Synthesis and Transformation is considered one of the most challenging parts of Paper 2. This section requires students to rewrite sentences using given words or phrases while maintaining the original meaning, testing their command of grammar structures and vocabulary.
Missing out just one word or using one wrong word can cause students to lose 2 marks per question. In this article, we'll cover how to tackle each question type with examples to help you navigate the PSLE.
Word Transformation
Word transformation requires you to change the form of words while maintaining the original meaning of the sentence. Here's an example question:
Example:
- Original: Tom was not patient when he waited for the bus.
- Answer stem: Tom's _______ was evident as he waited for the bus.
Step-by-Step Approach:
Step 1: Check the answer stem and sentence starter
- The answer stem shows "Tom's" followed by a blank space, indicating we need a noun that belongs to Tom. From the original sentence, we identify that Tom's characteristic is being "not patient".
Step 2: Change adjectives to nouns or nouns to verbs etc.
- Transform "not patient" into the noun "impatience" to fit the possessive structure.
Step 3: Proceed to write the final answer
- Answer: Tom's impatience was evident as he waited for the bus.
Important Tips for Word Transformation
Direct to Indirect Speech
Converting direct speech to indirect speech can feel overwhelming with all the changes required. We recommend using the TPTP method, which provides a systematic approach for tackling this question type.
Example:
- Original: "I will complete my homework tonight," Sarah told her mother.
- Answer stem: Sarah told her mother that _______ her homework that night.
The TPTP Method:
Step 1: Tense - changing the tense of verbs
- Change "will complete" (future tense) to "would complete" (conditional tense) for indirect speech.
Step 2: Pronoun - adjust pronouns to match the speaker
- Change "I" to "she" since we're reporting what Sarah said about herself.
Step 3: Time - check for expressions requiring time modification
- Convert "tonight" to "that night" to reflect the time shift in the reported speech.
Step 4: Place - check for references to specific places
- Look for words like "here," "this," or "these" that need adjustment (not applicable in this example).
Step 5: Proceed to write the final answer
- Answer: Sarah told her mother that she would complete her homework that night.
Fixed Phrase + Preposition
Fixed phrases combined with prepositions express conditions or potential future situations, often replacing conjunctions like "if".
Example:
- Original: The school trip will be cancelled if there is bad weather.
- Answer stem: _______ bad weather, the school trip will be cancelled.
How To Solve Fixed Phrases:
Fixed phrases like "in the event" function similarly to the conjunction "if" to express potential future situations. The phrase "in the event of" indicates a possible circumstance that might occur.
Step 1: Identify the Condition and Result
- The Result should generally be placed before the answer stem, followed by the Condition. Here, the school trip cancellation (Result) comes before the weather conditions.
Step 2: Use the correct Preposition with the Fixed Phrase
- The correct preposition for "in the event" is "of". Remove unwanted words like "if" and "there is" from the original sentence. Change the verb phrase "there is bad weather" to the noun "bad weather".
Step 3: Proceed to write the final answer
- Answer: In the event of bad weather, the school trip will be cancelled.
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