Paraphrasing worksheet for language learners to practice rewriting sentences with different words while keeping the same meaning.
A worksheet titled "Paraphrasing - 1" with instructions and exercises for rewriting sentences using different words while maintaining the same meaning. The worksheet includes examples and numbered sentences to be paraphrased, with starting words provided for each.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Paraphrasing .1 - ESL worksheet by encarnara
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Paraphrasing .1 - ESL worksheet by encarnara
Let's solve each of these paraphrasing exercises step by step, keeping the same meaning but using different words and starting with the given words. I'll provide a clear explanation for each.
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Susan → *Susan asked if she could have some sugar.*
✔ Explanation: We change the direct speech into reported speech, maintaining the meaning. "Can I" becomes "if she could," and the structure shifts to an indirect question.
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Michael → *Michael was being taught how to drive by Philip.*
✔ Explanation: Change from active voice ("Philip was teaching") to passive voice ("was being taught"), focusing on Michael as the subject.
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The house was too → *The house was too badly damaged to be repaired.*
✔ Explanation: Replace the "so...that..." structure with "too...to..." which conveys the same idea: damage was excessive, making repair impossible.
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It will take → *It will take more than twenty minutes to reach the station.*
✔ Explanation: Rephrase the negative time limit into a positive one using "more than" instead of "less than."
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None → *None of the protesters were prosecuted.*
✔ Explanation: Use "none" as the subject, and switch to passive voice to maintain clarity and focus on the protesters.
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Nicole speaks a → *Nicole speaks a less fluent English than Karen.*
✔ Explanation: Reverse the comparison. Since Karen is more fluent, Nicole is less fluent. Use "a less fluent English" (grammatically acceptable in comparative constructions).
> Alternative: *Nicole doesn't speak English as fluently as Karen.*
But since we must start with "Nicole speaks a...", the first version fits best.
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I had → *I had my car fixed at the garage last Monday.*
✔ Explanation: Use the causative verb "had" to show that someone else performed the action (fixing) on your behalf.
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My father promised → *My father promised that I would tell you the truth tomorrow.*
✔ Explanation: Combine the two sentences into one, using reported speech. "Promised" takes a clause about what was promised.
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How often does → *How often does one need to feed a turtle?*
✔ Explanation: Change from second-person ("your") to general third-person ("one") to make it impersonal and grammatically fit after "How often does."
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They urged me → *They urged me not to give up hope, whatever I did.*
✔ Explanation: Convert direct speech into reported speech. "Urged me not to give up hope" captures the warning, and "whatever I did" keeps the original condition.
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It was not → *It was not until the next day that I heard the news.*
✔ Explanation: Use the emphatic structure "It was not until..." to stress the timing. This is a common inversion pattern in formal English.
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It's → *It's very relaxing to spend a day in the country.*
✔ Explanation: Change the gerund phrase ("Spending...") into an infinitive phrase ("to spend...") after "It's" — a common way to rephrase such statements.
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1. Susan asked if she could have some sugar.
2. Michael was being taught how to drive by Philip.
3. The house was too badly damaged to be repaired.
4. It will take more than twenty minutes to reach the station.
5. None of the protesters were prosecuted.
6. Nicole speaks a less fluent English than Karen.
7. I had my car fixed at the garage last Monday.
8. My father promised that I would tell you the truth tomorrow.
9. How often does one need to feed a turtle?
10. They urged me not to give up hope, whatever I did.
11. It was not until the next day that I heard the news.
12. It's very relaxing to spend a day in the country.
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These answers maintain the original meaning while changing the structure and vocabulary — exactly what paraphrasing requires!
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1. "Can I have some sugar?", asked Susan
Susan → *Susan asked if she could have some sugar.*
✔ Explanation: We change the direct speech into reported speech, maintaining the meaning. "Can I" becomes "if she could," and the structure shifts to an indirect question.
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2. Philip was teaching Michael how to drive.
Michael → *Michael was being taught how to drive by Philip.*
✔ Explanation: Change from active voice ("Philip was teaching") to passive voice ("was being taught"), focusing on Michael as the subject.
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3. The house was so badly damaged that it couldn't be repaired.
The house was too → *The house was too badly damaged to be repaired.*
✔ Explanation: Replace the "so...that..." structure with "too...to..." which conveys the same idea: damage was excessive, making repair impossible.
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4. You won't reach the station in less than twenty minutes.
It will take → *It will take more than twenty minutes to reach the station.*
✔ Explanation: Rephrase the negative time limit into a positive one using "more than" instead of "less than."
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5. They didn't prosecute any of the protesters.
None → *None of the protesters were prosecuted.*
✔ Explanation: Use "none" as the subject, and switch to passive voice to maintain clarity and focus on the protesters.
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6. Karen speaks English more fluently than Nicole.
Nicole speaks a → *Nicole speaks a less fluent English than Karen.*
✔ Explanation: Reverse the comparison. Since Karen is more fluent, Nicole is less fluent. Use "a less fluent English" (grammatically acceptable in comparative constructions).
> Alternative: *Nicole doesn't speak English as fluently as Karen.*
But since we must start with "Nicole speaks a...", the first version fits best.
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7. I took my car to the garage last Monday and they fixed it.
I had → *I had my car fixed at the garage last Monday.*
✔ Explanation: Use the causative verb "had" to show that someone else performed the action (fixing) on your behalf.
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8. I will tell you the truth tomorrow. My father promised.
My father promised → *My father promised that I would tell you the truth tomorrow.*
✔ Explanation: Combine the two sentences into one, using reported speech. "Promised" takes a clause about what was promised.
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9. How often is it necessary to feed your turtle?
How often does → *How often does one need to feed a turtle?*
✔ Explanation: Change from second-person ("your") to general third-person ("one") to make it impersonal and grammatically fit after "How often does."
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10. "Whatever you do, don't give up hope", they said.
They urged me → *They urged me not to give up hope, whatever I did.*
✔ Explanation: Convert direct speech into reported speech. "Urged me not to give up hope" captures the warning, and "whatever I did" keeps the original condition.
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11. I didn't hear the news until the next day.
It was not → *It was not until the next day that I heard the news.*
✔ Explanation: Use the emphatic structure "It was not until..." to stress the timing. This is a common inversion pattern in formal English.
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12. Spending a day in the country is very relaxing.
It's → *It's very relaxing to spend a day in the country.*
✔ Explanation: Change the gerund phrase ("Spending...") into an infinitive phrase ("to spend...") after "It's" — a common way to rephrase such statements.
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✔ Final Answers:
1. Susan asked if she could have some sugar.
2. Michael was being taught how to drive by Philip.
3. The house was too badly damaged to be repaired.
4. It will take more than twenty minutes to reach the station.
5. None of the protesters were prosecuted.
6. Nicole speaks a less fluent English than Karen.
7. I had my car fixed at the garage last Monday.
8. My father promised that I would tell you the truth tomorrow.
9. How often does one need to feed a turtle?
10. They urged me not to give up hope, whatever I did.
11. It was not until the next day that I heard the news.
12. It's very relaxing to spend a day in the country.
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These answers maintain the original meaning while changing the structure and vocabulary — exactly what paraphrasing requires!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of paraphrasing practice worksheet.
