Posts Tagged ‘sentences’

Transformation of Sentences Part II

January 18th, 2010 in English Grammar, English Learning

Changing an exclamatory sentence into an assertive sentence and vice versa

Exclamatory: What a beautiful flower!
Assertive: It is a beautiful flower.

Exclamatory: What a great victory!
Assertive: It is a great victory.

Exclamatory: How kind of you to help him like that!
Assertive: It is very kind of you to help him like that.

Exclamatory: What a glorious morning!
Assertive: It is indeed a glorious morning.

Transformation of an assertive sentence into an exclamatory sentence

Assertive: He is truly noble.
Exclamatory: How noble he is!

Assertive: This is indeed a pleasant surprise.
Exclamatory: What a pleasant surprise this is!

Assertive: It was an extremely delightful party.
Exclamatory: What a delightful party it was!

Assertive: I wish I were young again.
Exclamatory: O that I were young again!

Changing an interrogative sentence into an assertive sentence and vice versa

An assertive sentence can be changed into an interrogative sentence by putting the auxiliary verb before the subject.

Assertive: She is my friend.
Interrogative: Is she my friend?

Assertive: He has finished his work.
Interrogative: Has he finished his work?

Assertive: He is very intelligent.
Interrogative: Is he very intelligent?

Notes

If the assertive sentence contains the adverb never, it becomes ever in the interrogative sentence.

Assertive: I never asked you to do it.
Interrogative: Did I ever ask you to do it?

If the assertive sentence contains the adverb no, it becomes any in the interrogative sentence.

Assertive: There is no sense in doing that.
Interrogative: Is there any sense in doing that?

Changing an imperative sentence into an interrogative sentence and vice versa

Imperative: Stop it.
Interrogative: Will you stop it?

Imperative: Please, give me a glass of water.
Interrogative: Will you, please, give me a glass of water?

Imperative: Come here.
Interrogative: Come here, will you?

Note that the interrogative is a milder form of the imperative. But the addition of ‘or not’ to the interrogative form will add a touch of threat to it.

Imperative: Shut up.
Interrogative: Will you shut up or not?

Imperative: Get out of here.
Interrogative: Will you get out of here or not?

Imperative: Speak loudly.
Interrogative: Will you speak loudly?

Imperative: Please take me to the Director of the Institute.
Interrogative: Will you, please, take me to the Director of the Institute?