Transformation of Sentence: Affirmative & Negative

In any "transformation of sentences" or "do as directed" grammar test, negative to affirmative sentence and vice versa is very common. Sentences can be transformed from affirmative (positive meaning) to negative and vice versa by using the following elements depending on the given instance.

1. Only – none but

Rule: "Only" (affirmative) can be replaced with "None but" or "Nothing but" (negative) without changing the meaning.

• Only you are fit for this post. – None but you are fit for this post.
• Only a fool would think that way. – None but a fool would think that way.
• Only she could solve this puzzle. – None but she could solve this puzzle.
• Only the rich can afford such luxuries. – None but the rich can afford such luxuries.
• Only hard work can bring success. – Nothing but hard work can bring success.

2. As soon as – no sooner than

Rule: "As soon as" (affirmative) changes to "No sooner ... than" (negative). The structure requires inversion and the comma is replaced by "than".

• As soon as we reached the station, the train arrived. – No sooner did we reach the station than the train arrived.
• As soon as we finished our dinner, we went to bed. – No sooner had we finished our dinner than we went to bed.
• As soon as he saw me, he ran away. – No sooner did he see me than he ran away.
• As soon as the bell rang, the students left. – No sooner had the bell rung than the students left.
• As soon as she heard the news, she fainted. – No sooner did she hear the news than she fainted.

3. Too...to – so...that

Rule: "Too...to" (affirmative with negative sense) can be transformed into "So...that" with an explicit negative clause.

• She is too weak to walk. – She is so weak that she cannot walk.
• I was too shocked to speak. – I was so shocked that I could not speak.
• This poem is too easy to need an explanation. – This poem is so easy that it does not need an explanation.
• It is raining too hard for us to go out. – It is raining so hard that we cannot go out.
• The box is too heavy to lift. – The box is so heavy that we cannot lift it.
• He was too angry to listen. – He was so angry that he could not listen.
• The task is too difficult to complete today. – The task is so difficult that we cannot complete it today.

4. If – unless

Rule: "Unless" means "if not". A sentence with "if" in the negative form can be changed to "unless" and vice versa.

• Unless he comes, I won't go. – If he does not come, I will not go.
• If you don't work hard, you will fail. – Unless you work hard, you will fail.
• Unless you apologize, I won't forgive you. – If you don't apologize, I won't forgive you.
• If it doesn't rain, the crops will die. – Unless it rains, the crops will die.
• Unless you study, you cannot pass. – If you do not study, you cannot pass.
• If you are not careful, you will make mistakes. – Unless you are careful, you will make mistakes.

5. Changing degree of adjectives

Rule: Affirmative sentences can be transformed into negative by changing the degree of comparison of adjectives. A positive degree can be converted to comparative or superlative with negation, and vice versa.

• Bangalore is cleaner than Kolkata. – Kolkata is not so clean as Bangalore.
• All subjects are equally important. – No subject is more important than the other.
• Everest is the highest mountain. – No mountain is higher than Everest.
• She is more intelligent than her brother. – Her brother is not so intelligent as she.
• This is the best book I have ever read. – No other book that I have ever read is as good as this.
• Gold is more precious than silver. – Silver is not so precious as gold.

6. Negative using opposite word

Rule: An affirmative sentence can be made negative by replacing a word with its opposite or antonym.

• He is a careless man. – He is not a careful man.
• Please keep silence. – Please do not make sound.
• She is honest. – She is not dishonest.
• The weather is pleasant. – The weather is not unpleasant.
• He succeeded in his attempt. – He did not fail in his attempt.
• This is a beautiful building. – This is not an ugly building.
• The answer is correct. – The answer is not incorrect.

7. Negative using interrogative

Rule: An affirmative statement can be expressed as a negative interrogative (rhetorical question), and vice versa.

• She is a good singer. – Isn't she a good singer?
• He was not present there. – Was he present there?
• They are talented musicians. – Are they not talented musicians?
• You will definitely succeed. – Won't you succeed?
• He is foolish. – Isn't he foolish?
• She did not attend the meeting. – Did she attend the meeting?

8. Negative using 'not only ... but also'

Rule: Affirmative sentences using "both...and" can be transformed into negative using "not only...but also" structure.

• He is both a teacher and a doctor. – He is not only a teacher but also a doctor.
• The restaurant serves both veg and non-veg dishes. – Not only does the restaurant serve veg dishes but also non-veg dishes.
• She is intelligent and hardworking. – She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
• The book is interesting and informative. – The book is not only interesting but also informative.
• He speaks English and French. – He speaks not only English but also French.
• The city is crowded and noisy. – The city is not only crowded but also noisy.

9. Miscellaneous negative sentences

Rule: Some sentences have unique transformation patterns that don't fit into standard categories. These require careful attention to the context and meaning.

• It is a pity he did not win the prize. – It is a pity he failed to win the prize.
• Never again will we have class together. – This is the last time we are having class together.
• All young princes desired her hand. – There was hardly any young prince who did not desire her hand.
• I cannot but help him. – I am compelled to help him. / I am unable to avoid helping him.
• He is anything but honest. – He is not honest in any way.
• Few people understood the complexity. – Not many people understood the complexity.
• Hardly had we started when it began to rain. – No sooner had we started than it began to rain.