Transformation
Categories of Transformation:
- Simple – Complex – Compound
- 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-ord 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 OR 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 OR 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
You are requested to come early He drinks coffee You should not tell a lie |
Do your homework
Please come early Let him drink coffee 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 |