Gathering Rephrasing
ESTRUCTURAS:
CAUSATIVE... (HAVE/GET):
1. Writing in English is quite difficult
4. A doctor took her tonsils out when she was six
It is quite difficult (for me) to write in English
She was six when her tonsils were taken out by a doctor
The bookcase was so heavy that he couldn’t lift it
She had her tonsils taken out by a doctor
The bookcase was too heavy for him to lift
You look different. Has someone cut your hair?
He blamed me for his mistakes, which was unfair of him
You look different. Have you had your hair cut?
It was unfair of him to blame me for his mistakes
I’m going to the beauty salon. They are going to wax my
Tom and Sue invited me to stay with them for a few days,
legs
which was really nice of them
I’m going to the beauty parlour to have my legs waxed
It was really nice of Sue and Tom to invite me to stay
A mechanic repaired Sue’s car yesterday
with them for a few days
Sue had her car repaired by a mechanic yesterday
The water was so cold that the children could not swim in it
The garage is going to repair the car for us next week
The water was too cold for the children to swim in
We are going to have our car repaired by the garage next
These trousers are so dirty that I can’t wear them
week
These trousers aren’t clean enough for me to wear
I went to the dentist’s yesterday. He took my wisdom tooth
I can’t drink this coffee. It’s too hot
out
This coffee is too hot for me to drink
I went to the dentist’s yesterday to have my wisdom
tooth taken out
You don’t need to shout. I’m not deaf
My shoes need reheeling
There’s no need for you to shout
I must get my shoes reheeled
You don’t need to come if you don’t want to
Someone is coming to clear our garden next week
There’s no need for you to come
We will have our garden cleared next week
Nota: we use (for sb.) when we talk about sth. that is a part from the
person, ej. sth. is difficult, heavy, cold, dirty, hot. etc.
we use (of sb.) when we talk about sth. that is part of the person, ej.
sb. made sth. unfair, nice, etc.
Nota:
PREFER AND RATHER
2. Can we watch the film on the other channel?
I’d prefer to watch the film on the other channel
I’d rather watch the film on the other channel
He prefer walking to going by car
He would prefer to walk rather than go by car
He would rather walk than go by car
I’d prefer you to pay me straightaway
I’d rather you paid me straightaway
I’d prefer you to do these exercises at home
I’d rather you did these exercises at home
Would you mind not smoking in her
I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here
Nota: I prefer sth. to sth. else
I prefer doing sth. to doing sth. else
I prefer to do sth. rather than do sth. else
I’d prefer to do sth. rather than do sth. else
I’d rather do sth. than do sth. else
I’d rather you did sth.
A shoe repairer mended Julia’s boots
Julia had her boots mended
Have/Get + object + past participle (me hacen algo)
Made + to + infinitive
(me hacen hacer algo)
REPORTING PASSIVE VOICE:
5. It is believed that the terrorist is hiding somewhere in the
city
The terrorist is believed to be hiding somewhere in the
city
It’s believed that the terrorists are somewhere in the city
The terrorists are believed to be somewhere in the city
It is reported that the bomb explosion killed over 200 people
The bomb explosion is reported to have killed over 200
people
It is alleged that the football hooligan kicked a policeman
The football hooligan is alleged to have kicked a
policeman
It’s thought that the plane crashed into a mountain
The plane is thought to have crashed into a mountain
It is believed that the President is planning to resign
The President is believed to be planning to resign
Nota: They said that women live...
Impersonal passive, It is said that women live...
Impersonal passive, Women are said to live
PASSIVE VOICE:
3. The robbers made the bank manager hand over the money REPORTED SPEECH
The bank manager was made to hand over the money
6. How many survivors are there? Asked the journalist
Given the choice, how many hours a day would you work?
The journalist asked how many survivors there were
If you were given the choice how many hours a day
You must allow me to pay for lunch, he said
would you work?
He insisted on paying for in lunch
If you had the choice how many hours a day would you
work?
If they gave you the choice how many hours a day
would you work?
Nota:
............the exercise to the students
The professor explained the students the exercise
The students were explained the exercise
The exercise was explained to the students
Peter builds a house (obj. -> no obj. no passive sentence)
A house is built by Peter
LINKING WORDS:
7. They had to postpone the match because it was raining
They had to postpone the match because of the rain
I’ve packed it in a strong box because someone may drop it
I’ve packed it in a strong box in case someone drops it
If she should feel worse during the night, give her these
tablets
In case she feels worse during the night, give her these
tablets
She is afraid to go out at night for fear of being mugged
She is afraid to go out at night in case of being mugged
She is afraid to go out at night in case she is mugged
We won’t be going away this bank holiday weekend if the
weather is bad
We won’t be going away this bank holiday weekend
unless the weather is good
Scientists are about to make a vital breakthrough in the
search for a cure of Aids.
Scientists are on the point of making a vital
breakthrough in the search for a cure of Aids.
Why argue when nothing can be done about it?
What is the point of arguing….
Scientists are on the point of making a vital breakthrough
Scientists are about to make a vital breakthrough
They watched telly, afterwards they went to bed
Once they watched telly they went to bed
Terry will get over his illness. Then his work will improve
Once Terry gets over his illness, his work will improve
Go to the check-in desk immediately on arrival
As soon as you arrive go to the check-in desk
Even though the car is old it goes very fast
Despite its old age the car goes very fast
Although he was badly injured he managed to get out of the
car
Despite being badly injured he managed to get out of
the car
I decided to accept the job although the salary was low
I decided to accept the job in spite of the low salary
I decided to accept the job in spite of the fact that the
salary was low
Although it was raining heavily they carried on playing
In spite of the fact that it was raining heavily they
carried on playing
Nota:
although
even though
though
► CLAUSULA
(SUJETO + VERBO)
in spite of / despite …*
*... the fact that
► NOUN
► PRONOUN
► –ING VERB
► CLAUSULA (SUJETO + VERBO)
CONDICIONALES:
8. We couldn’t find the house because Paul lost the address
If Paul hadn’t lost the address we would have found the
house
If we had had the address we would have found the
house
I didn’t know your phone number, so I didn’t ring
If I had known your phone number I would have rung
We didn’t visit the museum because we didn’t have time
We would have visited the museum If we had had time
We haven’t got central heating, so the house is rather cold
If we had central heating the house wouldn’t be so cold
He didn’t hurry so he missed the plane
If he had hurried he wouldn’t have missed the plane
He hasn’t worked hard this year. That’s why he must take an
exam this summer
If he had worked hard this year he wouldn’t have to take
an exam
Will I ever see her again? He asked himself
He wondered if he would see her again
Nota:
WISH
9. We made a mistake not insuring our car
I wish we had insured our car
What a pity you can’t come to the party
I wish you could come to the party
What a pity you couldn’t come to the party
I wish you could have come to the party
Nota:
NEITHER...NOR...
10. The hotel wasn’t clean. And it wasn’t comfortable
The hotel was neither clean nor comfortable
Carol didn’t enjoy the film. Mike didn’t either
Neither Carol nor Mike enjoyed the film
I haven’t got the time to go on holiday. And I haven’t got the
money
I’ve got neither the time nor the money to go on holiday
Nota:
COMPARATIVO Y SUPERLATIVO
11. As I get older, I become more irritable
The older I get the more irritable I become
SUGGEST
Nota:
How about going to the cinema tonight? said Bill
Bill suggested that we should go to the cinema that
night
Bill suggested that we went to the cinema
Let’s stay behind and get the job finished
I suggested staying behind and getting the job finished
I suggested (that) we should stay behind and get the job
finished
Nota:
MODAL VERBS:
14. Perhaps he does not know that his mother is looking for him
PRESENT PERFECT:
12. She hadn’t tasted wild strawberries before
He may not know that his mother is looking for him
It was the first time she had tasted will strawberries
There had to be someone who knew the answer
Mary said she had never eaten lobster before
Someone must have known the answer
Mary: It’s the first time I have eaten lobster
I suppose she’s his sister. She looks just like him
I have never eaten such a revolting meal
She must be his sister, she reminds me of him
This meal is so revolting
It’s just possible that it won’t rain tomorrow
This is the first time I have (ever) eaten such a revolting
It might not rain tomorrow
meal
Perhaps she has not received our letter
Cathy hasn’t been on holiday with her sister before
She may not have received our letter
It’s the first time Cathy has been on holiday with her
His parents didn’t let him play with other children
sister
He wasn’t able to play with other children
I’m travelling by plane. It’s the first time
 Imposibilidad fisica
It’s the first time that I have travelled by plane
He wasn’t allowed to play
I’m going to travel by plane
 No se le permite
It’s years since I had such a good time
They said they would rather Diana didn’t listen to music at
I haven’t had such a good time for years
work
She’s the rudest woman I’ve ever met.
Diana wasn’t allowed to listen to music at work
I’ve never met such a rude woman
Diana had better not listen to music at work
I haven’t heard from Tom for years
I advise you to put your money in a bank
It’s years since I (last) heard from Tom
You’d better put your money in a bank
His car is still up for sale
They didn’t let him go away for the weekend with his
Nobody has bought his car yet
girlfriend
Has Bill written to you recently?
He wasn’t allowed to go away for the weekend with his
Have you heard from Bill recently?
girlfriend
He’s sold his house. He wants to pay off his brother’s debts.
He’s sold his house. He wants his brother to be able to pay
He’s sold his house to pay off his brother’s debts
off his debts
The last time they won the elections was ten years ago
He’s sold his house so that his brother can pay off his
They have not won the elections for ten years
debts
She moved here in 1992
He wasn’t able to play because he was injured
She has been living here since 1992
Because of his injures he wasn’t able to play
We met when we were at university together
Perhaps he doesn’t know what we have to do
We have known each other since we were at university
He may not know what we have to do
together
Perhaps he didn’t know what we had to do
It’s ages since he wrote to me
He may not have known what we had to do
He hasn’t written to me for ages
They went to Israel some years ago and then again last year Nota:
They have been to Israel twice
I’ve never heard a more ridiculous story
BEING
That’s the most ridiculous story I’ve ever heard
15. People are always criticising me!
It’s years since I saw a game as good as that
I’m always being criticized
That’s the best game I’ve seen for years
Many people consider him to be one of the greatest painters
in the world
Nota:
Many people regard him as being one of the greatest
painters in the world
REMIND
At the time my grandmother was looking after the children
13. Don’t let me forget to go to the bank this morning
for us
Remind me not to forget to go to the bank
At the time our children were being looked after by my
Remind me to go to the bank
grandmother
Don’t let me forget to pay this cheque in at the bank
They’ve stopped traffic from using the city centre
Remind me not to forget to pay this cheque in at the
Traffic has been stopped using the city centre
bank
Traffic has been diverted from the city centre
Remind me to pay this cheque in at the bank
We are dealing with your complaint
Your complaint is being dealt with
You look very much like your grandfather
You remind me of your grandfather
EXPRESIONES:
VARIOS
16. Not many people know the true story
17. I prefer chocolate to cakes
Only a few people know the true story
I don’t like cakes at all
Hurry up if you don’t want to miss the plane
I don’t like cakes but chocolate
Unless you hurry up you will miss the plane
I don’t like eating chocolate
I think I should stop smoking
I don’t like to eat chocolate
It’s time to stop smoking
It’s getting late. It’s time for you to leave.
18. I’ll pick up the children if you like
It’s getting late. It’s time that you left
Would you like me to pick up the children?
I think you should stop swearing so much
 Querrias que yo...?
It’s time you stopped swearing so much
Would you like to pick up the children?
I meant to give you a ring last night but I forgot
 Querrias tu...?
I was about to give you a ring last night but I forgot
Never mind about the price!, just buy it!
19. I expect that he will get there by lunchtime
The price is not important, just buy it!
I expect him to get there by lunchtime
The number of people who go to the cinema at weekends is
increasing
20. She showed a keen interest in local history
More and more people are going to the cinema at
She was keen on local history
weekends
There were so many people on the beach that there was
21. I don’t think it’ll be difficult for you to persuade him
nowhere to lie down
You shouldn’t have difficulty (in) persuading him
There were such an amount of people on the beach that
there was nowhere to lie down
22. Paul has flu
His feet are so big that he has difficulty finding shoes to fit
Paul is ill with flu
him
He has got such big feet that he has difficulty finding
23. Haven’t you got a better one than this?
shoes to fit
Is this the best one you have?
Nota:
24. I got all the information I needed from Tom
Tom provided me with all the information I needed
25. You usually eat this kind of fish with a white sauce
This kind of fish is usually eaten with a white sauce
26. In Stratford-on-Avon we saw Shakespeare’s birthplace
We saw the house where Shakespeare was born in
Stratford-on-Avon
27. He read the book from beginning to end
He read the whole book
28. Ian keeps arriving late
Ian is always late
29. Nobody knows much about his plans for the future
Little is known about his plans for the future
30. It is certain that their English will improve in time
Their English is certain to improve in time
31. Richard has another six months to finish his PhD
Richard has six more months to finish his PhD
32. Everyone knows that eating wholemeal bread is good for
you
Eating wholemeal bread is known to be good for you
REPHRASING (7)
REPHRASING (6)
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3.
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25.
26.
They have been married for almost fifty years
They got married fifty years ago
I haven’t seen him for ages
Its’ ages since I last saw him
It is alleged that a number of people are involved in the
murder
A number of people is alleged to be involved in the murder
If he doesn’t pay the rent by next Saturday, he’ll be thrown
out
Unless he pays the rent by next Saturday, he’ll be thrown out
It would be a good idea if you did this exercise again
You had better do this exercise again
Do you think she is like me?
Do you think we are similar?
Do you think we are alike?
It’s a good thing you didn’t tell her. Otherwise, she would
have been very upset
If you had told her she would have been very upset
Why don’t we take the 10.15 to London?
How/What about taking the 10.15 to London?
Tom is careful when he works. James is not
Tom works carerully but James doesn’t
She was able to finish her work on time
She succeeded in finishing her work on time
I don’t suppose I could have another cup of tea, could I?
May I have another cup of tea?
With whom did you go to the party?
Who did you go to the party with?
She wore a scarf because she didn’t want to catch a cold
She wore a scarf in order not to catch a cold
We covered the furniture because we didn’t want to get paint
all over it
We covered the furniture so as not to get paint all over it
What do I need to know if I want to be a good doctor?
What do I need to know in order to be a good doctor?
The case was so heavy that he couldn’t lift it
The case was to heavy for him to lift
The case was to heavy to be lifted (by him)
He gave me £20 for my birthday, which was really generous
of him
It was really generous of him to give me £20 for my birthday
I’m going to the dentist’s. He’ll take one of my wisdom
teeth out
I’m going to the dentist’s to have one of my wisdom teeth
taken out
Last week the builders came and built a swimming pool in
our back garden
Last week we had a swimming pool built in our back garden
“Do not leave the building without my permission,” he told
her
He ordered her not to leave the building without his
permission
I’ve never eaten such a good meal
It’s the first time I have eaten such a good meal
It’s the best meal I have ever eaten
I haven’t had curry for a long time
It’s a long time since I last had curry
It’s a good thing I braked. We would have crashed
We would have crashed if I hadn’t braked
He started working as a tourist guide two years ago
He has been working as a tourist guide for two years
I’ve never come across a more annoying person
James is the most annoying person I have ever come across
They all found his behaviour shocking
They were all shocked by his behaviour
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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25.
26.
Although she was a millionaire, she lived in poverty
Despite being a millionaire she lived in poverty
Although she was a millionaire he didn’t want to marry her
Despite being a millionaire he didn’t want to marry her
He prefers travelling by train to flying
He would rather travel by train than fly
I’d prefer you not to smoke in class
I’d rather you didn’t smoke in class
It would be a good idea if we went through this exercise
again
We had better go through this exercise again [R(6)5.]
“Don’t go near the edge of the cliff,” she told the children
She warned the children not to go near the edge of the cliff
“Why don’t you buy a new car, Bill” said John
John suggested that he bought a new car
“ I didn’t break the plate,” she said
She denied having broken the plate
“I won’t answer your questions,” she said
He refused to answer his/her questions
“I’m sorry I didn’t arrive on time,” she said
She apologised for not having arrived on time
We can’t wait to move into our new house
We are looking forward to moving into our new house
She is considered to be the outstanding painter of her
generation
She is regarded as being the outstanding painter of her
generation
I seldom watch that programme
I hardly ever watch that programme
I think it would be useful to consider the proposal
I think the proposal would be worth considering
Our plane was delayed by fog
Our plane was held up because of the fog
I went to bed early because I was feeling tired
As I felt tired I went to bed early
He doesn’t want to stay in tonight and watch television
He doesn’t fancy staying in tonight and watching TV
Given a choice of sailing or windsurfing, I prefer
windsurfing
I prefer windsurfing to sailing
I prefer to go windsurfing rather than go sailing
I’m sure the vegetables weren’t fresh
The vegetables can’t have been fresh
John thinks they probably missed the bus
John thinks they may/might have missed the bus
You started work here last August, didn’t you?
You’ve worked here since last August, haven’t you?
The train left before I got to the station
By the time I got to the station, the train had already left
The government aims to provide special cars for these
people
The government aims to provide these people with special
cars
His stamp collection costs him a lot of money
He spends lots of money on his stamp collection
Several people have written in for the job
Several people have applied for the job
I’ve never eaten Greek food before
It’s the first time I have eaten Greek food
REPHRASING (8)
REPHRASING (9)
1.
2.
3.
4.
They criticized me because I made a simple mistake
If I hadn’t made a simple mistake they wouldn’t have
criticized me
He left the house just before the explosion occurred
He had hardly left the house when the explosion occurred
I think he’s broken his leg, but I’m not sure
I think he might have broken his leg
People believe that he lived in South America a long time ago
He is believed to have lived in South America for a long time
5.
I last swam in the sea when I was ten years old
I haven’t swum in the sea since I was ten years old
6. I would love to be rich and famous
If only I were rich and famous
7. It’s a pity I didn’t write down her address
I wish I had written down her address
8. My garage needs painting
It’s time for me to paint my garage/ I need to have it
painted
9. He prefers listening to the radio to watching telly
He would prefer to listen to the radio rather than watch telly
He would rather listen to the radio than watch telly
10. Judging from those black clouds, we’re likely to have some rain
Judging from those black clouds, it looks as if it was going to rain
11. You don’t look very well. You should go and see a doctor
You don’t look very well. You had better go and see a
doctor
12. He spent five hours doing the shopping
It took him five hours to do the shopping
13. Although he worked hard he couldn’t finish the job
In spite of working hard he couldn’t finish the job
In spite of the fact that he worked hard he couldn’t finish
the job
14. Although it was so hot they continued working
In spite of the heat they continued working
15. He is recognised as the world’s greatest tenor
He is considered to be the world’s greatest tenor
He is regarded as being the world’s greatest tenor
16. Nothing frightens me
I’m not afraid of anything
17. It will be a great pleasure for us to see you next week
We are looking forward to seeing you next week
18. The people at the hotel were so interesting that it was a
pleasure to meet them
They were such interesting people that it was a pleasure
to meet them
19. They built a high wall to make it impossible for the prisoners
to escape
They built a high wall so that the prisoners couldn’t escape
20. He no longer lives in this neighbourhood
He doesn’t live in this neighbourhood any longer
21. Do you think we are the same height?
Do you think she is as tall as me?
22. The weather was so nice that we spent the whole day in the
garden
It was such nice weather that we spent the whole day in
the garden
23. It is thought that the robbers used this car to make their
escape
The robbers are thought to have used this car to make
their escape
24. My fringe needs trimming
I must get my fringe trimmed
25. Jane did a lot of work during her holidays
Jane did a lot of work while she was on holiday
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26.
“Don’t forget to ring your granny this evening,” my mother
said
My mother reminded me (not to forget) to ring my granny
that evening
“You killed her didn’t you, Jones?” said the police inspector
The inspector accused Jones of killing her
“Let’s go to the cinema, shall we?”, said Bill
Bill suggested that we should go to the cinema
She was sorry that she had been so rude to them
She apologised for being so rude to them
She apologised for having been so rude to them [R(7)10.]
Perhaps he doesn’t understand what he’s supposed to do
He may not understand what he’s supposed to do
Perhaps he didn’t understand what he had to do
He may not have understood what he had to do
We queued up for hours, but we still didn’t get tickets for the
concert
We still didn’t get tickets for the concert, despite having
queued up for hours
It would be a good idea if you told him the truth
You had better tell him the truth
What a lovely day! It’s a pity we can’t go to the beach
What a lovely day! I wish we could go to the beach
I should have taken your advice
I wish I had taken your advice
He would rather travel by train than by coach
He prefers travelling by train to travelling by coach
I haven’t seen her since the end of April
I last saw her at the end of April
As we get older we sleep less
The older we get the less we sleep
He wasn’t able to take part because he was ill
Because of his illness he wasn’t able to take part
It’s the most boring film I have ever seen
I’ve never seen such a boring film
You’re very kind to help me with my luggage
It’s very kind of you to help me with my luggage
If he doesn’t make more effort, he’ll soon be out of a job
Unless he makes more effort, he will soon be out of a job
I expect she came by bus
She must have come by bus
It’s pointless asking him to do anything for you
There’s no point (in) asking him to do anything for you
I think you ought to deal with the problem soon
I think it’s about time you dealt with the problem
I’m sure he took your briefcase by mistake
I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose
I’m sure he didn’t realised that he had taken your
briefcase by mistake
You didn’t understand because you weren’t paying
attention!
If you had paid attention you would have understood
I’ll give you a door key because I may not be in when you
get home
In case I’m not at home when you get there, I’ll give you
a door key
My advice to you is to take your dog to the vet
If I were you I woull take your/my/the dog to the vet
Has someone mended your cooker?
Have you had your cooker mended?
They didn’t give me very much information about the job
They gave me little information about the job
REPHRASING (10)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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9.
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If he doesn’t tell us who he is, we won’t let him in
Unless he tells us who he is, we won’t let him in.
You’ve never made a complaint before
It’s the first time you have made a complaint.
“Don’t open your books until I tell you to!” he said to the students
He told the students not to open their books until they told them to.
“Where is he hiding?” the policeman asked them
The policeman asked them where he was hiding
It’s a pity that dress costs so much. I would love to buy it
I wish it wouldn’t cost so much.
It’s a pity we have lost contact with them
I wish we hadn’t lost contact.
I’d be grateful if you didn’t smoke in the car
I’d rather you didn’t smoke….
They didn’t let me stay up late when I was a child
I wasn’t allowed to stay up late when I …..
Although Judy was severely disabled she participated in many sports
Despite (her/hers) being severely disabled, she …..
We left quietly so that we wouldn’t disturb the children
We left quietly so as not to disturb the children
We didn’t have a barbecue in the garden because it was raining
If it hadn’t been raining, we would have had a BBQ ….
She often has to do the washing-up and she can’t stand it
She can’t stand doing the washing up
He is not old enough to vote
He is too young to vote
I won’t tolerate this behaviour for a minute longer
I won’t put up with this behaviour
He’s been working for us for nineteen years, and next year will make it twenty
By next year he will have been working with us for 20 years.
It’s likely that she will arrive late
She’s likely to arrive late.
It is thought that the prisoner was recaptured while drinking in a pub
The prisoner is thought to have been recaptured ….
A thief stole several coats from the cloakroom
Several coats were stolen from…
I’ll get someone to press your trousers
I’ll have your trousers pressed
The mosque is well worth a visit
The mosque is well worth visiting
It is well worth visiting the mosque
I like travelling, but I’m not very fond of flying
I like travelling, but I’m not too keen on flying
I travel a lot in my job
My job involves travelling a lot
How long are you planning to stay in Australia?
How long are you thinking of/about staying ….
What is the purpose of your trip?
What is the reason why you are travelling?
Could you fill in this booking form?
Would you mind filling in this ….
It would be better if you didn’t bring Joe to the wedding
I’d rather you didn’t bring Joe ….