Tips on Synthesis and Transformation 3

1) John likes to play squash. He does not like to play tennis.
Ans: John likes to play squash instead of tennis. (correct)
         John likes to play squash instead of play tennis. (wrong) (Note: 'Instead of' is used to express an alternative. If the verb is the same for both sentences, there is no need to repeat it.)

2) Lisa is a member of the girl guides. Kate is also a member of the girl guides.
Ans: Lisa, together with Kate, is a member of the girl guides. (correct)
         Lisa, together with Kate, are members of the girl guides. (wrong) (Note: The verb in the transformed sentence has to agree with the subject mentioned at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, Lisa is the main subject, not both Lisa and Kate.)

3) Jake is an intelligent boy. Jake is a lazy boy.
Ans: Jake is an intelligent but lazy boy. (correct)
        Jake is an intelligent boy but he is lazy. (wrong) (Note: 'But' is used to join two sentences which contrast each other. Thus, we do not repeat the noun after 'but' if the subject of the sentence remains the same.)

Tips on Synthesis and Transformation 2

Hi. I'm back with more tips on S&T. S&T consists of 10 marks in the English Paper 2. Thus, S&T is as important as the other components!

1) Lina likes to take the MRT train more than the bus.
Ans: Lina prefers taking the MRT train to the bus. (correct)
Lina prefers taking the MRT train than the bus. (wrong) (Note: 'prefer...to..' is used to express a choice over something else.)

2) Vince likes drinking apple juice. He likes orange juice more.
Ans: Vince would rather drink orange juice than apple juice. (correct)
Vince would rather drink orange juice than apple juice more. (wrong) (Note: 'would rather...than...' is used to emphasise a choice over something else, same goes for 'prefer...to...'. 'More' has to be omitted in this case.)

3) Dry the paint. Sprinkle the glitter on afterwards.
Ans: After drying the paint, sprinkle the glitter on. (correct)
After drying the paint, sprinkle the glitter on afterwards. (wrong) (Note: 'After' is used to show sequence of events. Thus, 'afterwards' has to be omitted to prevent repeating the emphasis on showing the sequence of events, since 'afterwards' is similar to 'after'.)

Tips on Synthesis and Transformation 1

1) The cookies in the box have star-shaped icing on them.
Ans: Every cookie in the box has star-shaped icing on it.
(Take note! The 'cookies' and 'have' have to be changed into singular form because of 'every'. It applies to each, none of, one of the, etc.)

2) This is the building. My office used to be located here.
Ans: This is the building where my office used to be located. (correct)
(Take note! 'Where' is used to refer to a place or location where and event is taking place. Adverbs like 'here' and 'there'have to be omitted.)
This is the building where my office used to be located here. (wrong)

3) They like dancing. They like playing badminton too.
Ans: Besides dancing, they like playing badminton. (correct)
(Take note! 'Besides' is used to express an event happening in addition to another. Words like 'also' and 'too' have to be omitted.)
Besides dancing, they like playing badminton too. (wrong)

Well, this is my first advice for synthesis and transformation. I hope I can post more to help :)