not be
considered as a full sentence. The clause can be of two types. Those are –
1. Independent Clause: A Clause that contains both a subject and a predicate can stand alone as a sentence
or can be a part of a multi-clause sentence uses conjunctions such as – or, for, nor, so, yet, and, but.
Example: We visited Agra, but we did not go to Taj Mahal.
2. Dependent Clause: A Clause that is that have a subject and a predicate cannot stand alone as a
sentence always be a part of a sentence, on which it depends for meaning. A dependent clause is of three
types – Adjective Clause, Adverb Clause, and Noun Clause.
1. Adjective Clause or Relative Clause: An adjective clause or relative clause is like an adjective which
comes before to change or modify the noun or pronoun by – who, which, that, where, when, whose,
whom, whoever, etc.
Example: This is a resort that we saw on the TV.
 The Lady who was our tour guide is a American.

2. Adverb Clause or Adverbial Clause: An adverbial clause or subordinate clause is a type of dependent
clause which starts with subordinating conjunctions like – because, although, when, if, until, as if etc.
Example: The homeless guy spent the night on the road.
We wanted to go to the Bashundhara Cineplex.
3. Noun Clause: In a sentence when a clause functions as the complement, subject or object is called noun
clause. It starts with the same words that begin adjective clauses, e.g., that, who, when, which, where,
whether, why, how.
Example: What we saw at the Thor movie was amazing.
To understand the types of transformation of sentences we need to know the definition of the
Simple Sentences, Complex Sentences, and Compound Sentences.
Simple Sentence: When in a sentence that has one independent clause it is called simple sentence.
Example: He confessed his illegal act.
Complex Sentence: When in a sentence that has one clause and one or more subordinate clauses it is
called a complex sentence.
Example: He confessed that he was guilty of his illegal act.
Compound Sentence: When in a sentence that has more than one main clause it is called the compound
sentence.
Example: I went to watch a movie named Justice League, but the movie was already houseful.
Transforming Simple Sentences into Complex Sentences:
Categories of Transformation:
According to structure: Simple – Complex – Compound
According to meaning: Affirmative – Negative – Interrogative/ Imperative/ Exclamatory
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
1. Simple – Complex – Compound
Simple: Single clause, 1 subject, 1 finite verb
Complex: More than one clause, coordinating conjunction
Compound: 1 main clause, one or more sub-or clauses

Simple Complex Compound

He admitted his guilt He admitted that he is guilty He is guilty and he admitted that
Transformation of simple, complex, and compound
RULE 1: Simple verb + ing - Being fired, she cried.
Complex since/as - As she was fired, she cried.
Compound And/so - She was fired and so she cried.

RULE 2: Simple To + non-finite verb - He came to meet me.

Complex So that - He came so that he could meet me.
Compound And/or - He came and [he] met me.

RULE 3: Simple In spite of/despite - In spite of being healthy, he is lazy

Complex Though/although - Though he is healthy, he is lazy
Compound but - He is healthy but lazy

RULE 4: Simple Enough/too… to - She was too tired to move

Complex So…. that [neg] - She was so weak that she could not move
Compound Very….and - She was very weak and she could not move

RULE 5: Simple Without - Without working hard, you will fail

Complex If/in case - If you don’t work hard, you will fail
Compound or - Work hard or you will fail

RULE 6: Simple Adjective - It was a nice dress

Complex that/which - It was a dress that was nice
Compound And - It was a dress and it was nice

Transformation of Affirmative – Negative

Rule 1: Affirmative: only
Negative: none but/nothing but/not more than
It was only a dress
It was nothing but a dress

Rule 2: Affirmative: few

Negative: not many
I have a few friends
I do not have many friends

Rule 3: Affirmative: bound/can/have to/must

Negative: cannot but/cannot help

He is bound to/must give me thanks

He cannot but give me thanks / He cannot help giving me thanks

Rule 4: Affirmative: and/both….and

Negative: not only…. but also
Both Karim and Kamal can do the work
Not only Karim but also Kamal can do the work

Rule 5: Affirmative: every

Negative: there is no…. but/no
Every mother loves her child
There is no mother but loves her child / No mother hates her child

Rule 6: Affirmative: always

Negative: never
I will always remember you
I will never forget you

Rule 7: Affirmative: as soon as

Negative: no sooner had
As soon as he entered the room, I left.
No sooner had he entered the room than I left.

Rule 8: Affirmative: sometimes

Negative: not always
My father sometimes smokes.
My father does not always smoke.

Transformation of Assertive to Interrogative:

If the sentence is in the affirmative(positive) you have to change it into a negative interrogative.
If it is negative, then you have to change it into bare interrogative

Example: He is playing football

Incorrect- Is he playing football?
Correct – Isn’t he playing football?

If the given sentence is already in negative it will be transformed into affirmative-interrogative/ bare
interrogative
Example: He is not playing football
Incorrect- Isn’t he playing football?
Correct- Is he playing football?

Assertive Interrogative
He never cooks food
None can do this
Every man must die
There is nothing in the box
Does he ever cook food?
Who can do this?
Is there any man who will not die?
Is there anything in the box?

Transformation of Assertive to Exclamatory

If the assertive sentence contains any article (a/an) before the adjective, its exclamatory sentence will start
with “what”
Assertive- You are a great fool.
Exclamatory- What a great fool you are!

Rules Examples
∙Assertive: wish
Exclamatory: if
I wish I had so much money
If I had so much money!
∙Assertive: rejoice/delight/grief
Exclamatory: Hurrah/bravo/ Alas
I regret the man is dead
Alas! The man is dead

Assertive: I wish
Exclamatory: were
I wish I were a king
If I were a king!

Assertive Imperative
You should do your homework
-Do your homework
You are requested to come early
-Please come early
He drinks coffee
-Let him drink coffee
You should not tell a lie
- Do not tell a lie

Transformation of degree: Positive – Comparative – Superlative

Positive- Tall Good Popular Useful
Comparative- Taller Better More popular More useful
Superlative- Tallest Best Most popular Most useful

Rule 1
Positive - No other
No other metal is as useful as iron
Comparative - Than any other/than all other
Iron is more useful than any other metals.
Superlative – Most
Iron is the most useful of all the metals.
Rule 2
Positive - Few/ very few
Very few boys are as humble as Zamil
Comparative - More…. than most other
Zamil is more humble than most other boys.
Superlative - One of the most
Zamil is one of the most humble boys.