Transformation of Sentences: Miscellaneous Examples

In a series of guides we have already covered various kinds of transformation of Sentences. Now, in this final guide of this series, we are going to learn the miscellaneous transformation examples which are not covered in the previous guides. Here we go.

Begin: ‘But for’ (means ‘without’)

• 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 succeed. – But for her help, I wouldn’t succeed.

Subject-verb concord

• All the students were given a gift. (begin: ‘Each’) – Each of the students was given a gift.
• The principal and the teachers were (Use: ‘as well as’) – The principal as well as the teachers was happy.

Begin: Had (meaning ‘if’)

• The inspector fired when challenged. – Had they not challenged him, the inspector would not have fired.
• In your place, I would have asked for a raise in salary. – Had I been in your place, I would have asked for a raise in salary.

Use ‘had better’ or ‘had’

• 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.

But – help

• 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.

The more

• 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.

Lest (meaning ‘in fear that’)

• 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.

Question tag

Question tags are the short questions that we put at the end of sentences assuming something or just to confirm, not for getting an actual answer. When you add a question tag to a statement, it changes from affirmative to negative and vice versa.

• 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?

Use of appropriate preposition / Word replacement

• Rimi likes vegetarian food more than non-veg. (Use: prefers) – Rimi prefers vegetarian food to non-veg.
• She does not like fish that much. (Use: fond) – She is not very fond of
• My sister hates cat. (Use: aversion) – My sister has an aversion to

Begin: Should (meaning ‘If’)

• Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information. – Should you need any further information, please feel free to contact me.