0% found this document useful (0 votes)
11 views

Paraphrasing Structures-2

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
11 views

Paraphrasing Structures-2

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

PARAPHRASING/SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

In this type of test, you have two sentences. Sentence one is complete.
Sentence two is incomplete. You have to complete sentence two so that it
means the same as sentence one. For example:

Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park.


Jurassic Park _________ Steven Spielberg.
Answer: Jurassic Park was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Here are our tips for doing sentence transformation exercises well.

 Read the instructions carefully.


 Are you given a word to include in sentence two? If so, don’t change this
word.
 How many words are you allowed to write to complete sentence two?
Sometimes the instructions will tell you that there is a maximum word
limit.
 Read sentences one and two slowly and carefully.
 Which part of sentence one is tested in sentence two?
 What grammar do you need to use?
 If you don’t know an answer, guess. You may be right!
 Check your spelling carefully.
 Check your answers carefully when you finish.
 Sentence transformations often test direct and indirect speech,
comparative and superlative forms, active and passive forms, quantifiers,
conditionals and verb patterns.

MOST COMMON STRUCTURES:


1) SO SUCH
Such + (adj.) + noun + (that)
The recording was such a disappointment that I didn't buy any more from
that artist.
It was such an expensive car that he didn't buy it.

So + adj. + (that)
The game was so fascinating (that) he played for hours.
2) RELATIVE CLAUSES 1 (WHO-THAT-WHICH-WHOSE- WHERE)
That customer refused to pay the bill.
That was the customer (who) refused to pay the bill.

3) FOR vs SINCE
Barbara hasn’t had a break for hours.
It is hours since Barbara had a break.

4) ALTHOUGH / IN SPITE OF/ EVEN THOUGH / THOUGH / DESPITE

Although
Even though + clause (subject + predicate)

Though: Used at the beginning or at the end of a sentence


Although/Though/Even though the advert said it would last for years, my
dishwasher broke after two months.

In spite of
Despite + noun / gerund / the fact that + clause

In spite of/Despite her age, my grandmother is still very active.


In spite of/Despite being 85, my grandmother is still very active.
In spite of the fact that/Despite the fact that she is 85, my grandmother is
still very active.
5) MODAL VERBS (PAST-PRESENT)

PRESENT MODAL + VERB (INFINITIVE)


I think they're on holiday (Could)
They could be on holiday

PAST MODAL + HAVE + PAST. PARTICIPLE


Perhaps I forgot my driving licence at home (Might)
I might have forgotten my driving licence at home.

6) CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
I changed my plans because you asked me to.
If you hadn't asked me to, I wouldn't have changed my plans.

7) BOTH / EITHER...OR / NEITHER…NOR


You can ask Tim for a lift to work or you can ask Sam.
You can ask either Tim or Sam for a lift to work.

Both Patrick and Peter dislike volleyball.


Neither Patrick Peter like volleyball.

8) SPECIFIC REPORTING VERBS

DENY + ING
"It wasn´t me who broke the glass," said Mary.
Mary denied breaking the glass.

REGRET + (NOT) ING


I wish I had told her the truth.
I regret not telling her the truth
9) LIKELY vs PROBABLY

BE LIKELY + TO + INFINITIVE
He is likely to pass the exam.

PROBABLY + VERB (BARE INFINITIVE)


I will probably finish at 6.30.

PROBABLE + THAT + SIMPLE FUTURE


It is probable that he will fail the exam.

10) WHEN vs HOW LONG


WHEN + SIMPLE PAST
HOW LONG + P. PERFECT

When did you start playing the guitar?


How long have you been playing the guitar?

11) WOULD RATHER / WOULD PREFER / HAD BETTER


HAD BETTER (NOT) + BARE INFINITIVE
I'd better not mention it to anybody.

WOULD RATHER (NOT) + BARE INFINITIVE


Would you rather drink tea or coffee?
He'd rather speak to her at home.

WOULD PREFER + TO + INFINITIVE


I would prefer to eat pizza.
12) HAVE SOMETHING DONE
HAVE + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE
I had the roof repaired yesterday.

13) WISH vs IF ONLY

PRESENT: WISH/ IF ONLY + S. PAST


I wish I was/were a millionaire.
If only I was/were a millionaire.

PAST: IF ONLY / I WISH + PAST PERFECT


If only/I wish I had woken up earlier.

TO COMPLAIN ABOUT STH: IF ONLY / I WISH + WOULD/WOULDN´T +


INFINITIVE
If only/I wish she wouldn´t shout at me.

14) PREFER

PREFER NOUN + TO + NOUN


I prefer tea to coffee.

PREFER + ING + TO + ING


I prefer driving to walking.

PREFER + TO + VERB + RATHER THAN + ING


I prefer to drive rather than walking.

PREFER + TO + VERB + RATHER THAN + BARE INFINITIVE


I prefer to drive rather than walk.
15) IT´S AGES / IT´S YEARS

IT´S AGES / IT´S BEEN AGES / IT´S YEARS + SINCE + S. PAST


It´s ages/It has been ages since I saw you.

I haven't enjoyed myself so much for years.


It´s years since I enjoyed myself so much.

16) NEVER vs THE FIRST/SECOND…TIME

IT´S THE FIRST/SECOND…TIME + PRESENT PERFECT


She has never eaten caviar before.
It is the first time she has eaten caviar.

17) APOLOGISE FOR + ING


“I'm sorry I came late”, Pam said.
Pam apologised for being late.

18) TOO vs ENOUGH

TOO + ADJECTIVE
ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH

It is too cloudy to go to the park today.


It isn't sunny enough to go to the park today.

19) PASSIVE VOICE


He will give us more information later.
We will be given more information later.
20) SUPERLATIVES (NEVER vs EVER)

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE + PRESENT PERFECT


I have never had such a bad day.
It is the worst day I have ever had.

21) HAVE DIFFICULTY + IN + ING


I can't believe Jack did all the work himself.
I have difficulty in believing that Jack did all the work himself.

22) AS…AS
AS + ADJECTIVE/ADVERB + AS
AS MUCH + UNCOUNTABLE NOUN + AS
AS MANY + COUNTABLE NOUN + AS
Sweden is bigger than Britain.
Britain isn´t as big as Sweden.

John and I received the same job offers.


I have received as many job offers as John.

Greg and Mick spend the same amount of money at the supermarket.
Greg spends as much money as Mick at the supermarket.

23) TOO + ADJ. + TO + INFINITIVE


He is very ill. He can't go to the university.
He is too ill to go to the university

24) YET vs STILL

YET USED WITH PRESENT PERFECT


STILL USED WITH PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Dad hasn´t finished painting the fence yet.
Dad is still painting the fence.

25) WHEN vs HOW LONG


HOW LONG IS IT + SINCE + PAST SIMPLE

When did Patrick finish writing his essay?


How long is it since Patrick finished writing his essay?

26) MANAGE vs SUCCEED


MANAGE + TO + INFINITIVE
SUCCEED + IN + ING

He managed to pass the exam with distinction.


He succeeded in passing the exam with distinction.

27) SUGGEST
SUGGEST + ING
SUGGEST + THAT + OBJECT + VERB (BARE INFINITIVE)
SUGGEST + THAT + OBJECT + SHOULD + VERB (BARE INFINITIVE)

I think it would be a good idea if you left early.


I suggest leaving early.
I suggest that you leave early.
I suggest that you should leave early.
28) ACCUSE + OBJECT + OF + ING

“You have spoiled my party!”, she said to him.


She accused him of spoiling her party.

29) DIFFICULT + TO + VERB


She had difficulty in finding the house.
It was difficult to find the house.

30) REPORTED SPEECH


"Listen carefully"!, his boss said to him.
His boss told him to listen carefully.

30) ED vs ING ADJECTIVES


We were bored by the concert.
We found the concert boring.

31) REMIND + OBJECT + TO + INFINITIVE


“Don't forget to come earlier tomorrow, Pamela”.
He reminded Pamela to come earlier the following day.

32) UNLESS vs IF

• UNLESS=IF NOT

IF + POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE VERB


UNLESS + POSITIVE VERB

You'll miss the bus if you don't hurry up.


Unless you hurry up you'll miss the bus.
33) SEEM

PRESENT SEEM + TO + INFINITIVE


PAST SEEM + TO + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

It looks as if she is at home.


She seems to be at home.

It looks as if she has gone out.


She seems to have gone out.

34) IT IS TIME/IT IS ABOUT TIME/IT IS HIGH TIME + OBJECT + PAST


SIMPLE
They should be leaving for the airport now.
It is time/It is about time/It is high time they left for the airport.

35) PASSIVE MADE


BE MADE + TO + INFINITIVE
He made us wait two hours before he called us in.
We were made to wait two hours before he called us in.

36) SUGGESTIONS

HOW ABOUT + ING


Shall we take the children to the funfair on Sunday?
How about taking the children to the funfair on Sunday?

37) FIND IT DIFFICULT + TO + INFINITIVE


I had difficulty in completing the course.
I found it difficult to complete the course.
38) SUCCEED + IN + ING

He didn't manage to catch any fish.


He didn't succeed in catching any fish.

39) NOT ONLY... BUT ALSO


It is used to add emphasis to the sentence. NOT ONLY is used at the
beginning of the sentence and we invert the subject and the verb.

You forgot to shut the window and to lock the door.


Not only did you forget to shut the window but you also forgot to lock the
door.

You might also like