We couldn’t see the mountains because of the rain.

• If only it didn’t rain so we could see the mountains.

• If it hadn’t rained, we could see the mountains.

• I wish I had been able to see the mountains without rain. 

• But for the rain, I could see the mountains.

When we crossed the fields, we saw a tiny house at the foot of the mountain.

• No sooner had we crossed the fields when we saw a tiny house at the foot of the mountain.

• Not until we crossed the fields did we see a tiny house at the foot of the mountain.

• Scarcely had we crossed the fields than we saw a tiny house at the foot of the mountain.

• It was not until we crossed the fields did we see a tiny house at the foot of the mountain.

She is snowed under with work. She cannot go out with her friends at weekend.

• If she weren’t snowed under with work, she could go out with her friends at weekend.

• Provided that she is snowed under with work, she cannot go out with her friends at weekend.

• She wishes she were snowed under with work, she could go out with her friends at weekend.

• If she were snowed under with work, she couldn’t go out with her friends at weekend.

Ngoc’s personal information was leaked. She was aware of the danger of the Internet.

• No sooner had Ngoc realised that the Internet was dangerous than her personal information was leaked.

• Only after Ngoc’s personal information had been leaked did she realise how dangerous the Internet was.

• Not until Ngoc’s personal information had been leaked was she aware of the benefit of the Internet.

• Hardly had Ngoc’s personal information been leaked when she realised how beneficial the Internet was.

His essay isn’t perfect. His illegible handwriting spoils it.

• His essay would be perfect if his handwriting were illegible.

• Unless his handwriting is illegible, his essay will be perfect.

• Without his illegible handwriting, his essay would be perfect.

• Provided that his handwriting was illegible, his essay wouldn’t be perfect.

Hans told us about his investing in the company. He did it on his arrival at the meeting.

• Only after investing in the company did Hans inform us of his arrival at the meeting.

• Not until Hans told us that he would invest in the company did he arrive at the meeting.

• Hardly had he informed us about his investing in the company when Hans arrived at the meeting.

• No sooner had Hans arrived at the meeting than he told us about his investing in the company.

They couldn’t afford a meal at a restaurant. They were very poor.

• If it hadn’t been for their poverty, they could afford a meal at a restaurant.

• Unless they were very poor, she could afford a meal at a restaurant.

• But for their poverty, they could have afforded a meal at a restaurant.

• If they had been poor, they couldn’t have afforded a meal at a restaurant.

He will develop serious diseases if he continues living a sedentary lifestyle. He isn’t aware of that much.

• So little does he realise that he will develop serious diseases if he continues living a sedentary lifestyle

• So serious are his diseases that he isn’t aware of the danger of living a sedentary lifestyle.

• Not until he stopped living a sedentary lifestyle did he understand how he developed serious diseases.

• No matter how much he is aware of, he will develop serious diseases if he continues living a sedentary lifestyle.

She doesn’t know a foreign language. She can’t get a job easily.

• If she knew a foreign language, she could get a job easily.

• Provided that she knows a foreign language, she can’t get a job easily.

• If she had known a foreign language, she could have gotten a job easily.

• If she knew a foreign language, she couldn’t get a job easily.

Candidates are prohibited from discussing with anyone while they are taking the entrance exam. There is no exception.

• By no means were candidates allowed to discuss with anyone while they are taking the entrance exam.

• At no time are candidates banned from discussing with anyone while they are taking the entrance exam.

• On no account are candidates forbidden to discuss with anyone while they are taking the entrance exam.

• Under no circumstances are candidates allowed to discuss with anyone while they are taking the entrance exam.