SYNTHESIS & TRANSFORMATION ANSWER KEY (SEMESTER 1)

Synthesis & Transformation (1)

1. Ali’s mother told him not to play near the drain.
2. Rajoo says that he intends to be a doctor when he grows up.
3. Unless you tell the truth, he cannot help you.
4. The thief drove quickly out of town so that the police could not catch him.
The thief drove quickly out of town so that the police would not catch him.
5. The talk on the radio was neither amusing nor interesting.
6. Joe said that he had gone to see his aunt the day before/ the previous day.
7. Mother tells me that she does not believe me.
8. You will not find it unless you look for it.
9. Tim is neither intelligent nor hardworking.
10. John tries his best in whatever he does so that he will not let his parents down.
John tries his best in whatever he does so that he does not let his parents down.
John tries his best in whatever he does so that his parents will not be let down.
11. However hard you train, you will not win the singing contest.
12. Jolin is so lazy that she does not mind failing her examinations.
Jolin does not mind failing her examinations as/ because she is very lazy.
Jolin is very lazy so she does not mind failing her examinations.
Jolin is very lazy and (she) does not mind failing her examinations. (accepted grudgingly)

13.I will not speak to her until she apologises to me.
I will not speak to her until she has apologised to me.)

Note : use of contractions “won’t” – deduct half the marks. Contractions only allowed for conversations/ dialogue.


Synthesis & Transformation (2)

1. The storm was such a violent one that many trees were uprooted.
It was such a violent storm that many trees were uprooted.
2. The leader told them to do as they were told and not (to) ask questions.
3. I asked the little boy why he was crying and where his mother was.
4. Paul is small enough to go into the garden through the small hole in the fence.
5. However hard Richard tries, he can never get up early.
6. No matter how hard Richard tries, he can never get up early.
7. There was not enough food for the large crowd which / that turned up for my Christmas party.
There was not enough food as / because a large crowd turned up for my Christmas party.
8. Jane is not strong enough to carry that heavy sack of rice up the slope.
9. However hard Jane tried, she could not carry that heavy sack of rice up the slope.
10. Joe is such a selfish boy that he (simply) refuses to share anything with anyone.
11. No matter how hard Jane tried, she could not carry that heavy sack of rice up the slope.
12. The boys began to quarrel (even) before they (had) started playing soccer.
(emphasise the idea of completion, Michael Swan pg 97)
13.It began to pour heavily (even) before I (had) started walking to school.
(emphasise the idea of completion, Michael Swan pg 97)
14. To begin making the cookies, the ingredients have to/ are to/ must / should be combined in a bowl.


Synthesis & Transformation (3)

1. The lady asked her friends whether/ if she had to pay for their tickets.
2. The stranger asked Michael what time it was.
3. Peter always tells his colleagues not to drink if they want to drive.
4. Susie left home without informing her guardian.
5. In case you are/ get bored, there are some magazines for you to read.
6. You can choose/ pick either the pink dress or the blue one.
You can choose/ pick either the pink or (the) blue dress.
You can either choose/ pick the pink or (the) blue dress.
You can either choose/ pick the pink or the blue one.
7. Either Dad or Mum will pick me up from school.
8. Tom entered his name for the contest without thinking twice about it.
9. Bring along an umbrella with you when you go out in case it rains.
10. In case there is an emergency, call this number.
In case of (an) emergency, call this number.
11. Manual toothbrushes do not clean teeth as thoroughly as electric ones.
Electric toothbrushes clean teeth more thoroughly as compared to manual ones.
Electric toothbrushes are better than manual ones as they clean teeth more thoroughly.
12. Clay pots are not as good as stainless steel ones.
13. Justin asked James if/ whether he had watched the news the previous night/ the night before.
14. Instead of offering the seat to the old woman, the inconsiderate boy occupied the only vacant one on the bus.
Instead of offering it to the old woman, the inconsiderate boy occupied the only vacant seat on the bus.
Instead of offering the only vacant seat on the bus to the old woman, the inconsiderate boy occupied it.


Synthesis & Transformation (4)

1. My brother cannot drive a car unless he has a licence.
2. As the children did not want to wake the old lady up, they spoke in whispers.
3. In spite of their poverty, they were happy.
In spite of being poor, they were happy.
In spite of the fact that they were poor, they were happy.
4. He asked me if/ whether I had bought ‘The New Paper’ the previous day/ the day before.
5. Before Mr. Fu (had) reached the office, his secretary was already there. (addition of ‘had’ = emphasis)
6. In spite of his poor health, he always turns up to support the class during competitions.
In spite of being sickly, he always turns up to support the class during competitions.
In spite of being a sickly boy, he always turns up to support the class during competitions.
In spite of the fact that he is a sickly boy, he always turns up to support the class during competitions.
7. Unless you stop working at this rate, you will fall ill.
8. We decided to hold a party last Saturday as it was a public holiday.
9.Before I went out for a movie with my friends, I completed my homework.
Before I had gone out for a movie with my friends, I completed my homework. (addition of ‘had’ = emphasis)
Before going out for a movie with my friends, I completed my homework.
10.In spite of their wealth, they are not happy.
In spite of the fact that they are rich, they are not happy.
In spite of being rich, they are not happy.
11.Ahmad is not old enough to donate blood.
12.Tim is such a kind-hearted soul that he does not mind spending all his free time at the old folks’ home.
Tim does not mind spending all his time at the old folks’ home as he is a kind-hearted soul.
Tim, who is a kind-hearted soul, does not mind spending all his time at the old folks’ home.
Tim is a kind-hearted soul who does not mind spending all his time at the old folks’ home.
13.Tina told her mother that she had baked that cake specially for her.
Tina told her mother that she had specially baked that cake for her.
14.However hard James tried, he could never beat Jeff at tennis.
However hard he tried, James could never beat Jeff at tennis.


Synthesis & Transformation (5)

1. She has such a soft voice that nobody can hear her.
Her voice is such a soft one that nobody can hear her.
2. The coin which (had) dropped into the drain was picked up by Tim.
The coin, which (had) dropped into the drain, was picked up by Tim.
3. Unless you pay $3.00, you cannot enter the exhibition.
4. Although the doctor had advised Adrian to stay in bed for a few days, he (still) went to work.
Although Adrian had been advised by the doctor to stay in bed for a few days, he (still) went to work.
5. In spite of the doctor’s advice to stay in bed for a few days, Adrian (still) went to work.
In spite of the fact that the doctor had advised Adrian to stay in bed for a few days, he (still) went to work.
6. In spite of her hard work, she (still) failed her examinations.
In spite of (her) working very hard, she (still) failed her examinations.
In spite of the fact that she had worked very hard, she (still) failed her examinations.
7. Although she had worked very hard for the examinations, she failed.
Although she had worked very hard, she failed the examinations.
8. Although Jack’s mother had warned him not to play with matches, he continued to do so.
Although Jack’s mother had warned him not to, he (still) continued to play with matches.
Although Jack’s mother had warned him not to, he played with matches.
Although Jack’s mother had warned him not to play with matches, he (still) played with them.
Although Jack had been warned by his mother not to play with matches, he (still) continued to do so.

9. In spite of his mother’s warning not to play with matches, Jack continued to do so/ Jack did it/ Jack played with them.
In spite of the fact that his mother had warned him not to play with matches, Jack continued to do so/ Jack played with them/ Jack did so.
In spite of the fact that Jack’s mother had warned him not to play with matches, he continued to do so/ he played with them/ he did so.
In spite of him being warned by his mother not to play with matches, Jack played with them/ Jack did so.
In spite of his mother’s warning, Jack played with matches.
10. The talented pianist’s performance was such a brilliant one that the audience gave him a standing ovation.
The talented pianist performed with such brilliance that the audience gave him a standing ovation.
The talented pianist had/gave such a brilliant performance that the audience gave him a standing ovation.
11. The cause of Tom’s dismissal from/ by his company was his tardiness at work.
The cause of Tom being dismissed from/ by his company was his tardiness at work.
12. The heavy haze led to the games being cancelled.
The heavy haze led to the cancellation of the games.
The heavy haze caused the games to be cancelled.
The heavy haze was the reason/ cause of the games being cancelled.
The heavy haze was the reason/ cause that the games were cancelled.
13. After the children had finished their schoolwork, they took a nap.
After finishing their schoolwork, the children took a nap.


Synthesis & Transformation (6)

1. Mother reminded Betsy not to stay up too late.
Betsy’s mother reminded her not to stay up too late.
2. My brother, whom you met the other day, recently wrote a book on self-discipline.
3. Despite having played well, our soccer team lost.
4. She apologised for leaving so early.
5. In order not to be charged, he had to cooperate with the police.
In order not to be charged by the police, he had to cooperate with them.
In order to avoid being charged, he had to cooperate with the police.
6. Benny was praised by the principal at the morning assembly for helping out at the old folks’ home.
7. Miss Tan told her pupils not to run along the corridor.
8. Tony walked out of the restaurant without paying the bill.
9. The tourist asked Jim where the National Museum was.
10. Neither a raincoat nor (an) umbrella does Hazel need.
Neither a raincoat nor (an) umbrella is needed by Hazel.
11. He painted the chairs to make/ let them look new.
12. The necklace is not expensive/ cheap but neither is it cheap/ expensive.
13. Mr. Tan asked Miss Lim where his children were.
14. Jack played computer games every day despite his mother advising him not to.
Jack played computer games every day despite his mother’s advice not to.
Jack played computer games every day despite the fact that his mother had advised him not to.


Synthesis & Transformation (7)

1. My brother is not old enough to drive a car.
2. “Would you get me a drink, please?” she asked me.
“Would you mind getting me a drink, please?” she asked me.
“Would you please get me a drink?” she asked me.
3. No student in the school is taller than Janet.
4. Whatever you (may) say, I still think that I have made the right choice.
5. Having seen the movie twice, she has no intention of seeing it again.
6. Paul warned George not to do it again.
7. Dawn does not sing as well as Clare (does).
Dawn does not sing better than Clare (does).
8. No pupils are allowed to eat or drink in the library.
No pupil is allowed to eat or drink in the library.
No eating or drinking is allowed in the library.
No drinking or eating is allowed in the library.
9. Neither Karen nor her friends are going.
10. Can you tell me the reason why they are not going?
11. Unless he does the exercise carefully, he will not get it right.
12. He has not played football for ages (a long time).
13. Boys like football more/ better than girls (do).
14. Jim has just repaired the fan which was not working properly.
The fan, which Jim has just repaired, was not working properly.
The fan, which was not working properly, has just been repaired by Jim.
15. Being ill, Jane cannot come for the party.
16. You must wait here until your bus comes.
17. The more you read, the more you will know.
18. My father is neither in the house nor (in the) garden.
19. The vice-principal sent for both Roger and me.
20. The food was so salty that I threw it away.