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.