Transformation of Sentences Part I

January 17th, 2010 in English Grammar, English Learning

Transformation of a sentence means changing the form of a sentence without changing its meaning. The transformation can be done in a number of ways. Some of the most common methods are explained below:

Transformation of sentences containing the adverb too

Sentences containing the adverb too can be transformed by using the structure so…that.

He is too weak to walk.
He is so weak that he cannot walk.

The news is too good to be true.
The news is so good that it cannot be true.

He is too clever to be easily deceived.
He is so clever that he cannot be easily deceived.

The atom is too small to be seen with the eye.
The atom is so small that it cannot be seen with the eye.

She is too poor to continue her studies.
She is so poor that she cannot continue her studies.

Notes

If the adverb too is followed by an adjective + to infinitive, we expand the sentence into two clauses, the first containing so and the second beginning with that.

It is too hot to go out.
It is so hot that we cannot go out.

If the original sentence contains no negative word, we put not in the subordinate clause. If the original sentence contains a negative word, we do not put not in the subordinate clause.

The tea is too hot for me to drink.
The tea is so hot that I cannot drink it.

Transformation of sentences containing the adverb no sooner…than

Sentences containing no sooner…than can be transformed using as soon as or scarcely/hardly had…when.

No sooner had I reached the station than the train arrived.
As soon as I reached the station the train arrived.
Hardly had I reached the station when the train arrived.
Scarcely had I reached the station when the train arrived.

No sooner had the meeting begun than the protestors rushed to the platform.
As soon as the meeting began the protestors rushed to the platform.
Hardly had the meeting begun when the protestors rushed to the platform.
Scarcely had the meeting begun when the protestors rushed to the platform.

No sooner had the prisoner run out of the jail than the guard fired at him.
As soon as the prisoner ran out of the jail the guard fired at him.
Scarcely/hardly had the prisoner run out of the jail when the guard fired at him.