PSLE Synthesis and Transformation: Rules and Worked Examples
Synthesis and transformation (S&T) asks you to rewrite sentences using a given word. The meaning must stay exactly the same.
This section follows clear rules. If you learn the common patterns below, you can score well here.
For each pattern, read the rule and the example. Then try the question before you check the explanation. The wrong options show the usual mistakes.
Keep the meaning exactly the same. Do not add any information, and do not leave any out. Most marks are lost through a small change in meaning, not through grammar.
Quick reference
| Given word | What comes next | Short example |
|---|---|---|
| although, even though, though | A full clause, with a subject and a verb | although it was raining |
| despite, in spite of | A noun or an -ing word | despite the heavy rain |
| unless | A clause with no "not" | unless you hurry |
| so … that | An adjective, then "that" | so hot that |
| such … that | A noun phrase, then "that" | such hot soup that |
| said that (reported speech) | The tense moves back, and pronouns and time words change | he had finished … the day before |
| too … to | An adjective, then "to" and a verb | too heavy for her to lift |
| enough to | An adjective, then "enough" | not light enough for her to lift |
| passive voice | The object becomes the subject | the meal was cooked by |
The common patterns
1. Although, even though, though
Use these to join 2 ideas that contrast. After "although", write a full clause with a subject and a verb.
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| It was raining heavily. We still went to the park. | Although it was raining heavily, we still went to the park. |
Watch out. "Although the heavy rain" is wrong. Write "although it was raining".
Combine using ALTHOUGH: 'He was very tired. He finished the race.' Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) Although he was very tired, he finished the race.
The correct answer is (B). After 'although', you need a full clause with a subject and a verb, such as 'he was very tired'. (A) puts a noun after 'although' ('his tiredness'). That is the pattern for 'despite', not 'although'. (C) adds 'but'. Never use 'although' and 'but' in the same sentence. (D) is not a proper clause. It turns the second idea into a noun phrase and drops the verb.
2. Despite, in spite of
These mean the same as "although". But they are followed by a noun or an -ing word, not a full clause.
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| It was raining heavily. We still went to the park. | Despite the heavy rain, we still went to the park. |
Watch out. Never write "despite of". Write "despite" or "in spite of".
Rewrite using DESPITE: 'Although she was ill, she attended the concert.' Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (C) Despite her illness, she attended the concert.
The correct answer is (C). 'Despite' is followed by a noun or an -ing word, such as 'her illness' or 'being ill'. (A) adds 'of' after 'despite'. This is a common mistake, because 'of' never follows 'despite'. (B) and (D) both put a full clause after 'despite' ('she was ill'). That is the pattern for 'although'. Remember, use 'despite' with a noun or -ing word, and 'although' with a clause.
3. Unless (means "if … not")
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| If you do not hurry, you will miss the bus. | Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus. |
Watch out. "Unless" already includes the "not". So do not write "unless you do not hurry". That reverses the meaning.
Rewrite using UNLESS: 'If you do not water the plant, it will die.' Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) Unless you water the plant, it will die.
The correct answer is (B). 'Unless' already means 'if… not', so it replaces 'do not'. (A) keeps 'do not' as well. This double negative reverses the meaning. (C) makes the result negative ('will not die'), which changes the meaning completely. (D) swaps the cause and the effect, so it no longer says the same thing as the original.
4. So … that, such … that
Use these to show that something was strong enough to cause a result.
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| The soup was very hot. He could not drink it. | The soup was so hot that he could not drink it. |
| The soup was very hot. He could not drink it. | It was such hot soup that he could not drink it. |
Watch out. "So" goes before an adjective (so hot). "Such" goes before a noun phrase (such hot soup).
Rewrite using SO: 'The bag was very heavy. Nobody could carry it.' Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) The bag was so heavy that nobody could carry it.
The correct answer is (B). 'So' comes before an adjective, as in 'so heavy that'. (A) puts 'such' before an adjective on its own ('such heavy'). 'Such' needs a noun phrase, as in 'such a heavy bag'. (C) uses the 'too… to' pattern and drops 'that'. That is not the pattern the question asked for. (D) puts 'so' before a noun phrase ('so a heavy bag'), which is wrong. It should be 'such a heavy bag'.
5. Reported speech
Move the tense back one step. Then change the pronouns and the time words.
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| "I finished my homework yesterday," said Sam. | Sam said that he had finished his homework the day before. |
Watch out. Make all 3 changes.
| Change | Example |
|---|---|
| Tense | finished → had finished |
| Pronoun | I → he |
| Time word | yesterday → the day before |
Report this: ‘“I will call you tomorrow,” said Mrs Rao.’ Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) Mrs Rao said that she would call me the next day.
The correct answer is (B). It makes all 3 changes. The tense changes (will → would). The pronouns change (I → she, you → me). The time word changes (tomorrow → the next day). (A) makes none of these changes. (C) keeps 'will' and 'tomorrow' unchanged. (D) changes the tense correctly. But it does not change 'you' to 'me', or 'tomorrow' to 'the next day'.
6. Too … to, enough to
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| The box was very heavy. She could not lift it. | The box was too heavy for her to lift. |
| The box was very heavy. She could not lift it. | The box was not light enough for her to lift. |
Watch out. Do not add "not" with "too … to". "Too heavy to lift" already means she could not lift it.
Rewrite using TOO: 'The tea was very hot. The child could not sip it.' Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) The tea was too hot for the child to sip.
The correct answer is (B). 'Too… to' already has a negative meaning. 'Too hot… to sip' means the child could not sip it. (A) adds 'not', which reverses the meaning. (C) mixes 'too' with the 'so… that' pattern. 'Too' goes with 'to', not 'that'. (D) is not a correct rewrite. 'Very' and 'enough' cannot be used together like this, and it drops the negative result.
7. Passive voice
The thing the action is done to becomes the subject of the sentence.
| Given | Rewritten |
|---|---|
| A famous chef cooked the meal. | The meal was cooked by a famous chef. |
Watch out. Keep the same tense. "Cooked" becomes "was cooked", not "is cooked".
Rewrite in the passive: 'The gardener planted the roses last week.' Which is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) The roses were planted by the gardener last week.
The correct answer is (B). The object, 'the roses', becomes the subject. The past tense stays, so 'planted' becomes 'were planted'. (A) changes to the present tense ('are planted'). But the original is in the past ('last week'). (C) uses 'planting' instead of 'planted'. (D) reverses who did what. The roses did not plant the gardener, so the meaning changes.
Check your answer
After you rewrite a sentence, read it next to the original. Ask yourself, "Do these mean exactly the same thing?"
Your version might be stronger, weaker or the opposite. This often happens with "unless". If it does, fix it. Check the meaning first, then the grammar.
Practise
- Synthesis & Transformation Practice 1: 10 items, each with the answer and the reason.
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