Changing Word Forms is a subcategory of Sentence, Clause, Phrase Manipulation in which sentences, clauses, and phrases are altered as a result of the substitution of words within text (e.g., changing a proper name to a pronoun).
ACTIVITIES:
1. These sentences all tell about David last year. Read each one and tell about David in the present. Use the words in parentheses.
EXAMPLE: He ate a heavy breakfast. (light)
He eats a light breakfast.
1. He ate pizza for lunch. (a salad)
2. He put sugar in his coffee. (saccharin)
3. He wore a size 40. (36)
4. He ate a sandwich before he went to bed. (an apple)
5. He drank beer with his dinner. (water)
6. He felt depressed about his weight. (happy)
7. He ate ice cream in the afternoon. (yogurt)
8. It was difficult for him to walk upstairs. (easy)
9. He played cards with his friends. (basketball)
10. Took a nap after work. (a walk)
Foley, B. and Dowling, G. (1990). Grammar in Action, Book Two.
2. Change the names to pronouns.
he
she
him
her
EXAMPLE: Paul will buy Susan a pearl necklace.
He'll buy her a pearl necklace.
1. Susan will send a card to Paul.
2. Susan will make Paul a cake.
3. Paul will give Susan a chocolate heart.
4. Paul will write a love letter to Susan.
5. Susan will give Paul a card.
6. Paul will give a card to Susan.
7. Susan will write a love poem to Paul.
8. Susan will make Paul a romantic dinner.
9. Paul will send Susan some flowers.
10. Susan will buy a gold chain for Paul.
Foley, B. and Dowling, G. (1990). Grammar in Action, Book Two.
3. Write each sentence politely.
1. I want some milk.
I'd like some milk, please.
2. I want some more potatoes.
3. I want some salad.
4. I want a roll.
5. I want some more turkey.
6. I want a cup of tea.
7. I want some peas.
8. I want a piece of cake.
9. I want some ice cream.
10. I want some soup.
11. I want some bread.
Foley, B. and Dowling, G. (1990). Grammar in Action, Book Two.
4. For each noun + possessive listed here, write the best possessive form in the blank in the sentence. Add articles where necessary.
EXAMPLES: hat/boy: The boy's hat blew into the sea.
cover/ Time Magazine: Being on the cover of Time Magazine made Elvis Presley even more famous.
1. results/investigation: ________________________________ were reported in the newspaper.
2. restaurant/Alice's mother: We had dinner at _______________________________________.
3. ability/individual: ______________________ to remember something depends on how important the information is.
4. nights/women: Suffragettes were early activists in the battle for _________________________.
5. first chapter/novel: ____________________________________ begins with the famous words, "Call me Ishmael. "
6. take-off/rocket: __________________________________ was quite an amazing spectacle.
7. music/Elvis Presley: _______________________________ has been heard all over the world.
8. discovery/periicillin: Sir Alexander Fleming was responsible for ________________________.
9. children/a very famous American movie star: I went to school with ______________________.
10. rotation/earth: _____________________________________ is what causes night and day.
Thewlis, S. (1993). Grammar Dimensions, Book Three.
5. Change the one-word modals in these sentences to phrasal modals if possible. (Not all the modals can be changed.)
EXAMPLES: I think it will snow a lot this weekend.
I think it's going to snow a lot this weekend.
You shouldn't find the exam difficult.
(Change to a phrasal modal is not possible because the statement is a negative inference.)
1. Traffic will get worse every year until we do something about the problem.
2. The traffic problem should begin to improve within ten years if we start making plans to solve it now.
3. It shouldn't be very difficult to find a parking place today, because it's Sunday.
4. Traffic is getting heavy; rush hour must be starting.
5. Jack must not have much money, because he drives a 15-year-old car.
6. The problem won't be solved by building more highways.
7. That will just increase the number of cars on the roads.
8. Traffic should flow more smoothly after they build the new tunnel.
9. This city must not have a very efficient public transportation system, because people seem to drive everywhere.
10. Commuters must be getting really tired of driving to work in such awful traffic.
Thewlis, S. (1993). Grammar Dimensions, Book Three.
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