Sentence transformation

TIPS TO TACKLE SENTENCE TRANSFORMATIONS

In this activity, you will find an explanation of the process of creating sentences from a given sentence and a given word or phrase. Then, you will have to complete a quiz.

Sentence given (1) and word given (2):

            1. He says he may join his school´s debate team.  (2. INTERESTED)

Correct answer:

            He says he is interested in joining his school´s debate team.

Prompt:

Write the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

Process to create a new sentence:

      1. Check the meaning and word class of the word given ("interested"). The word "interested" is an adjective. (Note: If the word given were a verb, for example, consider the verb patterns (i.e.: transitive, intransitive, etc.), and if it were a noun, consider whether it is countable or uncountable. Always follow the Subject-Verb agreement rules).

       2. Check the word pattern/s: "interested in something" or "interested in doing something". (Note: If you don´t know or don´t remember the pattern, you can look it up in an official monolingual dictionary).

       3. In the example given: "He says he may join his school´s debate team.", the phrase "he may join" has been replaced by "is interested in joining". The modal verb "may", indicating possibility, serves as a hint of the meaning of the transformed sentence (i.e.: he has an interest in doing something, so he may do it).

      4. In this case, it is not necessary to change direct speech ("He says…") into indirect speech, because "he may join" refers to a possibility in the future, not something that happened in the past, so "He said he was interested in joining..." would not be correct in this case.
5. In this case, the rest of the sentence does not have to be changed.

       6. After creating your new sentence, check that the word given was not changed, and also underline it. Check word order of your sentence, meaning, word patterns, spelling, and the rest of the sentence structure that was not changed.

Multiple Select

The children are eager to put their rain boots on and jump in the puddles under the rain. (IN SPITE OF)

• In spite of the rain, the children are eager to put their rain boots on and jump in the puddles.

• In spite of the fact that it is raining, the children are eager to put their rain boots on and jump in the puddles.

• In spite of being eager to put their rain boots on, it is raining.

• The children are eager to put their rain boots on and jump in the puddles in spite of the rain. 

Multiple Choice

While I was giving John a cigarette, he told me yesterday: "I´m considering having

more responsibility at my job". (TAKE ON)

• While I was giving John a cigarette, he told me yesteday that he wanted to take on more responsibility at his job.

• While I was giving John a cigarette, he said (that) he took on more responsibility at his job.

• While I was giving John a cigarette, he told me yesterday: "I´m taking on more responsibility at my job".

• While John was taking on a cigarette, he told me yesterday that he was considering having more responsibility at my job.

Multiple Select

The tour guide told us to follow the path to get to the city center, but we didn´t hear him! (RECOMMENDED)

• The tour guide recommended us to follow the path to get to the city center, but we didn´t hear him!

• The tour guide recommended (that) we (should) follow the path to get to the city center, but we didn´t hear him!

• The tour guide told us to follow the path to get to the city center, but we didn´t hear what he recommended!

• The tour guide recommended following the path to get to the city center, but we didn´t hear him!

• The tour guide recommended a path to follow to get to the city center, but we didn´t hear him!

Multiple Select

I know I can´t sing very well, but I love singing! (AT)

• I know I can´t sing very well, but I love at singing!

• I know I´m not good at singing, but I love it.

• I know I´m bad at singing, but I love it.

• I know I can´t sing at very well, but I love singing!