Paraphrasing worksheet for English language learners with sentence transformation exercises.

Let’s go through each section step by step. We’ll rephrase the sentences using the word given, following the grammar rules for each part.

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Part 1: Rephrase using Simple Past → Present Perfect (with the word in parentheses)

We’re changing from “It’s [time] since I did something” or “I haven’t done something for [time]” into present perfect tense with the given word.

1. Original: It’s months since I saw my cousins.
Word given: FOR
→ Think: “I haven’t seen my cousins for months.”
✔ Answer: I haven’t seen my cousins for months.

2. Original: I haven’t spoken to Sally for a week.
Word given: LAST
→ Think: When was the last time? “Last week.” So: “I last spoke to Sally a week ago.” But we need to use “last” as the key word — better: “The last time I spoke to Sally was a week ago.” But simpler and more natural: “I last spoke to Sally a week ago.”
Wait — actually, the instruction is to rephrase using the word given. The original says “for a week”, so we replace that with “last”.
Better: “I last spoke to Sally a week ago.”
✔ Answer: I last spoke to Sally a week ago.

3. Original: It is a month since I saw Tom.
Word given: SEEN
→ Think: Use “seen” in present perfect. “I haven’t seen Tom for a month.”
✔ Answer: I haven’t seen Tom for a month.

4. Original: I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for years.
Word given: YEARS
→ This one already uses “years”, but we need to rephrase it using “years” again? Actually, maybe they want us to keep the meaning and just make sure “years” is used correctly.
Original is fine, but perhaps: “It’s been years since I’ve enjoyed myself this much.”
But let’s stick close: “I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in years.” (more natural)
✔ Answer: I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in years.

5. Original: He began working in this office two years ago.
Word given: BEEN
→ Think: “He has been working here for two years.”
✔ Answer: He has been working in this office for two years.

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Part 2: Rephrase using Passive Voice

We change active voice to passive. Focus on making the object of the sentence become the subject.

1. Original: They will finish that bridge soon.
→ Passive: That bridge will be finished soon.
✔ Answer: That bridge will be finished soon.

2. Original: Someone is repairing our car at the moment.
→ Passive: Our car is being repaired at the moment.
✔ Answer: Our car is being repaired at the moment.

3. Original: They are building a new road to London.
→ Passive: A new road to London is being built.
✔ Answer: A new road to London is being built.

4. Original: The hairdressers cut my hair last Saturday.
→ Passive: My hair was cut last Saturday (by the hairdressers). We can leave out “by...” if not needed.
✔ Answer: My hair was cut last Saturday.

5. Original: They bought sandwiches for the party.
→ Passive: Sandwiches were bought for the party.
✔ Answer: Sandwiches were bought for the party.

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Part 3: Rephrase using Reported Speech

We turn direct speech into reported speech. Change pronouns, tenses, and time words if needed.

1. Original: “Where are you going?” she asked me.
→ Reported: She asked me where I was going.
✔ Answer: She asked me where I was going.

2. Original: “I love hamburgers,” she said.
→ Reported: She said (that) she loved hamburgers.
✔ Answer: She said (that) she loved hamburgers.

3. Original: “You will win the race,” Sally told Peter.
→ Reported: Sally told Peter (that) he would win the race.
✔ Answer: Sally told Peter (that) he would win the race.

4. Original: “How long have you known Tony?” he asked her.
→ Reported: He asked her how long she had known Tony.
✔ Answer: He asked her how long she had known Tony.

5. Original: “Do you often go to that pub?” he asked her.
→ Reported: He asked her if she often went to that pub.
✔ Answer: He asked her if she often went to that pub.

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Final Answer:

Part 1:
1. I haven’t seen my cousins for months.
2. I last spoke to Sally a week ago.
3. I haven’t seen Tom for a month.
4. I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in years.
5. He has been working in this office for two years.

Part 2:
1. That bridge will be finished soon.
2. Our car is being repaired at the moment.
3. A new road to London is being built.
4. My hair was cut last Saturday.
5. Sandwiches were bought for the party.

Part 3:
1. She asked me where I was going.
2. She said (that) she loved hamburgers.
3. Sally told Peter (that) he would win the race.
4. He asked her how long she had known Tony.
5. He asked her if she often went to that pub.