Trànormation -Theory

Transformation
Structure 1.



• She’s a better tennis player than I am.
 I don’t play tennis as well as she does.
• Britain isn’t as warm as Greece.
 Greece is warmer than Britain.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.

• They don’t speak as fluently as we do.
 We speak …………………………………………………………….
• No other city in Vietnam is so large as Ho Chi Minh city.
 Ho Chi Minh city ..………………………………………………….
Structure 2.
a)



•This song is simple enough for all of us to sing.
 This song is so simple that all of us can sing it.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the
sentence printed before it.
• He is rich enough to buy whatever he wants.
 He is ………………………………………………………….

• Richard is tall enough to change light bulbs in some rooms without
having to stand on a chair.
 Richard is ………………………………………………………

b)

• The house was so expensive that my brother couldn't buy it.
 The house was too expensive for my brother to buy.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.
• The water was so cold that the children could not swim in it.
The water …………………………………………………….
• He was so tired that he couldn't stay awake until the end of the film.
He was ……………………………………………………….

Structure 3.

• It’s wonderful to lie on the beach all day.
 To lie on the beach all day is wonderful.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.
• It’s difficult to understand what she’s talking about.
 To understand……………………………………………………
• It is very relaxing to spend a day in the country.
 To spend…………………………………………………………
Structure 4.

Ex:
• I advise you not to see her again.
 You’d better not see her again.
• You’d better think carefully before accepting the offer.
 I advise you to think carefully before accepting the offer.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the
sentence printed before it.
• I don’t think you should drink any more coffee.
 You'd better ………………………………………………………….
• You had better begin by introducing yourself.
 I advise……………………………………………………………….


Structure 5.

• He’d rather watch TV than go out to the cinema.
 He prefers watching TV to going out to the cinema.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the
sentence printed before it.

• Alice would rather drink Coca-Cola than orange juice.
 Alice prefers………………………………………………………….
• Jane would prefer to go to class tomorrow than today.

 Jane would rather…………………………………………………….


Structure 6.


• He started working here three years ago.
 He has worked here for three years.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the
sentence printed before it.

• She last saw him when she was ten.
 She hasn’t………………………………………………………
• The last time Jack went swimming was five years ago.
 Jack hasn’t………………………………………………………
Structure 7.

• I can't see the play because it is sold out.
 If the play were not sold out, I could see it.
• We didn't go on holiday because we didn’t have enough money.
 If we had had enough money we would have gone on holiday.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.
• My brother didn't buy that car because he didn't have enough money.
 If my brother……………………………………………………
• He smokes too much; perhaps that's why he can't get rid of his cough.

 If he didn’t smoke……………………………………………
Structure 8.
• She said, "The school opened a year ago."
 She said the school had opened a year ago.
• 'You must wear a tie,' the teacher said.
 The teacher told him he had to wear a tie.
Notes:
• Changes in tenses
Direct speech Indirect speech
Simple Present
Present Progressive
Simple Past
Present Perfect
**
Past Progressive
Simple Future (will + v)
Future Perfect (will have + v)
Present Conditional (would + v)
Simple Past
Past Progressive
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
**
Past Perfect Progressive
Present Conditional (would + v)
Perfect Conditional (would have +v)
Perfect Conditional (would have + v)
•

Changes in time and place

Direct speech Indirect speech
today
tonight
yesterday
the day before yesterday
tomorrow
the day after tomorrow
last week / year, etc
next week/year, etc
a year ago
these
come here
that day
that night
the day before / earlier
two days before
the next / following day
in two days’ time
the previous week/year, etc
the following week/year, etc
the previous year/ a year before
those
go there

a)
• The teacher said to us: “Did you understand my instructions?”
 The teacher asked us if (whether) we had understood his instructions.

 EXAMPLE

Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.
• Tom said, “Can you remember where you put the dictionary, Mary? ”
 Tom asked……………………………………………………
• My brother said to her, "Did you see George at the football match?"
 My brother asked..……………………………………………

b)
• I said to her: “What do you mean?”
 I asked her what she meant.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.
• ‘Where did you buy your shoes, Sally?’ asked Gail.
 Gail asked………………………………………………………
• I said to my brother, "How much did you pay for these over ripe tomatoes?"
 I asked…………………………………………………………….

c)
• He said to me: “Don’t believe everything she says”.
 He told me not to believe everything she said.

 EXAMPLE
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the
sentence printed before it.
• He said to the servant, “Please bring me some hot water".