Grammar Transformation Techniques
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ScribdTranslationsGrammar Transformation Techniques
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ScribdTranslations• Change adjectives of opposite meaning
• Change adverbs of opposite meaning
• Some- Any- Much- Many- Few- Little- Too- Enough
• would rather - prefer
• Present Perfect vs. Past Tense
• Neither-nor-either-or-so-both
• Change one comparative for another that says the same.
• Change a modal verb for one of similar meaning.
• Change from active voice to passive voice and vice versa.
• Change a conditional.
• Change relative clauses.
• Change sentences from direct style to indirect speech.
• Change 'connectors'.
C) Some- Any- Much- Many- Few- Little-Too- Enough
In English, these words are called 'quantifiers' because they indicate quantities.
Hereyou have a list of quantifiers.
For example:
• There aren't many people in the room.
• There are few people in the room.
Not many is the same as few.
(Would) rather- Prefer
Example:
• I prefer studying English to studying German.
• I like studying English more than studying German.
German.
Notice the structure with 'prefer' uses 'to' for comparison and the structure with 'rather' uses 'than'.
Important difference between 'would prefer' and 'would rather': The verb that follows 'would'
rather go in infinitive without 'to'. Again, so that it stays in your mind: 'the verb that follows'
"would rather" goes in the infinitive without "to". In contrast, the verb that follows "would prefer" can
to be followed by a verb in infinitive with "to" or in "-ing"; there is not much difference in meaning.
between one option or [Link] can see what we said back then about verbs followed by
-ing or infinitive. Look for 'prefer' in the list.
"Would rather like" is not the same as "would rather". "I would rather like" means
I would like a lot. It does not express preference and has a similar use to 'quite' quite.
However, I believe that this expression is more British than American.
I would really like a cold beer.
Something more about 'would rather':
We can say:
Example 1: I'd rather you spoke in English. I would prefer you to speak in English.
My brother would rather we didn't go home.
we went) home.
Notice how this structure contains two sentences (one main and one subordinate) and expresses the
preferences of a person:
(1) subject + 'would rather' + (2) subject + past tense
Example 3: She'd rather you worked. She would prefer that you worked.
Notice also how in this structure we translate the 'past tense' by the 'imperfect preterite of
subjunctive" (not for the past).
Por ejemplo decimos:(worked)trabajara/trabajases, (slept)durmieras/durmieses, (told)
it will count/you would count, etc. The same occurs in thesecond conditional (the unlikely one), with the “past
tense" that comes after "if." For example, we say: "If I were rich, I wouldn't work." "If I
out/it wouldn't work.
E) Present Perfect vs. Past Tense
Example:
• They have been married for 5 years.
• They got married 5 years ago.
Note: In my opinion, these sentences do not say exactly the same thing, but they can be found in
the rewriting exercises.
F) Neither-nor-either-or-so-both
Example:
• She doesn't like either pears or apples.
• She neither likes pears nor apples.
Recapping: 'Neither' can mean: neither, nor, and none.
Neither this nor that.
• I like neither tea nor coffee.
The sentence starts with a 'no'. In English, on the other hand, it starts in an affirmative sense: 'I like'.
This is so because it is understood that 'neither' is negative and we cannot have two negatives.
in the same sentence, therefore, the first part is (+) and the second (-)
• He neither knows nor cares.
• It seemed to me neither good nor bad.
• Did you see that movie? No. Me neither.
• It's not our idea. Neither is it the idea of our friends.
the idea of our friends.
• I like neither of them.
• Neither of them is too good.
• Neither of them became president.
Recapping: “Either” [ider] can mean: neither, or, any, none.
anyone, neither, not even.
Results of the translations with 'either' [ider].
• She can't speak either Spanish or English.
• You can have either bread or cookies.
• Either Peter or Ann can do it.
• You can wear either of the two coats.
• Either wheel will do.
• You can eat either piece of cake.
• Either of them will do.
• I don't know either of them.
• Can either of you do this?
G) Change one comparative for another that says the same.
Example:
• John is taller than Peter.
• Peter isn't as tall as John. John is not as tall as Peter.
H) Change a 'modal verb' for one of similar meaning.
Example:
• Shall we have a coffee?
• Wouldyou like to have a coffee?¿Tegustaría tomarte un café?
I) Change from active to passive voice and vice versa.
Example:
• The police caught the thief.
• The thief was caught by the police.
K) Change 'relative clauses'.
Example:
• There's the man. His house was burnt.
• There's the man whose house was burnt.
L) Change sentences from direct style to indirect (reported)
speech).
Example:
• Mary said: I won't go to the party.
• Mary said that she wouldn't go to the party.
M) Change 'connectors'.
Example:
• Although we were hungry, we didn't eat.
• In spite of being hungry we didn't eat.