Sentence pattern Transformations

The basic sentence patterns in the English language may be transformed in the following ways:

1.  Transform to passive voice

   This transformation requires using a sentence with an action verb and a direct object.
   The sentence may be any of the following patterns:

        NP1 + V-tr + NP2    The dog ate the bone.
        NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + NP3   Joe gave Mary a ring.
        NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + Adj   We consider Joe intelligent.
        NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + NP2   The people made Olaf king.

   To create the transformation,

        1.  make the direct object into the subject,
        2.  add the "be" auxiliary and the -en ending to the main verb, and
        3.  place the original doer of the action into a prepositional phrase beginning with by.

    Examples

    NOTE:  Do not change verb tense when transforming sentences from active to passive.

             ate = was eaten     gave = was given     consider = is considered     made = was made

2.  Transform to the expletive  there is / there are

    This transformation requires using a sentence with a verb of being as the main verb.
    The sentence pattern must be   

        NP1 + V-be + ADV/TP.   A fly is on the wall.
                                                    Two dogs were at the park.

    To create the transformation,

        1.   place  there  at the beginning of the sentence and
         2.  reverse positions of the subject and verb.

    Examples

    NOTE:  Do not change verb tense when creating the there is / there are transformation.
        
                                     is = there is         were = there were

3.  Transform to cleft

    This transformation allows the writer to emphasize a the sentence subject or object.

    This transformation may be used with any of the sentence patterns.

    There are two ways to create this transformation.

        Method #1
        1.  Begin the sentence with It  and the appropriate number and tense of the verb of being,
        2.   focus on either the subject or direct object, and
        3.   create a second half for the sentence that begins with  who, whom, or that.

        Examples

        In the above example, the first cleft transformation emphasizes the subject,  dog, using three words to refer to the dog:  it, dog, and that.
        The second cleft transformation emphasizes the direct object, bone, using three words to refer to the bone:  it, bone, and that.

         In the above example, the first cleft transformation emphasizes the direct object,  Joe, using three words to refer to Joe:  it, Joe, and whom.
        The second cleft transformation emphasizes the subject we, using three words to refer to us  it, we, and who.       

       Method #2
        1.  Begin the sentence with What,
        2.   follow with the subject and verb, and
        3.  insert the appropriate tense of the verb of being and follow with the direct object.

        Examples

        In the above example, the cleft transformation emphasizes the direct object,  bone, using two words to refer to bone:  what and bone.

        This cleft transformation emphasizes the direct object, ring, , using two words to refer to the ring:  what and ring. 

    NOTE:  Do not change verb tense when creating the cleft transformation.

    PAST TENSE:  The dog ate the bone.
       It was the dog who ate the bone.
       It was the bone that the dog ate.
       What the dog ate was the bone.

    PRESENT TENSE:   We consider Joe intelligent.
        It is Joe whom we consider  intelligent.

    PAST TENSE:   Joe gave Mary a ring.
        What Joe gave Mary was a ring.

4.  Transform to negative

    This transformation may be used with any of the sentence patterns.

    To create the negative  transformation 

       A.  with a verb of being as the main verb:  Add not to the verb.

            Example

       B.   with an action or linking verb that has an auxiliary verb (have or be): Add not to the verb

            Example - action verb

            Example - linking verb

        C.  with an action or linking verb that does not have an auxiliary verb:  Add not and the 
              appropriate number and tense of do.

            Example - action verb

             Example - linking verb      

5.  Transform to interrogative with yes-no answer

        This transformation may be used with any of the sentence patterns.

        To transform sentences into the interrogative with yes-no answer,

         A.  with a verb of being as the main verb:  Transpose the position of the subject and the verb

           B. with an action or linking verb that has an auxiliary verb (have or be):  Transpose the
                 position of the subject and the auxiliary verb

                Example - action verb

                Example - linking verb

           C.. with an action or linking verb that does not have an auxiliary verb:  Add the appropriate
                  number and tense of do

                    Example - Action verb

                    Example - Linking verb

6.  Transform to interrogative

        This transformation provides questions that will produce more than a yes/no answer.
        It may be used with any of the sentence patterns.

        To create the transformation,

        1.   place  an interrogative word  at the beginning of the sentence,
         2.  reverse positions of the subject and verb, and
         3.  add do/does/did if needed (action or linking verb without auxiliary verb).

        Interrogative words:

            how     when     where     why     what     which     who       whom

          Example - verb of being
               

           Example - action  verb with auxiliary verb    
             

          Example - linking  verb with auxiliary verb
             

          Example - action verb without auxiliary verb
             

          Example - linking  verb without auxiliary verb
             

        NOTE:  Sentences using which or whose to create the interrogative may not require
                      adding do/does/did or transposing the positions of the subject and verb.

7.  Transform to emphasis / emphatic

    This transformation may be used 

• with all sentence patterns except the verb-of-being patterns.
• with action or linking verbs that do not have auxiliary verbs

      To make the emphatic transformation, place do, does, or did in front of the verb, as tense and
      number dictate.

         Examples

8.  Transform to imperative

        This transformation creates a command.
        It may be used with all sentence patterns.

        To make the imperative transformation,  replace the sentence subject with you UNDERSTOOD
        and change the verb form to its infinitive form without to.

           Examples:

        NOTE:  There is only one tense, simple present, for the imperative transformation.

9.  Transform to exclamatory 

        This transformation creates a surprise statement.
        It may be used with all sentence patterns.

        To make the exclamatory transformation, 

• place what or how at the beginning of the sentence
• rearrange words in the sentence as needed
• place an exclamation point at the end of the sentence

        Examples

In many cases, more than one transformation may be performed at a time on a given sentence.

        Example - passive and interrogative

        Example - passive, negative, and interrogative yes-no

        Example - cleft, emphasis, and interrogative yes-no