Gathering Rephrasing
ESTRUCTURAS:
1. Writing in English is quite difficult
It is quite difficult (for me) to write in English
The bookcase was so heavy that he couldn’t lift it
The bookcase was too heavy for him to lift
He blamed me for his mistakes, which was unfair of him
It was unfair of him to blame me for his mistakes
Tom and Sue invited me to stay with them for a few days, which was really nice of them
It was really nice of Sue and Tom to invite me to stay with them for a few days
The water was so cold that the children could not swim in it
The water was too cold for the children to swim in
These trousers are so dirty that I can’t wear them
These trousers aren’t clean enough for me to wear
I can’t drink this coffee. It’s too hot
This coffee is too hot for me to drink
You don’t need to shout. I’m not deaf
There’s no need for you to shout
You don’t need to come if you don’t want to
There’s no need for you to come
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.
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.
PASSIVE VOICE:
3. The robbers made the bank manager hand over the money
The bank manager was made to hand over the money
Given the choice, how many hours a day would you work?
If you were given the choice how many hours a day would you work?
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
CAUSATIVE... (HAVE/GET):
4. A doctor took her tonsils out when she was six
She was six when her tonsils were taken out by a doctor
She had her tonsils taken out by a doctor
You look different. Has someone cut your hair?
You look different. Have you had your hair cut?
I’m going to the beauty salon. They are going to wax my legs
I’m going to the beauty parlour to have my legs waxed
A mechanic repaired Sue’s car yesterday
Sue had her car repaired by a mechanic yesterday
The garage is going to repair the car for us next week
We are going to have our car repaired by the garage next week
I went to the dentist’s yesterday. He took my wisdom tooth out
I went to the dentist’s yesterday to have my wisdom tooth taken out
My shoes need reheeling
I must get my shoes reheeled
Someone is coming to clear our garden next week
We will have our garden cleared next week
A shoe repairer mended Julia’s boots
Julia had her boots mended
Nota: 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
REPORTED SPEECH
6. How many survivors are there? Asked the journalist
The journalist asked how many survivors there were
You must allow me to pay for lunch, he said
He insisted on paying for in lunch
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:
althougheven though
though / ►CLAUSULA
(SUJETO + VERBO)
in spite of /despite …* / ►NOUN
►PRONOUN
►–ING VERB
*... the fact that / ►CLAUSULA (SUJETO + VERBO)
SUGGEST
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:
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
Nota:
PRESENT PERFECT:
12. She hadn’t tasted wild strawberries before
It was the first time she had tasted will strawberries Mary said she had never eaten lobster before
Mary: It’s the first time I have eaten lobster
I have never eaten such a revolting meal
This meal is so revolting
This is the first time I have (ever) eaten such a revolting meal
Cathy hasn’t been on holiday with her sister before
It’s the first time Cathy has been on holiday with her sister
I’m travelling by plane. It’s the first time
It’s the first time that I have travelled by plane
I’m going to travel by plane
It’s years since I had such a good time
I haven’t had such a good time for years
She’s the rudest woman I’ve ever met.
I’ve never met such a rude woman
I haven’t heard from Tom for years
It’s years since I (last) heard from Tom
His car is still up for sale
Nobody has bought his car yet
Has Bill written to you recently?
Have you heard from Bill recently?
He’s sold his house. He wants to pay off his brother’s debts.
He’s sold his house to pay off his brother’s debts
The last time they won the elections was ten years ago
They have not won the elections for ten years
She moved here in 1992
She has been living here since 1992
We met when we were at university together
We have known each other since we were at university together
It’s ages since he wrote to me
He hasn’t written to me for ages
They went to Israel some years ago and then again last year
They have been to Israel twice
I’ve never heard a more ridiculous story
That’s the most ridiculous story I’ve ever heard
It’s years since I saw a game as good as that
That’s the best game I’ve seen for years
Nota:
REMIND
13. Don’t let me forget to go to the bank this morning
Remind me not to forget to go to the bank
Remind me to go to the bank
Don’t let me forget to pay this cheque in at the bank
Remind me not to forget to pay this cheque in at the bank
Remind me to pay this cheque in at the bank
You look very much like your grandfather
You remind me of your grandfather
MODAL VERBS:
14. Perhaps he does not know that his mother is looking for him
He may not know that his mother is looking for him
There had to be someone who knew the answer
Someone must have known the answer
I suppose she’s his sister. She looks just like him
She must be his sister, she reminds me of him
It’s just possible that it won’t rain tomorrow
It might not rain tomorrow
Perhaps she has not received our letter
She may not have received our letter
His parents didn’t let him play with other children
He wasn’t able to play with other children
· Imposibilidad fisica
He wasn’t allowed to play
· No se le permite
They said they would rather Diana didn’t listen to music at work
Diana wasn’t allowed to listen to music at work
Diana had better not listen to music at work
I advise you to put your money in a bank
You’d better put your money in a bank
They didn’t let him go away for the weekend with his girlfriend
He wasn’t allowed to go away for the weekend with his girlfriend
He’s sold his house. He wants his brother to be able to pay off his debts
He’s sold his house so that his brother can pay off his debts
He wasn’t able to play because he was injured
Because of his injures he wasn’t able to play
Perhaps he doesn’t know what we have to do
He may not know what we have to do
Perhaps he didn’t know what we had to do
He may not have known what we had to do
Nota:
BEING
15. People are always criticising me!
I’m always being criticized
Many people consider him to be one of the greatest painters in the world
Many people regard him as being one of the greatest painters in the world
At the time my grandmother was looking after the children for us