Advanced Sentence Rewriting for English Learners

English Sentence Transformation Exercises

Conjunctions and Connectors

1. There were storm warnings. Therefore, many people left the city. (due to)
   Many people left the city due to storm warnings.
   Many people left the city due to there being storm warnings.
2. Our team practised every day so that we would have a chance at winning. (so as to)
   Our team practised every day so as to have a chance at winning.
3. Several criminals have been arrested because the police have finally taken action.
   The police have finally taken action. Consequently, several criminals have been arrested.
4. I’m hiding the money because I don’t want thieves to find it. (so that)
   I’m hiding the money so that thieves don’t find it.
5. We should send the invitations today.
   If I were you, I would send the invitations today.
6. Sheila enjoyed her job although she got a low salary. (despite)
   Sheila enjoyed her job despite getting a low salary.
   Sheila enjoyed her job despite her low salary.
7. Gerald is good at football. He’s also good at tennis. (as well as)
   Gerald is good at football as well as tennis.
8. I tried to be very quiet. That way I wouldn’t bother her. (in order not to)
   I tried to be very quiet in order not to bother her.

Conditionals and Hypothetical Situations

9. If you don’t help her, she won’t succeed. (unless)
   Unless you help her, she won’t succeed.
10. Many people didn’t know about the meeting, so they didn’t come. (had known)
    If many people had known about the meeting, they would have come.
11. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to watch television. (would)
    If I had time to watch TV, I would watch it.
    If I had time, I would watch TV.
12. Sally shouted because she was angry.
    If Sally hadn’t been angry, she wouldn’t have shouted.
13. Joe had an operation that saved his life.
    Joe would have died if he hadn’t had an operation.
14. My advice to you is to apologise to Jack.
    If I were you, I would apologise to Jack.
15. Jan forgot my birthday and didn’t send a present.
    If Jan had remembered my birthday, she would have sent a present.

Expressing Wishes and Regrets

16. Jane is sorry she can’t invite the whole class to her party.
    Jane wishes she could invite the whole class to her party.
17. I wanted to buy the earrings, but they were so expensive.
    I wish the earrings weren’t so expensive.
18. It’s a pity you’re not here with us.
    We wish you were here with us.
19. A sure way of making your listener feel friendly towards you is to pay him or her a compliment.
    If you pay your listener a compliment, you will make them feel friendly towards you.
20. To be a successful small-talker, you must be sensitive to your listener.
    Unless you are sensitive to your listener, you won’t be a successful small talker.
21. They didn’t come because they didn’t want to.
    They would have come if they had wanted to.
22. Sally must apologise, or we won’t be friends any more.
    We won’t be friends any more unless Sally apologises.
23. The Browns want to buy a new car, but they haven’t got enough money.
    If the Browns had enough money, they would buy a new car.