Grammar and Sentence Structure: Transformation Patterns
The grammar section rewards pattern recognition. Most items transform one sentence, so ask "what is the cue word, and which pattern does it trigger?" before writing.
High-yield patterns
- Voice: object → subject; verb → correct form of be + past participle; the tense must not change.
- Reported speech: shift tense back one step, change pronouns to the reporter's viewpoint, and change now→then, today→that day, tomorrow→the next day. Yes/no questions take if/whether; reported questions keep statement order.
- Degrees: as … as (positive), -er/than (comparative), the -est of/in (superlative). Never more better.
- Sentence types: one clause = simple; two clauses joined by and/but/so = compound; main plus subordinate (because, although, when, which) = complex.
- Conditionals: If + present, will (real); If + past, would (unreal now); If + had + past participle, would have + past participle (unreal past).
- Question tags: opposite polarity, same auxiliary, pronoun subject.
Worked example. Although he was tired, he finished the work. Convert to a compound sentence. Cue: although signals concession, so the compound equivalent uses but - He was tired, but he finished the work. Note that Although he was tired, but he finished is wrong: English allows only one of the two connectors.
Traps
- One of the boys was, not were.
- Reported question: He asked where I was, never where was I.
- If I had known, I would have come - not would have knew.
- The tag for I am is aren't I?