Synthesis and Transformation

Key Concepts

Synthesis and Transformation (S&T) tests whether you can:

• combine two sentences into one using a given word or phrase, or
• change the structure of a sentence without changing its meaning.

In PSLE English Paper 2, this means you must:

• follow the exact given word or phrase
• keep the original meaning
• write one grammatically correct sentence
• avoid adding ideas that were not in the original sentences

1. Combining sentences using a given word or phrase

You are often given:

• two short sentences, and
• one word or phrase that must be used

Your job is to:

1. identify the relationship between the two sentences
2. decide which sentence becomes the main clause
3. place the given word correctly
4. make grammar changes if needed
5. check that the new sentence means the same thing

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2. Combining with because / since / as

These words show reason.

Structure

You can place the reason clause:

• after the main clause, or
• before the main clause

Patterns

• Main clause + because/since/as + reason clause
• Because/Since/As + reason clause, + main clause

Comma rule

• If the sentence starts with the reason clause, use a comma after it.
• If the reason clause comes second, do not use a comma.

Examples

• I stayed at home because I was ill.
• Since it was raining, we stayed indoors.
• As she had finished her work, she went to play.

Important point

All three can show reason, but:

• because is the clearest and strongest for reason
• since and as are also correct, especially in formal writing

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3. Combining with although / even though / despite

These words show concession. This means two ideas contrast with each other.

A. Using although / even though

These are followed by a clause:

• subject + verb

Pattern

• Although/Even though + clause, + main clause
• Main clause + although/even though + clause

Examples

• Although he was tired, he continued studying.
• She went for practice even though it was raining.

B. Using despite

Despite is followed by:

• a noun
• a noun phrase
• a gerund (-ing word)

It is not followed directly by a full clause.

Correct patterns

• Despite the rain, we went out.
• Despite feeling tired, she completed her homework.

Wrong pattern

• ✗ Despite she was tired, she finished her homework.

Corrected

• Although she was tired, she finished her homework.
• Despite being tired, she finished her homework.

Word order

When changing from two sentences into one:

• make sure the contrast is clear
• do not change the meaning into cause-and-effect

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4. Combining with which / who / that / where

These words introduce a relative clause. A relative clause gives more information about a noun.

Which relative word to use

• who: for people
• which: for animals or things
• that: for people, animals or things
• where: for places

Position

The relative clause must come immediately after the noun it describes.

Examples

• The girl who won the race is my cousin.
• The book that I borrowed is interesting.
• The shop where we bought the cake has closed.

Very important rule: no extra pronoun

After using a relative word, do not add another pronoun such as he, she, it, they.

Wrong

• ✗ The boy who he helped me is kind.

Correct

• The boy who helped me is kind.

More examples

• The teacher who teaches us English is strict.
• The bicycle which was stolen has been found.
• The park where we played is nearby.

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5. Combining with before / after / when / until / as soon as

These words show time.

Time clause position

The time clause can come:

• at the beginning, or
• at the end

Comma rule

• Use a comma if the sentence starts with the time clause.
• Do not use a comma if the time clause comes second.

Tense agreement

You must use tenses that match the time relationship.

Common patterns

• Before he left, he locked the door.
• She washed her hands after she returned home.
• When the bell rang, the pupils lined up.
• We waited until the bus arrived.
• As soon as she saw her mother, she ran over.

Important tense point

For events in the future, the time clause usually uses the present tense, not will.

• Correct: I will call you when I reach home.
• ✗ I will call you when I will reach home.

Meaning of each word

• before: earlier than
• after: later than
• when: at the time that
• until: up to that time
• as soon as: immediately after

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6. Passive transformation

A sentence in the active voice has the doer first.

• The chef cooked the meal.

A sentence in the passive voice puts the receiver of the action first.

• The meal was cooked by the chef.

How to change active to passive

1. Find the object in the active sentence.
2. Move it to the front.
3. Choose the correct form of be.
4. Change the main verb to the past participle.
5. Add by + agent if needed.

Basic pattern

object + was/were + past participle + by + agent

Examples

• The pupils cleaned the classroom.
  → The classroom was cleaned by the pupils.

• The boys kicked the ball.
  → The ball was kicked by the boys.

Choosing was or were

• singular noun → was
• plural noun → were

Agent

The agent is the doer of the action.

• in active voice: The artist painted the wall.
• in passive voice: The wall was painted by the artist.

When “by + agent” may be left out

If the doer is unknown or unimportant, it can be omitted.

• The window was broken.

But in transformation questions, if the original sentence names the doer, include it unless the question clearly requires otherwise.

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7. Reported speech

Reported speech changes:

• direct speech into indirect speech, or
• indirect speech into direct speech

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8. Direct speech to indirect speech

Direct speech

The speaker’s exact words are inside quotation marks.

• Mother said, “You must finish your dinner.”

Indirect speech

The sentence reports what was said without quotation marks.

• Mother said that I had to finish my dinner.

Changes needed

A. Tense shift

When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense usually moves one step back.

• present simple → past simple
  “I am happy.” → He said that he was happy.

• present continuous → past continuous
  “I am reading.” → She said that she was reading.

• past simple → past perfect
  “I ate lunch.” → He said that he had eaten lunch.

• will → would
  “I will come.” → She said that she would come.

• can → could
  “I can swim.” → He said that he could swim.

B. Pronoun change

Change pronouns to match the speaker and listener.

• “I” may become he, she or they
• “my” may become his or her
• “you” may become I, we, he, she or they, depending on context

C. Time word change

• today → that day
• tomorrow → the next day
• yesterday → the day before
• tonight → that night
• now → then
• here → there
• last week → the week before
• next month → the following month

Reporting verbs

You may use:

• said
• told
• asked
• reminded
• explained

Use them correctly:

• said + that-clause
• told + person + that-clause

Examples:

• He said that he was tired.
• He told me that he was tired.

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9. Indirect speech to direct speech

To change indirect speech back to direct speech:

1. add quotation marks
2. change pronouns back to the speaker’s actual words
3. change tense back if needed
4. change time words back if needed
5. use correct punctuation

Example

• Indirect: Sarah said that she would visit her grandmother the next day.
• Direct: Sarah said, “I will visit my grandmother tomorrow.”

Punctuation in direct speech

• Use a comma before the quotation.
• Start the spoken words with a capital letter.
• End the spoken words with the correct punctuation mark inside the quotation marks.

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10. Conditional sentences

Conditionals show that one thing happens only if another thing happens.

Basic structure

If + condition, result or Result + if + condition

Type 1 conditional: real or possible

Used for real situations in the present or future.

Structure

• If + present tense, will + base verb

Example

• If it rains, we will stay indoors.

This means the situation is possible and real.

Type 2 conditional: hypothetical or unlikely

Used for imaginary, unlikely or unreal situations.

Structure

• If + past tense, would + base verb

Example

• If I were rich, I would travel around the world.

This means the situation is not real now.

Important rule

For Type 2, were is used with I, he, she and it in formal grammar.

• If I were you, I would apologise.

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11. Comparison structures

Comparison shows how two or more people, things or actions are similar or different.

A. as … as

Used to show equal comparison.

• Tom is as tall as Ben.

B. not as … as

Used to show one thing has less of a quality.

• Tom is not as tall as Ben.

C. more … than

Used with longer adjectives or to compare clearly.

• This book is more interesting than that one.

D. Comparative adjectives

Short adjectives usually add -er.

• taller than
• faster than
• smaller than

E. Superlatives

Used when comparing three or more.

• the tallest
• the fastest
• the most beautiful

Examples

• Mei is as careful as her sister.
• This task is not as difficult as I expected.
• A lion is stronger than a wolf.
• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

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12. Meaning must remain the same

This is the most important rule in S&T.

You must not:

• change the main idea
• add extra information
• leave out important information

Example

Original:

• John was sick. He went to school.

Correct:

• Although John was sick, he went to school.

Wrong:

• ✗ John went to school because he was sick.
  This changes the meaning completely.

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Important Definitions

• Synthesis and Transformation (S&T): a grammar task where you combine sentences or change sentence structures without changing the original meaning.
• Clause: a group of words containing a subject and a verb.
• Main clause: the part of a sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
• Subordinate clause: a clause that cannot stand alone and depends on the main clause.
• Reason clause: a clause that explains why something happens, often introduced by because, since or as.
• Concession: a contrast between two ideas, often shown by although, even though or despite.
• Relative clause: a clause beginning with who, which, that or where that describes a noun.
• Relative pronoun: a word such as who, which or that used to introduce a relative clause.
• Time clause: a clause introduced by words such as before, after, when, until or as soon as.
• Active voice: a sentence structure where the subject performs the action.
• Passive voice: a sentence structure where the subject receives the action.
• Agent: the doer of the action in a sentence.
• Past participle: the verb form used in perfect tenses and passive voice, such as eaten, broken, written.
• Direct speech: the exact words spoken, written inside quotation marks.
• Reported speech / Indirect speech: speech that reports what someone said without quoting the exact words.
• Tense shift: the backshifting of verb tense when changing direct speech to reported speech.
• Pronoun change: changing words such as I, you, my and our to fit the new sentence.
• Conditional sentence: a sentence that expresses a condition and its result.
• Type 1 conditional: a conditional for real or possible situations, using if + present tense, will + verb.
• Type 2 conditional: a conditional for hypothetical or unlikely situations, using if + past tense, would + verb.
• Comparative: a form used to compare two people or things, such as taller or more careful.
• Superlative: a form used to compare three or more, such as tallest or most careful.
• Gerund: the -ing form of a verb used as a noun, such as swimming in “Swimming is fun.”

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Worked Examples

Example 1: Reason — because

Question

The boy was absent from school. He was ill.
Begin with: The boy was absent from school because

Step-by-step

1. Identify the relationship: the second sentence gives the reason.
2. Use the given word because exactly.
3. Keep the first idea as the main clause.
4. Add the reason clause after because.
5. Check punctuation: no comma is needed because the reason clause comes second.

Answer

The boy was absent from school because he was ill.

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Example 2: Concession — although

Question

Jasmine was tired. She continued revising for the examination.
Begin with: Although

Step-by-step

1. Identify the relationship: the two ideas contrast.
2. Use although to show concession.
3. Put the first sentence into the subordinate clause after Although.
4. Add a comma because the sentence begins with the subordinate clause.
5. Keep the meaning exactly the same.

Answer

Although Jasmine was tired, she continued revising for the examination.

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Example 3: Relative clause — who

Question

The man is my uncle. He helped us carry the boxes.
Use: who

Step-by-step

1. Find the noun to describe: the man.
2. The noun refers to a person, so use who.
3. Place the relative clause immediately after the man.
4. Remove the repeated pronoun He.
5. Keep the verb form correct.

Answer

The man who helped us carry the boxes is my uncle.

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Example 4: Passive transformation

Question

The gardener watered the plants.
Rewrite the sentence in the passive voice.

Step-by-step

1. Identify the subject: the gardener.
2. Identify the object: the plants.
3. Move the object to the front.
4. The new subject plants is plural, so use were.
5. Change watered to the past participle. It remains watered.
6. Add by the gardener.

Answer

The plants were watered by the gardener.

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Example 5: Reported speech and conditional

Question

Father said to Ryan, “If you finish your homework today, I will take you to the park tomorrow.”

Step-by-step

1. Change direct speech to indirect speech.
2. Use a suitable reporting verb: told because a person is named.
3. Change pronouns:
   • you → he
   • I → he
4. Change time words:
   • today → that day
   • tomorrow → the next day
5. Shift tenses because the reporting verb is in the past:
   • finish → finished
   • will take → would take
6. Keep the conditional structure clear.

Answer

Father told Ryan that if he finished his homework that day, he would take him to the park the next day.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

13. Forgetting to keep the original meaning

• ✗ Because John was hungry, he skipped lunch.
• ✓ Although John was hungry, he skipped lunch.

Why it is wrong:
The first sentence gives a reason, but the original meaning is a contrast. S&T answers must preserve meaning exactly.

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14. Using despite with a full clause

• ✗ Despite she was late, she caught the bus.
• ✓ Although she was late, she caught the bus.
• ✓ Despite being late, she caught the bus.

Why it is wrong:
Despite cannot be followed directly by subject + verb.

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15. Leaving an extra pronoun after a relative word

• ✗ The girl who she sits beside me is friendly.
• ✓ The girl who sits beside me is friendly.

Why it is wrong:
The relative word who already connects the noun to the clause. The extra she is incorrect.

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16. Putting the relative clause too far from the noun

• ✗ The bag is mine which is on the chair.
• ✓ The bag which is on the chair is mine.

Why it is wrong:
The relative clause must come immediately after the noun it describes.

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17. Using will in a time clause

• ✗ I will eat my dinner when Mother will come home.
• ✓ I will eat my dinner when Mother comes home.

Why it is wrong:
In a future time clause after when, before, after, until or as soon as, use the present tense, not will.

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18. Wrong passive form

• ✗ The letters was written by Ali.
• ✓ The letters were written by Ali.

Why it is wrong:
Letters is plural, so the verb must be were.

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19. Forgetting the past participle in passive voice

• ✗ The cake was bake by my aunt.
• ✓ The cake was baked by my aunt.

Why it is wrong:
Passive voice must use be + past participle.

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20. Incorrect reported speech tense shift

• ✗ She said that she is tired.
• ✓ She said that she was tired.

Why it is wrong:
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense usually shifts back.

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21. Incorrect pronoun change in reported speech

• ✗ Ben said that I had lost my wallet.
  (if Ben was talking about himself)
• ✓ Ben said that he had lost his wallet.

Why it is wrong:
The pronouns must match the speaker correctly.

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22. Wrong time word in reported speech

• ✗ Mum said that we would visit Grandma tomorrow.
• ✓ Mum said that we would visit Grandma the next day.

Why it is wrong:
In reported speech, time words often need to change.

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23. Wrong conditional structure

• ✗ If it will rain, we will stay indoors.
• ✓ If it rains, we will stay indoors.

Why it is wrong:
Type 1 conditional uses if + present tense, not if + will.

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24. Wrong comparison form

• ✗ This puzzle is more easier than that one.
• ✓ This puzzle is easier than that one.
• ✓ This puzzle is more difficult than that one.

Why it is wrong:
Do not use more with an adjective that already has the -er form.

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25. Adding extra words that change meaning

• ✗ The boy was so tired that he slept early.
  (when the original only said: The boy was tired. He slept early.)
• ✓ The boy slept early because he was tired.

Why it is wrong:
Adding so changes the strength of the meaning. Do not insert words that are not supported by the original sentences.

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26. Wrong preposition or linking word after combining

• ✗ She succeeded because of she worked hard.
• ✓ She succeeded because she worked hard.
• ✓ She succeeded because of her hard work.

Why it is wrong:
Because is followed by a clause. Because of is followed by a noun or noun phrase.

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Exam Tips

27. Marks and question type

In PSLE English Language Paper 2, Synthesis and Transformation is worth 15 marks (Questions 91–95, 3 marks per question).

This means:

• each answer matters greatly
• a single grammar error within a question can cost marks
• accuracy is more important than fancy vocabulary

28. Use the given word exactly

If the question gives:

• although
• who
• before
• despite

you must use that word exactly as required. Do not replace it with another word.

• If given although, do not write though
• If given because, do not write because of

29. Do not change the meaning

Before writing your answer, ask:

• Is this a reason?
• Is this a contrast?
• Is this a time relationship?
• Is this a description of a noun?

Choose the structure that matches the relationship.

30. Make only necessary changes

Change only:

• word order
• pronouns
• tense
• punctuation
• verb form

Do not add unnecessary words such as:

• very
• so
• just
• really
• only

unless they are already in the original sentence.

31. Check for grammar traps

Always check:

• subject-verb agreement
• comma placement
• tense consistency
• singular/plural form
• past participle in passive voice
• pronoun changes in reported speech

32. Watch out for relative clause errors

If you use:

• who
• which
• that
• where

make sure:

• the clause is next to the noun it describes
• there is no extra pronoun after the relative word

33. Be careful with reported speech

For direct to indirect speech, always check three things:

1. tense
2. pronoun
3. time word

A correct answer usually needs all three.

34. Know the scoring idea

A response scores only when it:

• uses the given word correctly
• keeps the original meaning
• is grammatically correct
• forms one complete sentence

35. Spend time wisely

Because S&T is worth 15 marks (3 marks per question across 5 questions), spend about 10 to 15 minutes on this section.

• Do not rush — each question carries significant weight.
• Do not spend too long on one question.
• If stuck, identify the sentence relationship first.

36. Final checking routine

Before moving on, read your answer once and ask:

• Did I use the given word?
• Did I write one sentence?
• Did I keep the same meaning?
• Is the grammar correct?
• Did I avoid extra words?

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Quick Summary

• S&T tests your ability to combine or transform sentences without changing meaning.
• Use because / since / as for reason; use a comma only when the reason clause comes first.
• Use although / even though with a clause; use despite with a noun, noun phrase or gerund.
• Use who for people, which for things, that for people or things, and where for places.
• A relative clause must come immediately after the noun it describes.
• After a relative word, do not add an extra pronoun such as he, she or it.
• With before / after / when / until / as soon as, check the time relationship and keep tenses correct.
• In future time clauses, use the present tense, not will.
• To form the passive, use object + was/were + past participle + by + agent.
• In reported speech, change tense, pronouns and time words correctly.
• Type 1 conditional: If + present tense, will + verb; Type 2 conditional: If + past tense, would + verb.
• For comparison, use as … as, not as … as, comparatives and superlatives accurately.