2. Most common transformations
to passive
James was offered a job
to causative form (have sth done)
I am having my room painted next week
to reported speech
Ian said that he had a lot of work to do
1. From active
They offered James a job
2. From active
They are painting my room next week
3. From direct speech
“I have a lot of work to do”, Ian said.
3. Most common transformations
1. Joining sentences
Jim didn’t speak any languages. He
travelled around the world, though.
2. Joining sentences
My sister has got a friend. She speaks
Japanese.
3. Joining sentences
I’d like to spend my holidays in Dubai, but
I can’t afford it.
4. Joining sentences
You aren’t working hard. You will fail the
exam.
with a conjunction
Although Jim didn’t speak any languages, he
travelled around the world.
with a relative pronoun
My sister has got a friend who speaks Japanese
with a conditional
If I could afford it, I would spend my holidays in
Dubai.
with ‘unless’ - conditional
Unless you work hard, you will fail the exam
4. Most common transformations
Using modal verbs
There’s no need to copy the questions You don’t have to /needn’t copy the questions
Entering the country without a visa is forbidden You mustn’t enter the country without a visa
It’s wrong to phone him so late You shouldn’t / oughtn’t to phone him so late
He knows how to speak German He can speak German
Perhaps we’ll invite you to the party We may / might invite you to the party
I’m sure he made a fortune in the USA He must have made a fortune in the USA
5. Most common transformations
Using reporting verbs
“Shall I help you with your luggage?” He offered to help her with her luggage
“No, it wasn’t me. I didn’t take it!” He denied taking it
“I won’t go with you. No way.” She refused to go with them
“Don’t worry. I’ll pay you back” He promised to pay him back
“Don’t say a word, or I’ll punch your nose!” He threatened to punch his nose
“Don’t play with the ball at home!” He told them not to play with the ball
“It’s true! I’ve made a mistake!” She realised she had made a mistake
“Let’s have breakfast in the garden!” They suggested having breakfast in the garden
6. Most common transformations
With adjectives/adverbs
1. very + adv/adj(+noun) so - such (a/an)(+noun) that…
He is very nice. All his students love him. He is so nice that all his students love him.
He is such a nice person that all his …..
She works carefully. She never makes mistakes. She works so carefully that she never makes...
She is such a careful worker that she never…
2. too + adj/adv not + adj/ adv + enough
James is too shy to speak in front of an audience James is not confident enough to speak in front of a
an audience
7. Most common transformations
1. simple past + ago for / since
Jim went to London 3 years ago Jim hasn’t been to London for 3 years
Jim hasn’t been to London since 2011
* For… since…
three days (last) Monday
a week last week
two years 2012
some/ a long time June, 1999
a couple of months December
a fortnight the 1oth of March
many years Tom’s party
a few years that day
8. Most common transformations
1.- Using comparatives / superlatives
She runs very fast. No one can beat her at school
She is the fastest runner at school.
She runs faster than any other at school.
No one at school can run as fast as her.
2.- Using comparatives & conditionals
You are not 18. You aren’t allowed at the disco.
If you were older, you would be allowed at the disco.
I have little money. I can’t afford to go on holiday this year.
If I had more money, I would go on holiday this year.
9. Most common transformations
Although / even though / Despite / in spite of + -ing
however / though + the fact that+clause
Although/ Even though the exam was very difficult, James got a high mark.
The exam was very difficult. However, James got a high mark.
The exam was very difficult. James got a high mark, though.
Despite being a difficult exam, James got a high mark.
In spite of being a difficult exam, James got a high mark.
Despite the fact that the exam was very difficult, James got a high mark.
In spite the fact that the exam was very difficult, James got a high mark.
10. Most common transformations
Expressing preference: prefer & would rather
1. prefer x to x would rather x than x
I prefer Coke to Pepsi I’d rather drink coke than Pepsi
I prefer black to white I’d rather wear black than white
2 . prefer -ing to -ing would rather v-inf than v-inf
I prefer drinking Coke to (drinking) Pepsi I’d rather drink Coke than (drink )Pepsi
I prefer wearing black to (wearing) white I’d rather wear black than (wear) white
3. prefer to v-inf rather than v-inf
I prefer to drink Coke rather than (drink) Pepsi.
4. would prefer to v-inf rather than v-inf
I ‘d prefer to drink Coke rather than (drink) Pepsi
5.would rather sb DID sth
I’d rather you phoned me in the morning
I’d rather you didn’t phone so late at night
11. Most common transformations
Using the passive
1. From active to passive / From passive to active
They sent me a letter I was sent a letter / A letter was sent to me
1. Passive with verbs like believe, say, claim, understand, think, suppose,
expect, report, acknowledge, assume, estimate, consider etc.
The police believe he’s living abroad now He’s believed to be living abroad now
It’s believed that he’s living abroad now
People expect this crisis will soon be over This crisis is expected to be over soon
It’s expected that this crisis will soon be over
1. Causative form: ‘have/get sth done’
I’m going to the opticians’ to get my eyes tested
I have my hair cut at the hairdresser’s twice a year.