Rephrasing Exercises
Rephrasing Exercises
Rephrasing Exercises
1. There were a lot of things that we had to think about before (obliged)
1. There were several things that we were obliged to take into consideration before
2. Do you think you could help me? (wondering)
2. I was wondering if you could give me a hand
3. I know that it was wrong of me to shout in front of (raised)
3. I know that I should not have raised my voice in front of
4. If you need any help, you can always call me (hesitate)
4. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to call me.
5. It hasnt rained quite as much this year as in previous years (slightly)
5. This year, it has rained slightly less than it did in previous years
6. Unless the weather improves, they will have to stop the tennis match (mean)
6. If the weather doesnt get better, it will mean stopping the tennis match
7. I dont mind whether (difference)
7. It doesnt make any difference to me whether
8. Its possible that the thieves entered the building (broken)
8. The thieves may have broken into the building
9. Sarah cried her eyes out immediately she was told she failed the exam (tears)
9. Sarah broke down in tears as soon as she heard she had failed the exam
10. The government recently said our problems are the fault of the lalala (blame)
10. The government has placed the blame on lalala for our problems
11. You led me to believe the job was mine if I wanted it (impression)
11. I was (given/under/left with) the impression that the job
12. He would never have guessed that (little)
12. Little did he know/realize that
13. Feel free to phone if you have any further problems (hesitate)
13. Do not hesitate to call us /give us a call if you
14. When you decide what you want to do please let us know (made)
14. When you have made up your mind what you want
15. Do you mind if I come over to see you later? (objection)
15. Do you have any objection to me coming over to see you later?
16. How can I make him understand that (get)
16. How can I get it/the message across (to him) that
17. They still havent carried out a full assessment of the effects (been)
17. The effects have yet not been fully assessed by them
18. John was surprised when he won the election and became President (rather)
18. John was rather taken aback when he was elected as President
19. The police now think he invented the story to protect his girlfriend (made)
19. He is now thought to have made up the story to protect his girlfriend
20. To repair and redecorate their house next month (up)
20. To have their house cleaned up by next month
21. He thinks his girlfriend does not appreciate him (granted)
21. He dislikes not being granted by her girlfriend
22. They have postponed the meeting until January (been)
22. The meeting has been put off until January
23. We need at least six people to help us (no)
23. No less than six people are required to help us
24. A common belief is that British people cannot speak foreign languages very well (weak)
24. British people are commonly believed to be weak in speaking foreign languages
25. You could have been seriously injured not wearing a seatbelt (think)
25. You must think yourself lucky you werent seriously injured not wearing a seatbelt
26. Would you give us your answer as soon as possible (convenience)
26. Please respond at your earliest convenience
27. The hotel was further away from the beach than was claimed (nowhere)
27. The hotel was nowhere near as close to the beach as they claimed
28. I wasnt expecting my colleagues to organise (taken)
28. I was taken aback (by surprise) when my colleagues organised
29. It is no likely to happen, but if youre not satisfied (event)
29. In the unlikely event that youre not satisfied
30. Its one thing to think theres a demand for your product and another to (world)
30. Theres a world of difference between thinking theres a demandand (another ing)
31. Im sure we went the wrong way at the last junction (taken)
31. We must have taken the wrong turn at the last junction
32. Im so sorry, I didnt realise it was so late (track)
32. Sorry, I lost track of the time
33. Apparently, the restaurant in town has been bought by someone else (under)
33. I hear that the restaurant in town is under new management
34. Brian was really interested in North American history in his school days (interest)
34. Brian had an interest in North American history
35. When it comes to population, Beijings is much bigger than Aucklands (populated)
35. Beijing is much more populated than Auckland
36. The manager should think about experience when hiring new staff (consideration)
36. The manager should take experience into consideration when
37. The anti-smoking advertisement does not stop people from smoking (ineffective)
37. The anti-smoking advertisement is ineffective at stopping people from smoking
38. She has learnt a substantial amount from her university course (gained)
38. She has gained a substantial amount of knowledge from
39. It is a good idea to learn Chinese to improve your future job prospects (taking)
39. Taking up Chinese is a good way to enhance your work opportunities
40. When I realised what had happened, I became quite afraid (overcome)
40. I was overcome with fear when I worked out what had occurred
41. We saw the litter on the ground and picked it up and put it in the bin (hesitation)
41. We grabbed the rubbish off the ground and threw it in the bin without hesitation
42. Do you think you could give me a hand to move the sofa? (mind)
42. Would you mind giving me a hand to move the sofa
43. Can you possibly get me the work as soon as possible. (appreciate)
43. I would appreciate it if you could get the work to me as soon as possible.
44. Apparently, theyre planning on rerouting the traffic to reduce congestion. (drawn)
44. Plans are being drawn up to reroute the traffic to reduce congestion
45. It was a mistake not to write the telephone number down. (point)
45. I should have made a point of writing down the telephone number.
46. Its possible that they got the wrong idea and thought the party was next week (reached)
46. They might have reached the wrong conclusion and thought the party was next week.
47. If you must be noisy could you go outside and play (insist)
47. If you insist on making a noise could you go outside and play.
48. Police are warning people to check for forged notes which (lookout)
48. Police are warning people to be on the lookout for forged notes which
49. Parents predict chaos in schools unless the strike is called off. (result)
49. Parents claim it will result in chaos if the teachers strike goes ahead.
50. How can I make him understand that I dont want to see him any more? (across)
50. How can I get it across that I dont want to see him any more?
51. There has been a sharp rise in the price of petrol this month (risen)
51. The price of petrol has risen this month
52. Lisa was just about to leave the house when the phone rang (point)
52. Lisa was at the point of leaving the house
53. Toms company had less success with its exports this year (so)
53. Toms company was no so successful with
54. A number of sporting events had to be cancelled owing to the bad weather (led)
54. Bad weather did not led the celebration of a number of sporting events
55. When it comes to computer games, she is a real expert (concerned)
55. As far as computer games is concerned, she is a real expert
56. Carlos really should get someone to mend his bike (high)
56. Its high recommended that Carlos has his bike mended
57. Do you think she is likely to win the competition? (chance)
57. Do you think she is in with a chance of winning the competition?
58. Ive been greatly impressed by the way he deals with problems (made)
58. His way of dealing with problems has made an impression on me
59. The reduction in the price of the magazines led to a growth in sales (result)
59. Sales of the magazine grew as a result of the reduction in the price
60. I think the weather will improve next week (change)
60. I think therell be a change for the better in the weather next week
61. He was surprised to be offered a place in the course (came)
61. The offer of a place in the course came as a surprise to him
62. If he doesnt get that job, who knows what hell do (knowing)
62. If he doesnt get that job, there is no knowing what hell do
63. Do you want to go and see the new play at the ? Petra asked her friend (interested)
63. Petra asked her friend whether she was interested in going to see
64. She hasnt written to me recently (heard)
64. I have not heard from her for/in a while
65. They put Roger in charge of health and safety (made)
65. Roger was made responsible for health and safety
66. You may not get the job (cost)
66. It may cost you the job
67. The company is almost certain to get the contract (every)
67. The company stands every chance of getting the contract
68. Her sister is the only person to know (apart)
68. Nobody apart from her sister knows
69. He would have called yesterday if he had had more time (short)
69. He didnt call yesterday because he was short of time
70. He has the ability to become world judo champion (capable)
70. He is capable of winning the world championship in judo
71. He was asked to give an explanation for making the mistake (why)
71. He was asked to explain why he made the mistake
72. He didnt mention that (reference)
72. He didnt make any reference to that
73. She was very pleased to be given an award (delight)
73. Much to her delight she was given the award
74. Sam never thought of asking me for my advice (occurred)
74. It never occurred to Sam to ask me for advice
7. The ships in the harbour3 took the full force of the storm. (BRUNT).
The ships in the harbour bore the full brunt of the storm.
8. Most of the orders will have been processed by Friday. (BULK).
The bulk of the orders will have been processed by Friday
9. They renovated and redecorated the old house. (DID).
They did up the old house.
10. Not much heat came from the radiators. (BARELY)
Barely any heat came from the radiators.
49-The young girl died when she was attacked by the panther. (LOST).
The young girl lost her life when she was attacked by the panther.
50-The elephant and his trainer seem to spend all their time together. (INSEPARABLE).
The elephant and his trainer seem to be inseparable.
51-Toy animals tend to be bears and lions, not cows and pigs. (LIKELY).
Toy animals are likely to be bears.
52-Dont tell anybody about our plans. (BREATHE).
Dont breath a word about our plans.
53-Any goods in excess of what is necessary can be returned to the manufacturers. (SURPLUS).
Any surplus goods can be returned to the manufacturers.
54-I know those nursery rhymes because I was taught them as a child. (BROUGHT).
I know those nursery rhymes because I was brought up on them.
55-Very few people are willing to do this job.
Hardly anybody is willing to do this job.
56-Im sorry I was angry with you yesterday, Kate, said Paul.
Paul apologized to Kate for having being angry with her the day before.
57-She likes presenting seminars on self-promotion more than anything else.
What she likes more than anything else is to present seminars.
58-Sally was never at a loss for words.
At no time was Sally at a loss of words.
109-I think everyone got a lot out of the training course. (WORTHWHILE).
I think everyone found the training course worthwhile.
110-With this machine you can do all the calculations that you need. (ENABLE).
This machine will enable you to do all the calculations that you need
111-This company stands a very good chance of winning an Export Award. (HIGHLY).
Its highly probable/likely that this company will win an Export Award.
112-When the police arrived, he didnt even try to hide himself. (EFFORT).
When the police arrived, he made no effort to hide himself.
113-The speaker was soon surrounded by a large crowd. (GATHERED).
A large crowd soon gathered around the speaker.
114-Martin suddenly started to sing. (BURST).
Martin suddenly burst into song.
115-He behaved in such an extraordinary way that I wondered whether he was quite sane.
So extraordinary was his behavior that I wondered whether he was quite sane.
116-It might be a good idea if trucks were sent there to help in the distribution of food supplies.
It was suggested that trucks should be sent there to help in the distribution of food supplies.
It was suggested sending trucks there to help in the distribution of food supplies.
117-As he failed to explain why he had left without warning, he was dismissed.
His dismissal was due to his failure to explain why he had left without warning, he was dismissed.
His dismissal was due to his having failed to explain why he had left without warning, he was dismissed.
118-He had no idea that armed police was waiting for him.
Little did he know that armed police was waiting for him.
119-Not many of the people in Britain speak my language.
Hardly anyone in Britain speaks my language.
120-Even he doesnt win the election, he counts on the support of his party. (WHETHER).
Whether he wins the election or not, he counts on the support of his party.
121-Most people regard him as being the best man for the job. (WIDELY).
Hes widely regarded as being the best man for the job.
Hes widely considered to be the best man for the job.
122-My worst fears about this government have actually happened. (TRUE).
My worst fears about this government have come true.
123-Jane was given permission by her boss to take a day off. (AGREED).
Janes boss agreed that she could / might have / take a day off.
124-If you dont pay you will be prosecuted.
Failure to pay will result in your being prosecuted.
125-She didnt let them out of her sight for a second.
Not for a second did she let them out of her sight.
126-despite his brilliance, he never became famous.
Brilliant as he was, he never became famous.
127-What are your views on reforming the rape laws?
How do you feel about reforming the rape laws?
128-Apart from Philip, everyone else at the meeting was a party member.
With the exception of Philip, everyone else at the meeting was a party member.
129-He spends all day sleeping. (BUT).
He does nothing but sleep all day.
130-He asked her whether she was agreeable to the change. (ASSENT).
He asked her if she gave her assent to the change.
He asked her to assent to the change.
He asked her for her assent to the change.
131-Hows the Cup final going (SCORE).
Whats the score in the Cup final?.
132-His refusal to commit himself does annoy me. (NERVES).
His refusal to commit himself gets on my nerves.
133-The Social Security pamphlet told me all about the benefits I could claim. (ENTITLED).
The Social Security pamphlet told me about the benefits I was entitled to.
134-Im sorry now that I asked her to stay.
Now I wish I hadnt asked her to stay.
135-There is always trouble when he comes to visit us.
Whenever he comes to visit us, there is trouble.
136-If you want to save your eyesight, we must operate immediately.
Only by operating immediately can we save your eyesight.
137-The director told the representative to finish his report by the weekend but he didnt complete it till Wednesday.
It was not till Wednesday that the representative completed his report, although the director had told him to finish it by the
weekend.
138-He had undergone a very large number of operations.
He had been operated on many times.
139-The term public assistance has now been replaced by supplementary benefit, though the means test is the basis on
both. (SUBSTITUTED).
The term supplementary benefit has now been substituted for public assistance, though
140-He doesnt find it easy to express himself. (DIFFICULTY).
He finds/has difficulty in expressing himself.
141-The noise was deafening but the teacher went on talking. (DESPITE).
Despite the noise being deafening, the teacher went on talking.
Despite the fact that the noise was deafening, the teacher went on talking.
The teacher went on talking despite the deafening noise.
142-Wed prefer you not to wear those slippers in the office. (RATHER).
Wed rather you didnt wear those slippers in the office.
143-There are very great differences between the two systems. (WIDELY).
The two systems are widely different.
144-The car wouldnt start, which annoyed him intensely.
To his intense annoyance, the car wouldnt start.
145-You wont see cliffs like these anywhere else in the world.
Nowhere else in the world will you see cliffs like these.
146-An early announcement is doubtful.
It is doubtful that there will be an early announcement.
147-They have very little in common but still get on very well together.
Despite the fact that they have very little in common, they get on very well together.
Despite having very little in common, they get on very well together.
148-She answered the policemans question as accurately as she could.
She gave the policeman as accurate an answer as she could.
149-The roof needs mending, not to mention the walls and woodwork. (NOTHING).
The roof needs mending, to say nothing of the walls and woodwork.
150-He got to the meeting two minutes before it was due to begin. (SPARE).
He got to the meeting with two minutes to spare.
151-I knew he was our man the moment I saw him. (EYES).
I knew he was our man the moment I laid/set eyes on him.
152-The pictures show the frustrations of urban society. (PORTRAYED).
The frustrations of urban society are portrayed by/in the picture.
153-I was about to give them up for lost, when they arrived. (POINT).
I was on the point of giving them up for lost when they arrived.
154-If you dont test pupils on what they know and can do, you will not able to find out their strengths and weaknesses.
Unless you test your pupils on what they know and can do, you will not able to find out their strengths and weaknesses.
155-He never suspected that the money had been stolen.
At no time did he suspect that the money had been stolen.
156-The noise next door did not stop until after midnight.
It was not till after midnight that the noise next door stopped.
157-My decision to get up and dance coincided with the band decision to stop playing.
The moment I decided to get up and dance, the band decided to stop playing.
158-It was his own fault that he lost his job. He was late for work every morning.
If he hadnt been late for work every morning, he wouldnt have lost his job.
159-We didnt go in case we were recognized. (FEAR).
We didnt go for fear that we might be recognized.
160-The man in the painting bears a great resemblance to my uncle. (REMINDS).
The man in the painting reminds me of my uncle.
161-Man was able to control his environment in a new way through his discovery of how to light fires. (SUCCEEDED).
Man succeeded in controlling his environment in a new way through his discovery of how to light fires.
162-As a boy, he was a regular churchgoer. (USED).
As a boy, he used to go to church.
163-You may be entitled to British child benefit even if your family is living in Spain. (DESPITE).
Despite the fact that your family ...
Despite you family being living in Spain ...
164-Their dog was so fierce that nobody would visit them.
They had such a fierce dog that nobody would visit them.
They had such a so fierce dog that nobody would visit them.
165-Even though I admire his courage, I think he is foolish.
Much as I admire his courage, I think he is a foolish.
166-Everybody has to wear a seat belt.
Wearing a seat belt is compulsory.
167-The doctor said that his breakdown was caused by over-work.
The doctor put his breakdown to over-work.
168-They declared war on the pretext of defending their territorial rights.
The excuse for the declaration of war was the defence of their territorial rights.
169-I think it is a great pity you didnt tell me before. (WISH).
I wish you had told me before.
170-He ignited the rubbish he had collected. (FIRE).
He set fire to the rubbish he had collected.
171-How likely am I to win the first prize? (CHANCE).
What chance have I got to win the first prize?
What chance do I have to win the first prize?
172-The murdered wiped the gun in case his fingerprints should betray him. (GIVE)
The murdered wiped the gun in case his fingerprints should give him away.
173-For three consecutive years our market has expanded by more than a 3%. (RUNNING).
For the fourth year running our market has expanded by more than a 3%.
174-I am sure it was by mistake that he took my umbrella.
I am sure he didnt have intention to take my umbrella.
I am sure he didnt take my umbrella on purpose.
175-Pam is the only real friend she has.
Except for Pam she has no friends.
176-His passport was nowhere to be found.
Nobody could find his passport anywhere.
177-But for Peters help we would have been in serious trouble.
If Peter hadnt helped us, we would
178-Its such a wonderful opportunity that we mustnt miss it.
Its too wonderful an opportunity to be missed.
Its too wonderful an opportunity to be missed for us to miss.
180-We couldnt have done more for them really.
We didnt do our best for them really.
181-As one grows older one becomes more tolerant.
The older one grows the more tolerant one becomes.
207-The skier injured his back, so that was the end of his championships hopes. (PAID).
The skiers back injury put paid to his championships hopes.
208-The gangsters threatened Peter with violence.
The gangsters made threats of violence against Peter.
209-Mark does not intend to pay back the money he has borrowed.
Mark has no intention of paying back the money he has borrowed.
210-The driver behaved in such a way as to place the passengers in danger.
The passengers were placed in danger by the drivers behaviour.
211-Sheila has every chance of getting the job.
It is very likely that Sheila would get the job.
212-It wasnt Jills fault that we got lost.
Jill wasnt to blame for our getting lost.
Jill wasnt to blame for the fact that we got lost. (Mejor la primera).
213-The full story of the disaster was not told until 1990.
Not until 1990 was the full story of the disaster told.
214-One is very much inclined to dismiss the whole thing as a joke. (TEMPTING).
Its tempting to dismiss the whole thing as a joke.
215-After a short prison sentence, he decided to go straight. (SPELL).
After a spell in prison, he he decided to go straight.
216-The right attitude to the job is as important as the right qualifications. (LESS).
The right attitude to the job is not less important than the right qualifications.
217-He paid no regard to his own comfort. (INDIFFERENT).
He was indifferent to his own comfort.
218-The meals we are getting now cannot be compared to the ones we had to put up with before. (COMPARISON).
There is no comparison between the meals we are getting now and the ones we had to put up with before.
219-We have long since ceased to keep information in printed form. (AGES).
It is ages since we kept information in printed form.
220-Fewer people attended the meeting than the chairman had expected.
There werent so many people at the meeting as the chairman had expected.
221-She is better qualified than the others members of the department.
The other members of the department arent as well qualified as she is.
The other members of the department arent so well qualified as she is.
The other members of the department are worse qualified .
222-Toms behavior was far worse than anyone elses.
No one else had worse behavior than Toms.
No one else behaved so badly as Tom.
223-You wont find objects like this anywhere else.
Nowhere else will you find objects like this.
224-Only recently was the cause of the disease discovered.
really must be cut, mustnt it?
228-I wont keep you long. I know you are in a hurry.
I wont take up much of your time, I know you are in a hurry.
229-Peter left the room without saying a word.
Peter didnt say a word when he left the room.
Peter didnt say a word as he left the room.
230-She hardly ever opens her mouth at meetings.
Hardly ever does she open her mouth at meetings.
231-Only when I heard the full story did I realize I had been taken in.
It was when I heard the full story that I realized I had been taken in.
232-Franks car goes much faster than Dans.
Dans car doesnt go as fast as Franks (by far).