Mastering Advanced English Sentence Transformations
Mastering Advanced English Sentence Transformations (81-106)
This section provides practice in transforming sentences, focusing on complex passive constructions, causative verbs, reported speech, and fixed grammatical expressions. Each numbered item presents the original sentence (Active/Direct) followed by the corrected transformation (Passive/Reported).
1. Passive Voice and Reported Structures
General Passive Voice Transformations
- 84. Active: Someone left the phone off the hook all night.
Passive: The phone was left off the hook all night. - 85. Active: Nobody ever heard anything of David again.
Passive: Nothing was ever heard of David again. - 86. Active: You usually eat this kind of white fish with a white sauce.
Passive: This kind of white fish is usually eaten with a white sauce. - 94. Active: We have not packed the boxes yet.
Passive: The boxes have not been packed yet. - 95. Active: At the time, my aunt was looking after the children for us.
Passive: Our children were being looked after by my aunt at the time. - 100. Active: The waitress will bring your drinks in a moment.
Passive: Your drinks will be brought in a moment. - 105. Active: We are dealing with your complaint.
Passive: Your complaint is being dealt with.
Passive Voice with Commands, Advice, and Reporting Verbs
- 88. Active: People asked me the way three times.
Passive: I was asked the way three times. - 89. Active: They advised him to rest for a few days.
Passive: He was advised to rest for a few days. - 90. Active: They ordered me to report here.
Passive: I was ordered to report here. - 92. Active: They gave him the money.
Passive: He was given the money. (Alternatively: The money was given to him.) - 96. Active: My legal adviser has told me not to say any more at this time.
Passive: I have been told not to say any more at this time. - 106. Active: We did not think it was a good idea.
Passive: It wasn't thought to be a good idea.
Impersonal Passive and Complex Structures
- 97. Active: We want people to send applications to this office.
Passive: We want applications to be sent to this office. - 98. Active: Do you think someone can persuade her to lend us money?
Passive: Do you think she can be persuaded to lend us money? - 99. Active: Someone suggested that the shop should close.
Passive: It has been suggested that the shop should close. - 103. Active: We believe that the Government has prepared a plan.
Passive: The Government is believed to have prepared a plan. - 104. Active: Jill's parents are making her study hard.
Passive: Jill is being made to study hard by her parents.
2. Causative Structures (Have/Get Something Done)
- 87. Active: A painter is painting my flat.
Causative: I'm having my flat painted. - 93. Active: Someone stole my watch yesterday.
Causative: I had my watch stolen yesterday. - 102. Active: The dentist is going to take out two of my teeth tomorrow.
Causative: I'm going to have two of my teeth taken out tomorrow.
3. Advice, Suggestions, and Reported Speech
- 81. Advice: I advise you not to do that. / If I were you, I would not do it.
- 82. Direct: "Let's go out and buy something," I said.
Reported: He suggested going out and buying something. - 83. Conditional Inversion: If you happen to see Mary, tell her I'll ring later.
Transformation: Should you happen to see Mary, tell her I'll ring. - 91. Direct: "Don't do anything without legal advice," I warned them.
Reported: I warned them not to do anything without legal advice.
4. Fixed Expressions
- 101. Active: It's time the authorities did something about this problem.
Transformation: It's about time something was done about this problem.