Transformations: Sentence Rewriting Exercises & Solutions

Sentence Transformation Exercises

1. Comparatives

Germany is richer than India.

- India is poorer than Germany. / India is not as rich as Germany.

2. Reported Speech

“I don’t know”, he told them.

- He told them that he didn’t know.

3. Conditionals

She can’t come to the party because she is so busy.

- If she wasn’t so busy, she could come to the party.

4. Modals

Maybe your friend will call you on your birthday.

- Your friend may call you on your birthday.

5. Indirect Question

“Where is the nearest cinema, please?”

- Could you tell me where the nearest cinema is?

6. Verbal Tenses

I haven’t seen your wife for a long time.

- It’s a long time since I last saw your wife.

7. Conditionals

He didn’t revise for the test so he failed.

- If he had revised for the test, he wouldn’t have failed.

8. Have Something Done

The ophthalmologist tests her eyes every year.

- She has her eyes tested every year by the ophthalmologist.

9. Relative Clauses

The Da Vinci Code is a best-seller. It was written by Dan Brown.

- The Da Vinci Code, which was written by Dan Brown, is a best-seller.

10. Question

Mary goes swimming twice a week.

- Who goes swimming twice a week?

11. Wish

I am sorry I didn’t remember your birthday.

- I wish I had remembered your birthday.

12. Reported Speech

He told us: “Don’t make so much noise!”

- He ordered us not to make so much noise.

13. Causal Connector

As it was Friday, the children stayed up late.

- The children stayed up late because it was Friday.

14. Verbal Tenses / Superlative

I have never read such an interesting book.

- This is the first time I have read such an interesting book. / This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.

15. Conditionals

If you don’t hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert.

- Unless you hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert.

16. Question

I have to wear a uniform whenever I work in front of the customers.

- When do you have to wear a uniform?

17. Comparatives

The film is not as good as the novel.

- The novel is better than the film.

18. Have Something Done

The hairdresser cut my hair last week.

- I had my hair cut last week.

19. Reported Speech

“Let’s go to the cinema on Tuesday”, said Mary.

- Mary suggested going to the cinema on Tuesday.

20. Wish

What a pity the weather was so bad last weekend.

- I wish the weather hadn’t been so bad last weekend.

21. Verbal Tenses

I haven’t seen a good film for ages.

- It’s ages since I last saw a good film.

22. Question

John bought a new Rolls Royce.

- What did John buy?

23. Relative Clauses

I visited a village yesterday but I did not like it.

- I visited a village yesterday which I did not like.

24. Modals

He knows how to play golf.

- He can play golf.

25. Verbal Tenses

It’s ages since I last visited Russia.

- I haven’t visited Russia for ages.

26. Conditionals

You won’t understand the problem if you don’t listen carefully.

- Unless you listen carefully, you won’t understand the problem.