USE OF ENGLISH (REPHRASING)

I've found a very interesting blog for 2nd pre-college studies students (2º bachillerato): http://luisasenglishblog.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/rephrasing-for-2-bachillerato-with.html

I've taken some use of English for you to practice. Hope you enjoy them! ;-)

                                                                       

1. She started drinking too much alcohol two years ago. (Verbal Tenses)

- She has been drinking too much alcohol for two years..

3. Despite having been vaccinated she caught the flu. (Contrast Connector)

- Although she had been vaccinated, she caught flu.

7. This is the place. We last had coffee together here. (Relative Clauses)

- This is where we last had coffee together.

9. As he hadn’t behaved himself, his parents got angry with him. (Causal Connector)

- His parents got angry with him because he hadn’t behaved himself.

11. He made an effort to speak in English. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- He tried to speak in English.

12. I spent my holidays in France. (Question)

- Where did you spend your holidays?                                                                                            

13. This is the man. His job is very dangerous. (Relative Clauses)

- This is the man whose job is very dangerous.

15. She gave up going to French lessons. (Gerund/ Infinitive)

- She stopped going to French lessons..

17. I’m not as good at English as you are. (Comparatives)

- You are better at English than me.

18. The policeman knew where the thief was hidden. (Question)

- Who knew where the thief was hidden?                                                                                                

20. The children stayed at home because it was raining. (Causal Connector)

- As it was raining, the children stayed at home..

22. Sharon hasn’t eaten junk food since last May. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- Sharon stopped eating junk food last May..

25. Albert’s drawing isn’t as good as Gerard’s. (Comparatives)

- Gerard’s drawing is better than Albert’s drawing..

30. Although the weather was horrible, we went skiing. (Contrast Connectors)

- In spite of the horrible weather, we went skiing.

31. I would like to have more free time these days. (Wish)

- I wish I had more free time these days.

32. I met that famous writer a year ago. (Verbal Tenses)

- It’s been a year since I met that famous writer.

33. Wendy didn’t study for her test. Therefore, she failed. (Conditionals)

- If Wendy had studied for her test, she wouldn’t have failed.

34. “Don’t speak so loud, please”, she said to the students. (Reported Speech)

- She ordered / begged / asked the students not to speak so loud.

35. We won’t buy that house because we don’t have enough money. (Causal Connectors)

- As we don’t have enough money, we won’t buy that house.

36. That man’s brother is my new English teacher. (Relative Clauses)

- That is the man whose brother is my new English teacher.

37. Steve advised me to tell Paul about it. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- Steve suggested telling Paul about it.

38. I didn’t make a note of it in my diary, so I forgot about it. (Conditional Clauses)

- If I had made a note of it in my diary, I wouldn’t have forgotten about it.

39. She lost the race in spite of running well. (Contrast Clauses)

- Although she ran well, she lost the race.

40. It’s possible that her boyfriend is coming to the wedding. (Modal Verbs)

- Her boyfriend may come to the wedding.

41. Beth hasn’t smoked since last December. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- Beth stopped smoking last December.

42. My new neighbours have got a baby. Her name is Wendy. (Relative Clauses)

- My new neighbours have got a baby whose name is Wendy.

43. Although Orson was over seventy, he continued to cycle to work every day. (Contrast Connector)

- Despite being over seventy, Orson continued to cycle to work every day.

44. I haven’t read a play by George Bernard Shaw for eight years. (Verbal Tenses)

- It is eight years since I read a play by George Bernard Shaw.

45. “Perhaps it would be better to go out in the afternoon”, Sharon’s mother said. (Reported Speech)

- Sharon’s mother recommended going out in the afternoon.

46. The fireman managed to rescue the child from the burning house. (Modal Verbs)

- The fireman was able to rescue the child from the burning house.

47. The police don’t oblige the suspects to say anything. (Passive)

- The suspects aren’t obliged to say anything by the police.

48. My grandfather is eighty-two years old. (Question)

- How old is your grandfather?                                                                                                   

49. She hasn’t enjoyed herself so much for years. (Verbal Tenses)

- It is years since she enjoyed herself so much..

52. I thought it would be better than that. (Comparatives)

- It’s not as good as I thought it would be..

55. Her jokes are not as good as his. (Comparatives)

- His jokes are better than hers..

59. Fiona is smiling in the picture. She is my boss. (Relative Clauses)

- Fiona, who is my boss, is smiling in the picture.

60. Despite the fact that it was very hot, she was wearing her winter clothes. (Contrast Clauses)

- Although it was very hot, she was wearing her winter clothes.

61. I was not invited and I am sorry about that.  (Gerund/Infinitive)

- I would like to have been invited..

65. She needed a job, so she sent off an application form. (Causal Connector)

- She sent off an application form , because she needed a job.

66. It takes me two hours to get there. (Question)

- How long does it take you to get there?                                                                          

67. The last time she wrote a poem was two years ago. (Verbal Tenses)

- She hasn’t written a poem for two years..

70. Where are my keys? (Question)

I wonder where my keys are..

74. Will you post this letter for me, please? (Gerund/Infinitive)

- Do you mind posting this letter for me, please?

78. The next plane leaves at 9.45 p.m.. (Question)

- What time does the next plane leave?                                                                                             

79. You should post these letters. (Passive)

- These letters should be posted.

80. Although she was ill, she visited other countries. (Contrast Connector)

- Despite being ill, she visited other countries..

84. I forgot to phone Lisa on her birthday. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- I didn’t remember

85. Sheila is 1.55 m tall. Her brother is 1.70 m tall. (Comparatives)

- Sheila is less tall than her brother.

86. Although it was cold, we went to the countryside. (Contrast Connector)

- In spite of being cold, we went to the countryside..

88. This is the man. His dog bit my brother in the park. (Relative Clauses)

- This is the man whose dog bit my brother in the park..

92. The children couldn’t go out to the playground because it was raining. (Causal Connector)

- As it was raining, the children couldn’t go out to the playground.

93. The last time we saw that movie was six months ago. (Verbal Tenses)

- We have not seen that movie for six months.

94. Smoking is forbidden in most restaurants. (Modal  Verbs)

- You mustn’t smoke in most restaurants.

95. The shop assistant didn’t give us the ticket. (Passive)

- We weren’t given the ticket by the shop assistant.

96. Al swims faster than Peter. (Comparatives)

- Peter swims slower than Al. / Peter doesn’t swim as fast as Al.

97. I saw Frank two months ago. (Verbal Tenses)

- I haven’t seen Frank for two months.

98. He forgot to phone his wife yesterday. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- He didn’t remember phoning his wife yesterday.

99. They are servicing my new car next week. (Have sth. Done)

- I am having my new car served next week.

100. If we don’t meet this month, it will be too late. (Conditionals)

- Unless we meet this month, it will be too late.

101. The trainer said: “Molly, come back to the team!” (Reported Speech)

- The trainer told her to come back to the team.

102. Ben drives 200 miles every day. (Question)

-    Who drives 200 miles every day?                                                                                        .

108. John lives next door. (Question)

-  Who lives next door?                                                                              .

111. The meat was better than the fish. (Comparatives)

- The fish was worse than the meat. / The fish wasn’t as good as the meat.

112. You can make green paint by mixing blue and yellow. (Passive)

- Green paint can be made by mixing blue and yellow.

113. I have been playing the piano for twenty years. (Verbal Tenses)

- I started playing the piano twenty years ago.

114. I have English classes three times a week. (Question)

-  How often do you have English classes?                                                                                             

115. Sharon is going to marry a man. He is Eric’s brother. (Relative Clauses)

- The man who Sharon is going to marry to is Eric’s brother..

119. I forgot to post the letter. (Gerund/Infinitive)

- I didn’t remember posting the letter..

125. Shakespeare was a famous writer. He wrote beautiful sonnets. (Relative Clauses)

- Shakespeare, who was a famous writer, wrote beautiful sonnets.

126. Someone knocked at the door. The dog woke up. (Connector)

- The dog woke up because/ when someone knocked at the door.

127. It’s such a pity you can’t come along! (Wish)

- I wish you could come along.

128. Bananas are more expensive than apples. (Comparatives)

- Apples are cheaper than bananas. / Apples aren’t as expensive as bananas.

129. In spite of her beauty, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. (Contrast connector)

- Although she is (very) beautiful, she doesn’t have a boyfriend.

130. I last had flu five years ago. (Verbal tenses)

- I haven’t had flu for five years..

135. I last visited London fifteen years ago. (Verbal tenses)

- I haven’t visited London for fifteen years.

136. She asked me: “What time does your party start?” (Reported speech)

- She asked me what time my party started.

137. Will you close the door when you leave, please? (Gerund/ Infinitive)

- Do you mind closing the door when you leave?

138. We bought our tickets on the Web because it was much cheaper. (Causal connector)

- Since it was much cheaper, we bought our tickets on the Web.

139. Albert is coming back from hospital tomorrow. He has just broken his ankle. (Relative Clauses)

- Albert, who has just broken his ankle, is coming back from hospital tomorrow..

143. Although he was exhausted, he managed to finish reading the novel. (Contrast connector)

- Despite being exhausted, he managed to finish reading the novel.

144. Gerard plays tennis twice a week. (Question)

- How often does Gerard play tennis?                                                                                    

145. That woman’s husband is my boss. (Relative Clauses)

- That is the woman whose husband is my boss..

150. I felt really tired so I stayed at home. (Causal connector)

- I stayed at home because I felt really tired.

151. People consider that he is an expert on cricket. (Passive)

- He is considered to be an expert on cricket.

152. Please don’t shoot. (Gerund / Infinitive)

- He begged us not to shoot.

153. Learning English is not easy. (Gerund / Infinitive)

- It is not easy to learn English..

156. Although she was poor, she was happy. (Contrast connector)

- In spite of being poor, she was happy.

157. They didn’t pay for the ring. (Relative clauses)

- This is the ring which they didn’t pay for.

158. Although the weather was awful, they had a great time. (Contrast connector)

- In spite of the awful weather, they had a great time.

159. They have given us a Roald Dahl novel. (Passive)

- We have been given a Roald Dahl novel.

160. She hasn’t phoned her mother for two months. (Verbal tenses)

- It’s two months since she last phoned her mother.

164. I saw a man later. He was the president of the European Community. (Relative clauses)

- The man, who(m) I saw later, was the president of the European Community.

165. Germany is richer than India. (Comparatives)

- India is poorer than Germany. / India is not as rich as Germany.

169. “Where is the nearest cinema, please?” (Indirect question)

- Could you tell me where the nearest cinema is.

170. I haven’t seen your wife for a long time. (Verbal tenses)

- It’s a long time since I last saw your wife.

173. The Da Vinci Code is a best-seller. It was written by Dan Brown. (Relative clauses)

- The Da Vinci Code, which was written by Dan Brown, is a best-seller.

174. Mary goes swimming twice a week. (Question)

- Who goes swimming twice a week?                                                                              

177. As it was Friday, the children stayed up late. (Causal connector)

- The children stayed up late because it was Friday.

178. I have never read such an interesting book. (Verbal tenses / Superlative)

- This is the first time I have read such an interesting book. / This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.

179. If you don’t hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert. (Conditionals)

- Unless you hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert.

180. I have to wear a uniform whenever I work in front of the customers. (Question)

- When do you have to wear a uniform?                                                                                                                             

181. The film is not as good as the novel. (Comparatives)

- The novel is better than the film..

185. I haven’t seen a good film for ages. (Verbal tenses)

- It’s ages since I last saw a good film.

186. John bought a new Rolls Royce. (Question)

- What did John buy?                                                                                

187. I visited a village yesterday but I did not like it. (Relative clauses)

- I visited a village yesterday which I did not like.

189. It’s ages since I last visited Russia. (Verbal tenses)

- I haven’t visited Russia for ages..

192. He visits his parents every Sunday. (Question)

- How often does he visit his parents?                                                                             

194. Despite the fact that the questions were difficult, she got a high mark in her exam. (Contrast con)

- Although the questions were difficult, she got a high mark in her exam.

198. No other fictional secret agent is as famous as James Bond. (Superlative)

- James Bond Is the most famous fictional secret agent.

GERUNDS and INFINITIVES

Gerund and infinitive 1

International experiences (video)

Have you ever travelled abroad? Where? 

Maybe this experience tells you something... or not...  

Anyway, I'm sure it will help you understand a lot of things... even improve your listening skill!!

There are several videos to watch and enjoy. Click the globe (on the right)to watch the first video.  There are four more parts which could be found using the link.

See you!

Academy Island Game to practise your English

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exam-preparation/academy-island-game.html

It's a good way to practise and improve your English. Just try!

See you!

ALL HALLOWS' EVE.... yummy!!

Are you hungry? 
Take a look at those desserts... they seem to be yummy, and they are TERRIFIC!!

Chocolate cookie monster

The skoopy Pumpkin Eye

Bat in lemon

Frankentein's Eyes

Special A2 lesson

Have a good long weekend: enjoy, relax and see you all next week!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Tuesday, 30th October

Have a look at the delicious desserts that the students of 3rd C.S.E. (diver) have prepared... aren't they mouthwatering?

Spooky cookies

Halloween in black and white

Coconut biscuits for ghosts

Terrifying eyes of vampires

Chocolate cake with fingers and skeletons