15 Patterns of Transformation

15 Patterns of Transformation
Trương Văn Ánh
Trường Đại học Sài Gòn
(1) Should +V  It’s (high) time
He should wash his clothes today.
It’s high time he washed his clothes today.
Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. You really should be able to dress yourself by now!
A. It’s high time you are able to dress yourself.
B. It’s high time you will be able to dress yourself.







C. It’s high time you were able to dress yourself.
D. It’s high time you have been able to dress yourself.
2. She should clean the room now.
A. It’s high time she cleaned the room now.
B. It’s high time she cleans the room now.
C. It’s high time she is cleaning the room now.
D. It’s high time she was cleaning the room now.








3. Thao should learn English regularly nowadays.
A. It’s high time Thao learns English regularly nowadays.
B. It’s high time Thao learned English regularly nowadays.
C. It’s high time Thao learn English regularly nowadays.
D. It’s high time is Thao learning English regularly nowadays.






4. Vy should not stay in the sun.
A. It’s high time Vy didn’t stay in the sun.
B. It’s high time Vy doesn’t stay in the sun.
C. It’s high time Vy isn’t staying in the sun.
D. It’s high time Vy hasn’t stayed in the sun.







5. They should go to work on time.
A. It’s high time they go to work on time.
B. It’s high time they have gone to work on time.
C. It’s high time they should go work on time.
D. It’s high time they went to work on time.







(2) It + Be + Adj + To Inf  To Inf + Be + Adj
 It is interesting to listen to nice music.
To listen to nice music is interesting.
 It was easy to catch fish in the old days.
To catch fish in the old days was easy.
 It will be faster to travel from Ca Mau to HoChiMinh City in the future.
To travel from Ca Mau to HoChiMinh City in the future will be faster.






Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. It is easy to do this exercise.
A. It is easy this exercise to do.
B. To do this exercise is easy.
C. To do is easy this exercise.
D. It is this exercise to do easily.






2. It was happy to win a prize.
A. To win a prize was happy.
B. To win a prize is happy.
C. It is happy to win a prize.
D. It is a prize to win happily.







3. It will be comfortable to live in a modern building.
A. To live in a modern building is comfortable.
B. To live comfortable will be in a modern building.
C. It will be in a modern building to live comfortably.
D. To live in a modern building will be comfortable.







4. It is difficult to learn German.
A. To learn German is difficult.
B. To learn German was difficult.
C. It is German to learn difficult.
D. It is to learn German is difficult.







5. It was miserable to suffer from the wars.
A. It was to suffer from the wars miserable.
B. To suffer from the wars was miserable.
C. To suffer from the wars is miserable.
D. It is miserable to suffer from the wars.







6. It will be terrible to stay with terrorists.
A. To stay with terrorists is terrible.
B. To stay with terrorists was terrible.
C. To stay with terrorists will be terrible.
D. It is terrible to stay with terrorists.







7. It has been pleasant to work in this company.
A. To work in this company has been pleasant.
B. To work in this company is pleasant.
C. It has been in this company to work pleasant.
D. It is in this company pleasant to work.







8. It will be fantastic to colonize other planets in the universe.
A. To colonize other planets in the universe was fantastic.
B. To colonize other planets in the universe will be fantastic.
C. It is fantastic to colonize other planets in the universe.
D. It was fantastic to colonize other planets in the universe.








9. It is hot to live in the desert.
A. To live in the desert is hot.
B. To live in the desert was hot.
C. To live in the desert will be hot.
D. It will be hot to live in the desert.








10. It was dangerous to contact poisonous snakes.
A. It is dangerous to contact poisonous snakes.
B. It will be dangerous to contact poisonous snakes.
C. To contact poisonous snakes was dangerous.
D. To contact poisonous snakes is dangerous.








(3) To Inf + Be + N/Adj  S + V + It + N/Adj + To Inf
To be accurate is a necessary thing.
I find it a necessary thing to be accurate.
To go to school on time is compulsory.
We consider it compulsory to go to school on time.






Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. To travel by air is the most expensive.
A. People find it the most expensive to travel by air.
B. People find it to travel by air the most expensive.
C. It is to travel by air the most expensive.
D. It was to travel by air the most expensive.








2. To help people is charitable.
A. It is people charitable to help.
B. It was people charitable to help.
C. We call it charitable to help people.
D. We call it people charitable to help.








3. To invest in this project will be profitable.
A. We believe this project profitable to invest in.
B. We believe it profitable to invest in this project.
C. We believe profitable to invest in this project.
D. We believe to invest in this project profitable.








4. To angle crocodiles was interesting.
A. It was interesting crocodiles to angle.
B. It is interesting crocodiles to angle.
C. People found interesting to angle crocodiles.
D. People found it interesting to angle crocodiles.








5. To smoke cigarettes is harmful.
A. We call it harmful to smoke cigarettes.
B. We call harmful to smoke cigarettes.
C. We call to smoke cigarettes harmful.
D. We call it to smoke cigarettes harmful.








6. To be punctual is important in this company.
A. We consider important in this company to be punctual.
B. We consider it important in this company to be punctual.
C. We consider it important to be punctual in this company.
D. We consider important to be punctual in this company.








7. To drive on the right is legal.
A. We regard on the right to drive legal.
B. We regard it on the right to drive legal.
C. We regard it legal to drive on the right.
D. We regard legal to drive on the right.








8. To smuggle opium is illegal.
A. It is to smuggle opium illegal.
B. It was to smuggle opium illegal.
C. People call illegal to smuggle opium.
D. People call it illegal to smuggle opium.








9. To sit in the rain is stupid.
A. They consider it stupid to sit in the rain.
B. They consider stupid to sit in the rain.
C. They considered it stupid to sit in the rain.
D. They considered stupid to sit in the rain.








10. To walk in the jungle was dangerous.
A. It was to walk in the jungle dangerous.
B. It was to walk in the jungle dangerous.
C. We found it dangerous to walk in the jungle.
D. We found dangerous to walk in the jungle.








(4) S + Began + V-ING + in/on/at + Time  S + Have/Has P.P. + Since Time
 They started playing football at three o` clock.
They have played football since three o` clock.
 She began learning French in April.
She has learned French since April.







Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. Nam Anh started learning English in 1998.
A. Nam Anh has learned English since 1998.
B. Nam Anh has learned English in 1998.
C. Nam Anh has learned English for 1998.
D. Nam Anh learned English in 1998.








2. Bang began raising birds in January.
A. Bang has raised birds in January.
B. Bang has raised birds since January.
C. Bang has raised birds for January.
D. Bang has raised birds January.








3. Tu Linh and My Vi commenced doing the test at one o’clock.
A. Tu Linh and My Vi have done the test for one hour.
B. Tu Linh and My Vi have done the test for one o’clock.
C. Tu Linh and My Vi have done the test since one o’clock.
D. Tu Linh and My Vi have done the test at one o’clock.








4. My Van started collecting stamps on Sunday.
A. My Van has collected stamps for Sunday.
B. My Van has collected stamps since Sunday.
C. My Van has collected stamps on Sunday.
D. My Van collected stamps for Sunday.








5. Hang began listening to music at eight o’clock.
A. Hang has listened to music since eight hours.
B. Hang has listened to music for eight hours.
C. Hang has listened to music since eight o’clock.
D. Hang listened to music since eight hours.








6. Mai commenced making a dress on Saturday.
A. Mai has made a dress since Saturday.
B. Mai has made a dress for Saturday.
C. Mai has made a dress in Saturday.
D. Mai made a dress since Saturday.








7. Thien Son began watering the vegetables at nine o’clock.
A. Thien Son has watered the vegetables at nine o’clock.
B. Thien Son watered the vegetables at nine o’clock.
C. Thien Son has watered the vegetables for nine o’clock.
D. Thien Son has watered the vegetables since nine o’clock.








8. Khanh started playing computer games in 2002.
A. Khanh has played computer games in 2002.
B. Khanh has played computer games since 2002.
C. Khanh has played computer games for 2002.
D. Khanh played computer games in 2002.








9. Bich Tran commenced raising pets in 2000.
A. Bich Tran raised pets in 2000.
B. Bich Tran has raised pets since 2000.
C. Bich Tran has raised pets in 2000.
D. Bich Tran had raised pets in 2000.








10. Binh began selling lottery tickets in June.
A. Binh has sold lottery tickets since June.
B. Binh has sold lottery tickets for June.
C. Binh sold lottery tickets since June.
D. Binh has sold lottery tickets at June.








(5) S + Have + O(man) + V + O (thing)  S + Have + O (thing) + P.P.
 I will have someone repair the car.
I will have the car repaired.
 He had someone paint the gate.
He had the gate painted.







Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. Minh has someone check his car.
A. Minh has someone to check his car.
B. Minh has his car to check.
C. Minh has his car check.
D. Minh has his car checked.








2. Ngan will have them build a swimming-pool.
A. Ngan will have them built a swimming-pool.
B. Ngan will have a swimming-pool built.
C. Ngan will have a swimming-pool to build.
D. Ngan will have a swimming-poolbuild.








3. My Chi had someone clean her toilet yesterday.
A. My Chi had someone to clean her toilet yesterday.
B. My Chi had someone cleaned her toilet yesterday.
C. My Chi had her toilet cleaned yesterday.
D. My Chi had her toilet to clean yesterday.








4. Giang has had one boy send the letter.
A. Giang has had one boy sent the letter.
B. Giang has had one boy to send the letter.
C. Giang has had the letter to send.
D. Giang has had the letter sent.








5. Hai Tam will have the tailor make a new dress.
A. Hai Tam will have a new dress made.
B. Hai Tam will have a new dress make.
C. Hai Tam will have a new dress to make.
D. Hai Tam will have a new dress making.








6. Thanh Quan had someone repair his television.
A. Thanh Quan had his television repaired.
B. Thanh Quan had his television repair.
C. Thanh Quan had his television to repair.
D. Thanh Quan had his television repairing.








7. Huynh Giao has someone deliver her picture books every week.
A. Huynh Giao has her picture books deliver every week.
B. Huynh Giao has her picture books delivered every week.
C. Huynh Giao has her picture books delivering every week.
D. Huynh Giao has her picture books to deliver every week.








8. Nhat will have them look for his lost key.
A. Nhat will have his lost key look for.
B. Nhat will have his lost key looked for.
C. Nhat will have his lost key to look for.
D. Nhat will have them looked for his lost key.








9. The editor had someone print that article.
A. The editor had that article printed.
B. The editor had that article to print.
C. The editor had that article printing.
D. The editor had that article print.








10. Nam has had them carry the dead dog away.
A. Nam has had the dead dog carried away.
B. Nam has had the dead dog carrying away.
C. Nam has had the dead dog carry away.
D. Nam has had the dead dog to carry away.








(6) Be proud of being  pride oneself on
He is proud of being a good student.
 He prides himself on studying well.
Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. She is proud of being such a good cook.
A. She prides oneself on her cooking.
B. She prided herself on her cooking.
C. She prides her on her cooking.
D. She prides herself on her cook.




2. They were proud of being Vietnamese citizens.
A. They pride themselves on Vietnamese citizens.
B. They prided themselves on Vietnamese citizens.
C. They prided them on Vietnamese citizens.
D. They prided oneself on Vietnamese citizens.







3. I am proud of being a good teacher.
A. I prided myself on teaching well.
B. I pride myself on teaching well.
C. I prided me on teaching well.
D. I prided oneself on teaching well.







4. Frank was proud of being a good researcher.
A. Frank prided him on doing research well.
B. Frank prided oneself on doing research well.
C. Frank prided himself on doing research well.
D. Frank prides himself on doing research well.








5. Kathy is proud of being a good dancer.
A. Kathy prides herself on dancing well.
B. Kathy prided herself on dancing well.
C. Kathy prides her on dancing well.
D. Kathy prides oneself on dancing well.







(7) It + Be + Adj + V-ING  To Inf + Be + Adj
It is nice living in an air-conditioning room.
To live in an air-conditioning room is nice.
Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. It is lovely beholding flowers.
A. It was lovely beholding flowers.
B. It will be lovely beholding flowers.
C. To behold flowers is lovely.
D. To behold flowers was lovely.






2. It was inevitable learning English.
A. To learn English was inevitable.
B. To learn English will be inevitable.
C. To learn English is inevitable.
D. It is inevitable learning English.








3. It will be enjoyable having a party.
A. To have a party will be enjoyable.
B. To have a party is enjoyable.
C. It is enjoyable to have a party.
D. It was enjoyable to have a party.








4. It is kind helping the poor.
A. It was kind to help the poor.
B. It will be kind to help the poor.
C. To help the poor is kind.
D. To help the poor was kind.








5. It was ashamed copying friends’ papers.
A. To copy friends’ papers was ashamed.
B. To copy friends’ papers is ashamed.
C. It is ashamed copying friends’ papers.
D. It will be ashamed copying friends’ papers.








(8) S + Began + V-ING + Time ago  S + Have/Has P.P. + For Time
 She began working in this company ten years ago.
She has worked in this company for ten years.
 They commenced living in Nha Trang ten months ago.
They have lived in Nha Trang for ten months.






Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. They started checking the machines two hours ago.
A. They have started checking the machines for two hours.
B. They have checked the machines for two hours.
C. They have started checking the machines two hours ago.
D. They have checked the machines two hours ago.








2. He began fixing the bicycle ten minutes ago.
A. He has fixed the bicycle for ten minutes.
B. He has begun fixing the bicycle for ten minutes.
C. He has fixed the bicycle ten minutes ago.
D. He has fixed the bicycle for ten minutes ago.








3. She commenced cooking the soup half an hour ago.
A. She has cooked the soup half an hour ago.
B. She has commenced cooking the soup half an hour ago.
C. She has cooked the soup for half an hour ago.
D. She has cooked the soup for half an hour.








4. We began doing the test an hour ago.
A. We have doing the test an hour ago.
B. We have doing the test for an hour.
C. We have begun doing the test an hour ago.
D. We have done the test for an hour.
5. Jack began planting flowers three hours ago.
A. Jack has planted flowers three hours ago.
B. Jack has planted flowers for three hours.
C. Jack has begun planted flowers three hours ago.
D. Jack has begun planted flowers for three hours.








(9) S + V + ... + Time  It + Take + O + Time + To Inf ...
Notes: S  O
 I watched the film in two hours.
It took me two hours to watch the film.
 They will build the bridge in five years.
It will take them five years to build the bridge.
The exam lasts three hours.
It takes the students three hours to do the exam.






Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. She did the test in two hours.
A. It took her two hours to do the test.
B. It took her two o’clock to do the test.
C. It took two o’clock to do the test.
D. It took two hours to do the test.








2. Nguyet will cook the soup in one hour.
A. It will take Nguyet one o’clock to cook the soup.
B. It will take Nguyet one hour to cook the soup.
C. Nguyet will take one hour to cook the soup.
D. It will take one o’clock to cook the soup.








3. The match lasts ninety minutes.
A. It takes ninety minutes to play the match.
B. It takes them to play the match ninety minutes.
C. They take ninety minutes to play the match.
D. They take to play the match ninety minutes.








4. Diem talked on the phone in ten minutes.
A. It took Diem ten minutes to talk on the phone.
B. It took ten minutes to talk on the phone for Diem.
C. Diem took ten minutes to talk on the phone.
D. Diem took ten minutes to talk to the phone.








5. To Quyen travels from Phu Loc to Bac Lieu in thirty-five minutes.
A. It takes To Quyen to travel from Phu Loc to Bac Lieu in thirty-five minutes.
B. It takes To Quyen thirty-five minutes to travel from Phu Loc to Bac Lieu.
C. It takes thirty-five minutes to travel from Phu Loc to Bac Lieu for To Quyen.
D. It took To Quyen thirty-five minutes to travel from Phu Loc to Bac Lieu.








(10) S + Get + O(man) + To Inf + O (thing)  S + Get + O (thing) + P.P.
 She got them to push the car away.
She got the car pushed away.
 They get someone to dig a ditch.
They get a ditch dug.








Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. Anh Ro gets them to publish his photos every week.
A. Anh Ro gets his photos publish every week.
B. Anh Ro gets his photos published every week.
C. Anh Ro gets his photos to publish every week.
D. Anh Ro gets his photos publishing every week.








2. Mr Hung gets them to reserve a table in the restaurants.
A. Mr Hung gets a table to reserve in the restaurants.
B. Mr Hung gets a table reserved in the restaurants.
C. Mr Hung gets a table reserve in the restaurants.
D. Mr Hung gets a table to reserving in the restaurants.








3. Nhan will get them to cut the tree down.
A. Nhan will get them cut the tree down.
B. Nhan will get the tree cut down.
C. Nhan will get the tree to cut down.
D. Nhan will get the tree cutting down.








4. Ly Duy got a man to catch the dragonfly.
A. Ly Duy got the dragonfly caught.
B. Ly Duy got the dragonfly catch.
C. Ly Duy got the dragonfly to catch.
D. Ly Duy got the dragonfly catching.








5. Thanh will get them to trap the crazy elephant.
A. Thanh will get them trapped the crazy elephant.
B. Thanh will get them trap the crazy elephant.
C. Thanh will get the crazy elephant trap.
D. Thanh will get the crazy elephant trapped.








(11) Have  There Be
(Existential)
Does your class have twenty-five students?
Are there twenty-five students in your class?

Notes: For starters




Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. The room has twenty desks.
A. There is twenty desks in the room.
B. There are twenty desks in the room.
C. There has twenty desks in the room.
D. There have twenty desks in the room.



2. The garden has many beautiful flowers.
A. There is many beautiful flowers in the garden.
B. There has many beautiful flowers in the garden.
C. There have many beautiful flowers in the garden.
D. There are many beautiful flowers in the garden.




3. The school bag has a book and two notebooks.
A. There is a book and two notebooks in the schoolbag.
B. There are a book and two notebooks in the schoolbag.
C. There has a book and two notebooks in the schoolbag.
D. There have a book and two notebooks in the schoolbag.







4. The rooms have new students.
A. There are new students in the rooms.
B. There is new students in the rooms.
C. There have new students in the rooms.
D. There has new students in the rooms.







5. Tom’s books have some pictures.
A. The are some pictures in Tom’s book.
B. Tom’s book has some pictures,
C. The is some pictures in Tom’s book.
D. Both A and B are correct.







(12) There + Be + N + Place  N + Be + Place
There are ten rooms in the house.
Ten rooms are in the house.

Notes: For starters




Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. There was a table in the room.
A. A table were in the room.
B. A table was in the room.
C. A table has in the room.
D. A table had in the room.






2. There is a book on the table.
A. A book has on the table.
B. A book have on the table.
C. A book is on the table.
D. A book are on the table.







3. There are six apples in the fridge.
A. Six apples have in the fridge.
B. Six apples has in the fridge.
C. Six apples is in the fridge.
D. Six apples are in the fridge.







4. There is a cooker in the kitchen.
A. A cooker is in the kitchen.
B. A cooker are in the kitchen.
C. A cooker has in the kitchen.
D. A cooker have in the kitchen.







5. There were two cats under the bed.
A. Two cats was under the bed.
B. Two cats were under the bed.
C. Two cats has under the bed.
D. Two cats have under the bed.







(13) Comparative  Positive
So sánh hơn  So sánh nguyên cấp (không bằng)
 Jack is taller than Peter.
Peter is not as tall as Jack.
 
 Films are more interesting than books.
Books are not so interesting as films.





Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. Khanh is more beautiful than Nguyet.
A. Nguyet is not as beautiful as Khanh.
B. Khanh is not so beautiful as Nguyet.
C. Nguyet is not so beautiful as Khanh.
D. Both A and C







2. This house is bigger than that one.
A. That house is not as big than this one.
B. That house is not so big as this one.
C. That house is not so big than this one.
D. That house is the biggest.








3. London is more crowded than Hanoi.
A. Hanoi is not the most crowded.
B. Hanoi is not so crowded as London.
C. Hanoi is not so crowded than London.
D. Hanoi is as crowded as London.








4. Mai learns better than Cuc.
A. Cuc does not learn as well as Mai.
B. Cuc does not learns as well as Mai.
C. Cuc does not learn as well than Mai.
D. Mai learns the best.








5. Nhan was richer than Nghia.
A. Nghia was not as rich than Nhan.
B. Nghia was not as rich as Nhan.
C. Nghia was not so rich as Nhan.
D. Both B and C.








(14) More ... than  Not so many/much ... as
 More women go to school nowadays than in the past.
Not so many women went to school in the past as nowadays.
 More rice is produced in Vietnam than in Laos.
Not so much rice is produced in Laos as in Vietnam.







Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. More students win national prizes in HoChiMinh city than in Bac Ninh.
A. Not so many students win national prizes in Bac Ninh than in HoChiMinh city.
B. Not so many students win national prizes in Bac Ninh as in HoChiMinh city.
C. Not so many students win national prizes in Bac Ninh like in HoChiMinh city.
D. Not so much students win national prizes in Bac Ninh as in HoChiMinh city.







2. More coffee is produced in Ban Me Thuot than in Binh Duong.
A. Not so much coffee is produced in Ban Me Thuot than in Binh Duong.
B. Not so much coffee is produced in Binh Duong as in Ban Me Thout.
C. Not so much coffee is produced in Binh Duong than in Ban Me Thout.
D. Not so many coffee is produced in Binh Duong as in Ban Me Thout.








3. More people learn English nowadays than in the past.
A. Not so many people learned English in the past as nowadays.
B. Not so many people learned English in the past than nowadays.
C. Not so many people learn English in the past as nowadays.
D. Not so much people learned English in the past as nowadays.








4. More salt is produced in Bac Lieu than in Kien Giang.
A. Not so many salt is produced in Kien Giang than in Bac Lieu.
B. Not so much salt is produced in Kien Giang than in Bac Lieu.
C. Not so much salt is produced in Kien Giang as in Bac Lieu.
D. Not so many salt is produced in Kien Giang as in Bac Lieu.








5. More women work at school than men.
A. Not so many women work at school as men.
B. Not so many men work at school than women.
C. Not so many women work at school than men.
D. Not so many men work at school as women.








(15) Superlative  Positive
So sánh nhất  So sánh nguyên cấp (Với No Other)
 Mary is the thinnest in the class.
No other student in the class is as thin as Mary.
 Thi No is the ugliest in Vu Dai village.
No other girl in Vu Dai village is as ugly as Thi No.







Exercise:
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original:
1. Mr Thanh is the fattest in the village.
A. No other man is the fattest as Mr Thanh in the village.
B. No other man is the fatter than Mr Thanh in the village.
C. No other man is as fat as Mr Thanh in the village.
D. No other man is as fat than Mr Thanh in the village.







2. Russia is the largest in the world.
A. No other country is the largest as Russia in the world.
B. No other country is the largest than Russia in the world.
C. No other country is the larger than Russia in the world.
D. No other country is as large as Russia in the world.








3. The Nile is the longest in the world.
A. No other river is as long as the Nile in the world.
B. No other river is as long than the Nile in the world.
C. No other river is the longest as the Nile in the world.
D. No other river is the longest than the Nile in the world.








4. Balkan is the deepest in the world.
A. No other lake is as deep than Balkan in the world.
B. No other lake is as deep as Balkan in the world.
C. No other lake is the deeper than Balkan in the world.
D. No other lake is so deep than Balkan in the world.








5. Everest is the highest in our globe.
A. No other mountain is as high as Everest in our globe.
B. No other mountain is as high than Everest in our globe.
C. No other mountain is the higher as Everest in our globe.
D. No other mountain is the highest as Everest in our globe







4. She has never made such a nice dress.
A. It is the nicest dress she ever made.
B. It is the nicest dress she had ever made.
C. It is the nicest dress she ever makes.
D. It is the nicest dress she has ever made.








5. They have never played such a beautiful game.
A. It is the most beautiful game they have ever played.
B. It is the most beautiful game they had ever played.
C. It is the most beautiful game they ever played.
D. It is the most beautiful game they ever play.