Master sentence improvement and rewriting techniques for Classes 9-12. Learn to transform sentences using different grammatical structures while maintaining original meaning.
✅ Recommended for: Class 9-12 (CBSE/UP Board) | Competitive Exams
1. Understanding Sentence Improvement & Rewriting
Sentence improvement involves correcting grammatical errors in a sentence. Sentence rewriting involves expressing the same idea using different grammatical structures without changing the original meaning. Both test your mastery of grammar and vocabulary.
| Type | Original Sentence | Improved/Rewritten Version | Transformation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Error Correction | She don't like coffee. | She doesn't like coffee. | Subject-verb agreement correction |
| Sentence Combining | He finished his work. He went home. | Having finished his work, he went home. | Using participle phrase |
| Voice Change | The teacher praised the student. | The student was praised by the teacher. | Active to passive voice |
| Direct to Indirect | She said, "I am tired." | She said that she was tired. | Direct to indirect speech |
| Degree Change | Mumbai is hotter than Delhi. | Delhi is not as hot as Mumbai. | Comparative to positive degree |
2. Common Sentence Transformation Types
| Transformation Type | Key Words/Structure | Original Example | Transformed Example | Rules to Remember |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Active to Passive | Object becomes subject + be + V3 + by agent | The cat chased the mouse. | The mouse was chased by the cat. | Tense must be maintained; only transitive verbs can be passive |
| 2. Direct to Indirect Speech | Remove quotes, change pronouns, tense backshift | He said, "I will come tomorrow." | He said that he would come the next day. | Today → that day, tomorrow → next day, here → there |
| 3. Degrees of Comparison | Positive ↔ Comparative ↔ Superlative | Rohan is the tallest boy in class. | No other boy in class is as tall as Rohan. | Superlative → Positive: No other... as... as |
| 4. Simple ↔ Compound ↔ Complex | Using conjunctions, clauses | He worked hard. He passed. | He worked hard and passed. | Simple: one clause; Compound: coordinating conjunctions; Complex: subordinating conjunctions |
| 5. Using Too/So...That | Too + adjective + to ↔ So + adjective + that | He is too weak to walk. | He is so weak that he cannot walk. | Remove "too" and add "so...that...cannot" |
| 6. Using Unless/If...Not | Unless = If...not | If you don't hurry, you'll miss the bus. | Unless you hurry, you'll miss the bus. | Remove "don't" after changing to unless |
| 7. Using Although/Though | Although/Though + clause, main clause | He is rich but he is not happy. | Although he is rich, he is not happy. | Replace "but" with "although" and remove conjunction |
| 8. Using Not Only...But Also | Not only...but also = both...and | He is intelligent and hardworking. | He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. | Maintain parallel structure after not only/but also |
| 9. Using As Soon As/No Sooner | No sooner...than, Hardly...when | As soon as he saw me, he ran away. | No sooner did he see me than he ran away. | Inverse word order after no sooner/hardly |
| 10. Using Prefer/Would Rather | Prefer...to, Would rather...than | I like tea better than coffee. | I prefer tea to coffee. | Prefer + noun + to + noun (not than) |
3. Active and Passive Voice Transformations
| Tense | Active Voice | Passive Voice | Structure | Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | He writes a letter. | A letter is written by him. | is/am/are + V3 | Habitual actions |
| Present Continuous | He is writing a letter. | A letter is being written by him. | is/am/are + being + V3 | Ongoing actions |
| Present Perfect | He has written a letter. | A letter has been written by him. | has/have + been + V3 | Completed actions with present relevance |
| Simple Past | He wrote a letter. | A letter was written by him. | was/were + V3 | Completed past actions |
| Past Continuous | He was writing a letter. | A letter was being written by him. | was/were + being + V3 | Ongoing past actions |
| Past Perfect | He had written a letter. | A letter had been written by him. | had + been + V3 | Actions completed before another past action |
| Simple Future | He will write a letter. | A letter will be written by him. | will/shall + be + V3 | Future actions |
| Future Perfect | He will have written a letter. | A letter will have been written by him. | will/shall + have + been + V3 | Actions completed before a future time |
| Modals | He can write a letter. He must write a letter. |
A letter can be written by him. A letter must be written by him. |
Modal + be + V3 | All modals follow same pattern |
| Imperative | Write a letter. Don't write a letter. |
Let a letter be written. Let a letter not be written. |
Let + object + be + V3 | Commands and requests |
| Questions | Does he write letters? Is he writing a letter? |
Are letters written by him? Is a letter being written by him? |
Question word + helping verb + subject + be + V3 | Maintain question structure |
4. Direct to Indirect Speech Transformations
| Change Type | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech | Rule | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronoun Change | He said, "I am tired." | He said that he was tired. | First person changes according to subject of reporting verb | When speaker refers to himself/herself |
| Tense Backshift | She said, "I write letters." | She said that she wrote letters. | Present → Past, Past → Past Perfect, Future → Conditional | Universal truths remain present tense |
| Time Words | He said, "I will come today." | He said that he would come that day. | Today → that day, tomorrow → next day, yesterday → previous day | When time reference is clear from context |
| Place Words | She said, "I live here." | She said that she lived there. | Here → there, this → that, these → those | When place is obvious from context |
| Questions | He said, "Where do you live?" | He asked where I lived. | Remove question mark, use interrogative word, change to statement word order | Yes/no questions use if/whether |
| Commands | She said, "Close the door." | She ordered/told me to close the door. | Use infinitive (to + V1), change reporting verb to order/tell/ask | Negative commands: not + to + V1 |
| Exclamations | He said, "What a beautiful sight!" | He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful sight. | Remove exclamation, add exclaimed, describe feeling | Different exclamations need different reporting verbs |
| Modal Changes | She said, "I can help you." | She said that she could help me. | Can → could, may → might, will → would, shall → should | Must can remain must or change to had to |
5. Degrees of Comparison Transformations
| Transformation | Original Sentence | Transformed Sentence | Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive to Comparative | No other city in India is as crowded as Mumbai. | Mumbai is more crowded than any other city in India. | No other...as...as → ...-er/more...than any other... | Use "any other" not "all other" |
| Positive to Superlative | No other metal is as useful as iron. | Iron is the most useful metal. | No other...as...as → ...the -est/most... | Remove "other" in superlative |
| Comparative to Positive | Gold is more expensive than silver. | Silver is not as expensive as gold. | ...-er/more...than → ...not as...as... | Change order of comparison |
| Comparative to Superlative | Rohan is taller than any other boy in class. | Rohan is the tallest boy in class. | ...-er/more...than any other... → ...the -est/most... | Must include "any other" in comparative |
| Superlative to Positive | Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world. | No other peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest. | ...the -est/most... → No other...as...as... | Add "No other" at beginning |
| Superlative to Comparative | Sachin is the best batsman in the team. | Sachin is better than any other batsman in the team. | ...the -est/most... → ...-er/more...than any other... | Include "any other" in comparative |
| Using "Very few" | Very few cities are as developed as Bangalore. | Bangalore is more developed than most other cities. | Very few...as...as → ...-er/more...than most other... | Use "most other" not "many other" |
| Using "One of the" | The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings. | Very few buildings are as beautiful as the Taj Mahal. | One of the... → Very few...as...as... | Implies there are other similar ones |
🎯 Sentence Improvement & Rewriting Challenge
Rewrite these sentences as directed without changing the meaning.
1. As soon as the bell rang, the children rushed out. (Begin: No sooner...)
Rule Applied: "As soon as" → "No sooner...than" with inversion (did + subject + V1)
Alternative: Hardly had the bell rung when the children rushed out.
2. "Please don't go away," she said. (Change to indirect speech)
Rule Applied: Direct request → Indirect: reporting verb "requested" + object + not + to + V1
Notes: "Please" indicates request, so use "requested" not "said".
3. He is so arrogant that he will not apologize. (Use: too...to)
Rule Applied: "So...that...not" → "Too...to" (remove "that" and "will not")
Pattern: So + adjective + that + subject + will not/cannot → Too + adjective + to + V1
4. Not only did he steal the money but he also lied about it. (Begin: Besides...)
Rule Applied: "Not only...but also" → "Besides" + gerund (-ing form)
Transformation: Not only + did + subject + V1 + but also → Besides + V-ing, subject + V2
5. If you don't work hard, you will not succeed. (Use: Unless)
Rule Applied: "If...not" → "Unless" (remove "don't")
Important: Unless = If not, so don't use double negative. "Unless you don't work" is wrong.
7. Memory Aids & Quick Tips
Transformation Formula Sheet:
• Active → Passive: Object + be + V3 + by + subject
• Direct → Indirect: Remove quotes, change pronouns, tense backshift, adjust time/place
• Degree Change: Positive: as...as, Comparative: -er/more...than, Superlative: the -est/most
• Too...to → So...that: Too + adj + to + V1 → So + adj + that + sub + cannot + V1
• Unless → If not: Unless + positive verb = If + negative verb
• No sooner...than: No sooner + auxiliary + subject + V1 + than + rest
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
1. Double negatives with unless: "Unless you don't" ✗ → "Unless you" ✓
2. Wrong tense sequence in indirect speech: Universal truths remain present
3. Incorrect word order after no sooner/hardly: Inversion required
4. Missing "other" in comparative degree: "than any other" not "than all"
5. Changing meaning during transformation: Meaning must stay same
6. Parallel structure error with not only...but also: Both parts should match grammatically
7. Passive voice with intransitive verbs: Only transitive verbs can be passive
Exam Strategy:
1. Read the direction carefully (Begin with..., Use..., Rewrite using...)
2. Identify the transformation type before starting
3. Maintain original meaning – don't add or remove information
4. Check grammar after transformation (tense, agreement, structure)
5. Review punctuation – especially in indirect speech
6. Practice common patterns – voice, speech, degrees, conjunctions
7. Time management – allocate 1-2 minutes per sentence
Transformation questions are scoring if you know the patterns
📝 Practice Sentence Improvement & Rewriting
Master sentence transformations with our comprehensive worksheet covering all CBSE/UP Board patterns!
Go to Sentence Improvement WorksheetIncludes answer key • Voice changes • Speech transformations • Degree changes • Sentence combining • Error correction
