🔗 Synthesis & Transformation
Synthesis & Transformation is one of the most predictable and scoreable components in PSLE English. It tests your ability to combine two sentences into one or transform a sentence by changing its structure. Found in Paper 2, Booklet B, it is worth 10 marks (5 questions x 2 marks each).
Unlike comprehension or composition, where answers can vary, Synthesis & Transformation has fixed patterns — there is usually only one correct answer. This means that once you memorise the patterns and practise regularly, you can score full marks every time. Many top PSLE scorers consider this section their "guaranteed 10 marks."
This chapter covers all 28 patterns that have appeared in past PSLE papers, with detailed explanations of the three hardest transformations: reported speech, active/passive voice, and relative clauses. You will also find common mistakes to avoid and practice questions at the end.
🔗How Synthesis & Transformation Works
In each question, you will be given either two sentences to combine into one (synthesis) or one sentence to rewrite in a different form (transformation). The question will always specify the connector or structure you must use. For example: "Combine the sentences using 'Although'."
5-Step Approach to Synthesis & Transformation
Read Both Sentences Carefully
Understand the meaning of both sentences. Identify which sentence contains the main idea and which contains the secondary information (contrast, reason, condition, etc.).
Identify the Required Pattern
Look at the instruction word (Although, Unless, so...that, who, etc.). This tells you exactly which pattern to use. If you have memorised the patterns, this step takes seconds.
Apply the Pattern
Place the connector in the correct position. Remember: some connectors go at the start (Although, Unless, As soon as), some go in the middle (who, which, so...that), and some replace words (too...to replaces "very...could not").
Check for Necessary Changes
After combining, you may need to: remove repeated words, change pronouns (he/she/they), adjust verb tenses, or add/remove punctuation. Read your combined sentence aloud to check it sounds natural.
Verify Meaning is Preserved
The combined sentence MUST mean the same as the original two sentences. If the meaning has changed, you have made an error. Go back and check your connector placement and word changes.
📚All 28 Patterns You Must Know
Below are all the synthesis patterns that have appeared in past PSLE papers. Study the original sentences and the transformed version carefully. Pay attention to what changes and what stays the same:
The prefect caught the boy littering in the canteen.
The boy was caught littering in the canteen by the prefect.
"I will bring my homework tomorrow," said Ahmad.
Ahmad said that he would bring his homework the next day.
The test was difficult. Mei Ling scored full marks.
Although the test was difficult, Mei Ling scored full marks.
The durian was very smelly. Nobody wanted to eat it.
The durian was so smelly that nobody wanted to eat it.
Priya is good at Mathematics. She is also good at Science.
Priya is not only good at Mathematics but also good at Science.
If you do not study hard, you will not pass the PSLE.
Unless you study hard, you will not pass the PSLE.
The box was very heavy. The boy could not carry it.
The box was too heavy for the boy to carry.
The girl won the Art competition. She is my classmate.
The girl who won the Art competition is my classmate.
The storybook is on the shelf. It belongs to Wei Ming.
The storybook which is on the shelf belongs to Wei Ming.
Ali is tall. Kumar is not as tall as Ali.
Ali is taller than Kumar.
💬Deep Dive: Reported Speech (Hardest Pattern)
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is the most challenging synthesis pattern because it requires multiple changes at once: removing quotation marks, changing pronouns, shifting verb tenses backwards, and adjusting time/place references. Many students lose both marks on this question type. Master these three types:
Type 1: Reported Statement
"I will bring my homework tomorrow," said Ahmad.
Ahmad said that he would bring his homework the next day.
Changes Made:
- • Remove quotation marks and comma
- • Add "that" after the reporting verb (said)
- • Change pronoun: "I" becomes "he"
- • Shift tense: "will" becomes "would"
- • Change time: "tomorrow" becomes "the next day"
Type 2: Reported Question
"Where are you going after school?" asked Mrs Lee.
Mrs Lee asked where I was going after school.
Changes Made:
- • Remove quotation marks and question mark
- • Use "asked" + question word (where)
- • Change to statement word order (NOT "asked where was I going")
- • Change pronoun: "you" becomes "I"
- • Shift tense: "are going" becomes "was going"
Type 3: Reported Command
"Close the windows before you leave," the teacher told the monitor.
The teacher told the monitor to close the windows before leaving.
Changes Made:
- • Remove quotation marks
- • Use "told + person + to + base verb"
- • Change "you leave" to "leaving" (gerund)
- • For negative commands: "told + person + not to + base verb"
Reported Speech: Tense Shift Rules
When converting direct speech to reported speech, verb tenses shift one step back into the past. Memorise this table:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple present (is/am/are) | Simple past (was/were) | "I am happy" | She said she was happy |
| Present continuous (is doing) | Past continuous (was doing) | "I am reading" | He said he was reading |
| Simple past (did) | Past perfect (had done) | "I went home" | She said she had gone home |
| will | would | "I will help you" | He said he would help me |
| can | could | "I can swim" | She said she could swim |
| may | might | "I may come" | He said he might come |
| must | had to | "I must leave" | She said she had to leave |
Reported Speech: Time & Place Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| now | then |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| ago | before |
| next week | the following week |
| last year | the previous year / the year before |
🔄Deep Dive: Active & Passive Voice
Active voice focuses on who did the action (the doer). Passive voice focuses on what was affected (the receiver). In PSLE, you will be asked to change sentences from active to passive or vice versa.
Active Voice
Subject (doer) + Verb + Object (receiver)
The prefect caught the boy littering.
Focus: Who did the catching (the prefect)
Passive Voice
Object (receiver) + was/were + past participle + by + Subject (doer)
The boy was caught littering by the prefect.
Focus: Who was affected (the boy)
How to Convert Active to Passive
Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object
In "The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse (object)", the subject does the action and the object receives it.
Swap Subject and Object
Move the object to the front: "The mouse..." and the subject to the end: "...by the cat".
Add was/were + Past Participle
Insert the correct form of "be" (was/were) based on the subject, then add the past participle of the verb: "The mouse was chased by the cat."
Check Tense Consistency
The tense of "be" must match the original tense: present (is/are), past (was/were), future (will be), present perfect (has/have been).
Common Passive Voice Mistakes
Wrong: "The boy was catched by the prefect." (catched is not a word — the past participle of "catch" is "caught")
Wrong: "The boy were caught by the prefect." (singular subject "boy" needs "was", not "were")
Wrong: "The boy was caught by the prefect littering." (misplaced "littering" — it should come right after "caught")
🧩Deep Dive: Relative Clauses (who / which / whose)
Relative clauses combine two sentences by embedding one sentence inside the other as a description. The relative pronoun ("who", "which", or "whose") replaces the repeated noun and connects the sentences.
"who" — for PEOPLE
Original:
The girl won the Art competition. She is my classmate.
Combined:
The girl who won the Art competition is my classmate.
Replace "She" with "who" and insert the clause after "The girl".
"which" — for THINGS / ANIMALS
Original:
The storybook is on the shelf. It belongs to Wei Ming.
Combined:
The storybook which is on the shelf belongs to Wei Ming.
Replace "It" with "which" and insert the clause after "The storybook".
"whose" — for POSSESSION
Original:
The girl lost her pencil case. She was crying.
Combined:
The girl whose pencil case was lost was crying in the canteen.
Replace "her" (possessive) with "whose" and restructure the clause.
⚠️Common Synthesis Mistakes to Avoid
These are the most common errors students make in Synthesis & Transformation. Flip each card to learn the correct approach:
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📋Quick Connector Reference by Category
Connectors are grouped by their function. Knowing which category a connector belongs to helps you understand how to use it:
Contrast (unexpected result)
Reason / Cause
Condition
Result / Degree
Time
Addition / Choice
Combine: 'Tom studied hard. He still failed the test.' using 'Although'
Convert to reported speech: 'I am feeling very tired,' said Mei Ling.
Convert to passive voice: 'The class monitor collected all the homework.'
Combine using 'too...to': 'The bag was very heavy. She could not lift it.'
Which relative pronoun should you use for animals and things?