SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

PRACTICE 1

1. It is relaxing to work in a comfortable office.

To work in a comfortable office is relaxing.
9. We were advised to issue more stocks to raise capital.
We had better issue more stocks to raise capital.
10. It is so great to work with helpful colleagues.
To work with helpful colleagues is so great.
 PRACTICE 2

1. Mr. Henrique Calisto started to work for IBC two years ago.
worked for IBC for two years.
Mr. Henrique Calisto has ……………………………………….
3. You stopped trying, so you were behind others.

had not stopped trying, you would not have been behind others.
If you …………………………………………………………………………..
4. You didn’t contribute positively, we couldn’t continue the project.
had contributed positively, we could have continued the
If you……………………………………………………………………..
project.
6. I regret not having read the insurance policy carefully.
I had read the insurance policy carefully.
I wish …………………………………………………….
7. If you do not leave detailed instructions for the ‘temp’, she won’t
know where to start.
you leave detailed instructions for the ‘temp’, she
Unless ……………………………………………………………
won’t know where to start.
9. Mr. Graber became our agent in Zambia 3 years ago.

Mr. Graber has …………………………………………………….

become our agent in Zambia for 3 years.
10. If you want to have a course prospectus, why don’t you send off for it?

If I ……..…………………………………………………………….
were you, I would send off for a course prospectus.
Practice 3
3. Despite his not having enough information about that company, he
signed the contract.
 Although he did not have enough information about that company,
he signed the contract.
5. They spent 2 months renovating the company cafeteria.
them 2 months to renovate the company cafeteria.
It took ……………………………………………………………
9. My boss asked me to book a flight to Rome for him.
book a flight to Rome for him.
My boss had me ………………………………………….
Practice 4
4. “Why don’t you apply for that job, Susan?” said John.
John suggested that Susan should apply for that job.
7. Despite his ability to do the job, he wasn't given the position.
Although he was able to do the job, he wasn’t given the position.
8. They always ride a motorbike to work in half an hour.
It always takes them half an hour to ride a motorbike to work.
9. It is my pleasure to invite you to our grand opening ceremony.
To invite you to our grand opening ceremony is our pleasure.
10. It is unfortunate that they did not pay back their loan.
I wish they had paid back their loan.
Practice 5
1. Despite my paying this account last week, they haven’t sent me a receipt.
Although I paid this account last week, they haven’t sent me a receipt.
4. John asked, “Why don’t you ask for a day off, Mary?”
John suggested that Mary should ask for a day off.
6. To speak Chinese is more difficult than to speak English.
It is more difficult to speak Chinese than to speak English.
9. If the operator does not stop incoming calls, we shall be constantly
interrupted.
Unless the operator stops incoming calls, we shall be constantly interrupted.
Practice 6
4. Because I didn’t remember Miss Berglund, we spent so much time
interviewing the other candidates.
If I had remembered Miss Berglund, we would not have spent so
much time interviewing the other candidates.
6. The loan manager has asked his assistant to check all of the
references.
The loan manager has had his assistant check all of the references.
The loan manager has had all of the references checked by his
assistant.
Practice 7
I regret spending all my money in that risky business.
I wish I had not spent all my money in that risky business.
Despite the confusion over the arrangements, Dr. Kahn’s visit was a
great success.
Although the arrangements were confusing, Dr. Kahn’s visit was a
great success.
Mr. Smith started working as my PA five months ago.
Mr. Smith has worked as my PA for five months.
Practice 8
1. You had better leave a message in case the manager is not
available to meet you.
The receptionist advised me to leave a message in case the
manager is not available to meet me.
Practice 9

2. I advised John not to put all his money in real estate investment.
John had better not put all his money in real estate investment.
3. Our company began offering bridging loan for small businesses 2 years ago.
Our company has offered bridging loan for small businesses for 2 years
4. Their price was too high, so we had to find another supplier.
If their price had not been too high, we would not have had to find another
supplier.
6. If we don’t deliver the goods as agreed, they will refuse to settle the account.
Unless we deliver the goods as agreed, they will refuse to settle the account.
7. Miss Cotton regrets not to attend a reception to meet Dr. Kahn next Monday.
Miss Cotton wishes she could attend a reception to meet Dr. Kahn next Monday.
10. Mr. Falvey got me to send off those invoices yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Falvey had me send off those invoices yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Falvey had those invoices sent off yesterday afternoon.
Practice 10

1. It is annoying to find a file missing.

To find a file missing is annoying.