Interchange of one part of speech with another

The same word or the basic idea can exist in several different forms. For example, the word success is a noun. It has two other forms: successful (adjective), succeed (verb). By using different forms of the same word, we can express the same idea in several different ways.

Study the following sentence.

• He succeeded in his attempt. (Succeeded – verb)

We can express this idea using the other two forms of success.

• He attempt was met with success. (Success – noun)
• His attempt was successful. (Successful – adjective)

If you know how to transform sentences like this, you will be able to add a great deal of variety to your writing.

More examples are given below.

• Respect your parents and teachers.

We can transform this sentence using the different forms of the word respect.

• Be respectful to your parents and teachers. (Respectful – adjective)
• Show respect to your parents and teachers. (Respect – noun)

• She works diligently. (Diligently – adverb)
• She works with diligence. (Diligence – noun)

• It is obvious that he hides something from us. (Obvious – adjective)
• He obviously hides something from us. (Obviously – adverb)

• The man was shot in the head and died in an instant. (Instant – noun)
• The man was shot in the head and died instantly. (Instantly – adverb)

• She was seemingly convinced. (Seemingly – adverb)
• She seemed to be convinced. (Seemed – verb)

• The farmer was apparently a fool. (Apparently – adverb)
• The farmer appeared to be a fool. (Appeared – verb)