Transformation of Sentences: Miscellaneous Examples

In a series of study guides we have already covered various kinds of sentence transformations including voice change, narration change, and change of degree. Now, in this final guide of this series, we are going to learn miscellaneous transformation examples that combine multiple grammatical concepts and don't fit into single categories. These transformations test your command of advanced English structures and are frequently seen in ICSE exams.

1. "But For" Transformation (Meaning 'Without')

Pattern: Conditional sentences beginning with "If...not" can be rewritten using "But for," which means "without." This structure is used with past conditions and their hypothetical results.

• If people had not been generous, many would have died of hunger. – But for the generosity of people, many would have died of hunger.
• If she hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have succeeded. – But for her help, I wouldn't have succeeded.
• If the doctor had not treated him immediately, he would have died. – But for the doctor's immediate treatment, he would have died.
• If his friend hadn't warned him, he would have fallen into a trap. – But for his friend's warning, he would have fallen into a trap.
• If my parents hadn't supported me, I couldn't have completed my education. – But for my parents' support, I couldn't have completed my education.
• If luck hadn't favored him, he would never have succeeded. – But for luck, he would never have succeeded.
• If the fireman hadn't arrived in time, the building would have caught fire. – But for the fireman's timely arrival, the building would have caught fire.
• If she hadn't been careful, she would have had an accident. – But for her carefulness, she would have had an accident.

2. Subject-Verb Concord Transformation

Pattern: When a collective subject changes form (e.g., "all" → "each," "not only...but also" → "both...and") or when a phrase changes using "as well as," the verb number must change accordingly to maintain subject-verb agreement.

• All the students were given a gift. (Begin: 'Each') – Each of the students was given a gift.
• The principal and the teachers were happy. (Use: 'as well as') – The principal as well as the teachers was happy.
• Not only the captain but also the coach is responsible. (Use: 'Both...and') – Both the captain and the coach are responsible.
• Both the captain and the players are responsible. (Use: 'Not only') – Not only the captain but also the players are responsible.
• All the members have voted. (Begin: 'Every') – Every member has voted.
• The teacher with her students was going on a picnic. (Use: 'as well as') – The teacher as well as her students was going on a picnic. (Note: verb agrees with "teacher")

3. Inversion with "Had" (Meaning 'If')

Pattern: Conditional sentences with "If" can be rewritten by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb "had," effectively removing "if" and placing "had" at the beginning of the clause. This creates a more formal, literary style.

• If they had not challenged him, the inspector would not have fired. – Had they not challenged him, the inspector would not have fired.
• If I had been in your place, I would have asked for a raise. – Had I been in your place, I would have asked for a raise.
• If she had known the truth, she would never have trusted him. – Had she known the truth, she would never have trusted him.
• If we had arrived earlier, we could have seen the show. – Had we arrived earlier, we could have seen the show.
• If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't be in this situation now. – Had you listened to my advice, you wouldn't be in this situation now.
• If they had invested in stocks, they would have become rich. – Had they invested in stocks, they would have become rich.
• If the government had taken action, the crisis could have been avoided. – Had the government taken action, the crisis could have been avoided.
• If he had studied harder, he would have passed the exam. – Had he studied harder, he would have passed the exam.

4. "Had Better" Transformation

Pattern: Sentences expressing advice or strong recommendations (using conditional structures like "It would be good if...") can be rewritten using "had better + verb (infinitive)." This is a more emphatic and direct way to express advice.

• It would be a good thing if you slept. – You had better sleep.
• It would be good if you do not come. – You had better not come.
• It would be advisable if you consulted a doctor. – You had better consult a doctor.
• It would be wise if you didn't delay the payment. – You had better not delay the payment.
• It would be prudent if you saved some money. – You had better save some money.
• It would be sensible if you told the truth. – You had better tell the truth.
• It would be better if you left immediately. – You had better leave immediately.
• It would be helpful if you didn't mention this to anyone. – You had better not mention this to anyone.

5. "Cannot But" Transformation (Help + Gerund)

Pattern: Sentences using the structure "cannot but + verb" (meaning "cannot avoid" or "must inevitably") can be rewritten as "cannot help + gerund (-ing form)." Both express the same meaning: an inability to avoid an action.

• I cannot but comply with his desire. (Use: help) – I cannot help complying with his desire.
• A poet could not but be gay in such a jocund company. (Remove 'but') – A poet could not help being gay in such a jocund company.
• She cannot but admire his courage. – She cannot help admiring his courage.
• He could not but laugh at the joke. – He could not help laughing at the joke.
• They cannot but notice the change. – They cannot help noticing the change.
• You cannot but agree with me. – You cannot help agreeing with me.
• I would not but smile seeing her face. – I would not help smiling seeing her face.
• We cannot but feel sad about the news. – We cannot help feeling sad about the news.

6. "The More...The More" Transformation (Correlative Comparison)

Pattern: Sentences describing a proportional relationship between two things (e.g., "He got more and more...") can be restructured using the correlative conjunction "the more...the more" (or "the...the..."). This creates a cause-effect comparison.

• He got more and more but his desire only grew. (Begin: The more) – The more he got, the more his desire grew.
• They tried harder and harder but achieved less and less. (End: ...they achieved.) – The harder they tried, the lesser they achieved.
• She read more and more but understood less. – The more she read, the less she understood.
• He earned more and more money but was never satisfied. – The more money he earned, the less satisfied he was.
• The waited for long, and grew impatient. – The longer I waited, the more impatient I became.
• The price went higher, and the demand went lower. – The higher the price, the lower the demand.
• He drank more and more alcohol, but his problems only increased. – The more he drank, the more his problems increased.

7. "Lest" Transformation (In Fear That / To Avoid)

Pattern: Sentences expressing fear of a negative consequence or precaution against something bad (using "else," "so that," "to avoid," or "in fear that") can be rewritten using "lest," which is a formal/literary way to express this meaning.

• Put away your toys from the floor, else someone might fall. – Put away your toys from the floor, lest someone should fall.
• I will explain in more detail so you don't get confused. – Lest you be confused, I'll explain in more detail.
• Be careful, else you might hurt yourself. – Be careful, lest you should hurt yourself.
• Keep the medicine away from children, so they don't accidentally ingest it. – Keep the medicine away from children, lest they should ingest it.
• Speak softly, in fear that you might disturb others. – Speak softly, lest you should disturb others.
• Work hard, else you will regret later. – Work hard, lest you should regret later.
• Lock the door so that thieves don't enter. – Lock the door lest thieves should enter.
• Study regularly, in fear that you might fail. – Study regularly, lest you should fail.
• Watch your words, else someone might be offended. – Watch your words, lest someone be offended.
• Keep a close watch, so the patient doesn't escape. – Keep a close watch, lest the patient should escape.

8. Question Tag Transformation

Pattern: A statement can be transformed into a question for emphasis by adding a "question tag" at the end. The question tag is a short question that reflects the opposite polarity (affirmative → negative tag, negative → affirmative tag) and agrees in person with the subject.

• He went there yesterday. (Use question tag) – He went there yesterday, didn't he?
• You are not ready for the project yet. – You are not ready for the project yet, are you?
• She is a doctor. – She is a doctor, isn't she?
• They have finished their work. – They have finished their work, haven't they?
• I can speak French. – I can speak French, can't I?
• You don't like spicy food. – You don't like spicy food, do you?
• He would have helped you. – He would have helped you, wouldn't he?
• They should come tomorrow. – They should come tomorrow, shouldn't they?
• She will never forgive him. – She will never forgive him, will she?
• We have never been to Paris. – We have never been to Paris, have we?

9. Word Replacement and Appropriate Preposition Transformation

Pattern: Sentences can be rewritten using synonymous verbs or phrases with appropriate prepositions. This tests vocabulary range and the ability to express the same idea in different ways while maintaining grammatical correctness.

• Rimi likes vegetarian food more than non-veg. (Use: prefers) – Rimi prefers vegetarian food to non-veg. (Note: 'prefer' is always followed by 'to')
• She does not like fish that much. (Use: fond) – She is not very fond of fish.
• My sister hates cats. (Use: aversion) – My sister has an aversion to cats.
• He is afraid of dogs. (Use: fear) – He has a fear of dogs (or: harbors a fear of dogs).
• I want to go to Paris. (Use: desire) – I have a desire to go to Paris.
• She loves reading books. (Use: fond) – She is very fond of reading books.
• He doesn't tolerate nonsense. (Use: put up with) – He cannot put up with nonsense.
• The child doesn't obey rules. (Use: disobedient) – The child is disobedient to rules.
• She is interested in music. (Use: keen) – She is very keen on music.
• He dislikes his job. (Use: aversion) – He has an aversion to his job.

10. Inversion with "Should" (Meaning 'If')

Pattern: Conditional sentences with "if" in present or future contexts can be inverted by beginning with "Should," effectively replacing "if" and creating a more formal or emphatic structure. This is similar to the "Had" inversion but used for real or possible conditions rather than impossible past conditions.

• Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information. – Should you need any further information, please feel free to contact me.
• If you find any errors, please report them immediately. – Should you find any errors, please report them immediately.
• If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. – Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
• If there are any changes, I will inform you. – Should there be any changes, I will inform you.
• If anyone wishes to join, they are welcome. – Should anyone wish to join, they are welcome.
• If you wish to withdraw, you can do so anytime. – Should you wish to withdraw, you can do so anytime.
• If the weather deteriorates, the match will be postponed. – Should the weather deteriorate, the match will be postponed.
• If you decide to attend, please confirm by Friday. – Should you decide to attend, please confirm by Friday.
• If anything goes wrong, contact the emergency number. – Should anything go wrong, contact the emergency number.
• If clients require additional services, we will provide them. – Should clients require additional services, we will provide them.

11. Key Rules Summary

12. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong verb form after "had better": "You had better went" is incorrect; use "You had better go."
• Forgetting to invert subject and verb with "Had": "If had he known" is wrong; use "Had he known."
• Incorrect question tag formation: "He is happy, isn't he?" is correct; not "is he?" or "he isn't?"
• Using infinitive instead of gerund after "help": "Cannot help complying" is correct, not "cannot help to comply."
• Inconsistent subject-verb agreement: "Each of the students were" is wrong; use "Each of the students was."
• Using "but" instead of "but for": "But the doctor's help, he would have died" is incorrect; use "But for."
• Misplacing "lest" clause: Place it near the action to be avoided for clarity.
• Wrong preposition with synonym: "Prefer fish than meat" is wrong; use "prefer fish to meat."
• Adding "if" after "should" inversion: "Should if you need" is redundant; use either "Should you need" or "If you need."
• Confusing meaning-changing transformations: "Both...and" (all responsible) is NOT equivalent to "Either...or" (only one responsible). Use "Not only...but also" ↔ "Both...and" for meaning-preserving transformations.