Grammar: Sentence Structure
B2 Activity: Complex Sentence Transformations
Simple vs. Sophisticated
The difference between good English and great English is often in the sentence structure. Let's see how we can express the same idea in a more advanced way.
He was shocked by the loud noise. He dropped his coffee.
Shocked by the loud noise, he dropped his coffee.
Your B2 Grammar Toolkit 🛠️
A Quick Review of Your Tools
To transform simple sentences, you have a powerful set of tools. Remember these key structures:
- Participle Clauses: To connect ideas concisely (e.g., Feeling tired, he went home.).
- Non-Defining Relative Clauses: To add extra information (e.g., My friend, who lives in Battambang,...).
- Advanced Linking Words: To show logical connections (e.g., however, consequently, furthermore).
- Advanced Passives: To change the focus of a sentence (e.g., The report will have been finished.).
- Conditionals & Wishes: To discuss hypotheticals (e.g., If I had known..., I wish I were...).
The Transformation Challenge
Let's practice. For each set of simple ideas, combine them into one sentence using the target structure.
1. Using a Participle Clause
Simple Ideas: He was shocked by the loud noise. He dropped his coffee.
→ Target Transformation: Shocked by the loud noise, he dropped his coffee.
2. Using a Non-Defining Relative Clause
Simple Ideas: My sister will visit me next week. She works as a doctor in Phnom Penh.
→ Target Transformation: My sister, who works as a doctor in Phnom Penh, will visit me next week.
3. Using the Third Conditional
Simple Ideas: I did not save enough money. I could not buy the new phone.
→ Target Transformation: If I had saved enough money, I would have been able to buy the new phone.
4. Using the Modal Passive
Simple Idea: Someone must clean this room.
→ Target Transformation: This room must be cleaned.
Practice Your Skills 🎯
Quiz: Transform It!
Complete the transformation for each set of simple sentences.
- Simple: She finished her project. She felt very proud.
Transformation: _______, she felt very proud.
→ Having finished her project - Simple: The company hired a new manager. The manager is from Australia.
Transformation: The company hired a new manager _______.
→ who is from Australia - Simple: He woke up late. He missed the bus.
Transformation: He woke up late; _______, he missed the bus.
→ consequently / therefore - Simple: They will cancel the event because of the rain.
Transformation: The event _______ because of the rain.
→ will be cancelled
Your Transformation Mission ⭐
The Final Challenge
Take the following simple ideas and combine them into one or two complex, fluent sentences. Try to use at least two different B2 structures.
Simple Ideas: The weather was beautiful yesterday. I went for a walk along the river. The river is near my house. I felt very relaxed.
Example Answer: "Yesterday, the weather was beautiful, so I went for a walk along the river, which is near my house. Feeling very relaxed, I sat on a bench and watched the boats go by."
Key Vocabulary
- Transformation A complete change in the structure or character of something.
- Sophisticated Advanced and complex.
- Structure The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
- Consolidation The action of combining several things into a single, more effective whole.