REPHRASING

VERB TENSES

1. She started drinking too much alcohol two years ago.

She has been drinking too much alcohol for two years.
2. They came to live in New York two years ago.
They have been living in New York for two years.
3. I met that famous writer a year ago.
It’s been a year since I met that famous writer.
4. I haven’t read a play by George Bernard Shaw for eight years.
It is eight years since I read a play by George Bernard Shaw.
5. She hasn’t enjoyed herself so much for years.
It is years since she enjoyed herself so much.
6. The last time she wrote a poem was two years ago.
She hasn’t written a poem for two years.
7. The last time we saw that movie was six months ago.
We have not seen that movie for six months.
8. I saw Frank two months ago.
I haven’t seen Frank for two months.
9. I have been playing the piano for twenty years.
I started playing the piano twenty years ago.
10. I last had flu five years ago.
I haven’t had flu for five years.
11. I last visited London fifteen years ago.
I haven’t visited London for fifteen years.
12. She hasn’t phoned her mother for two months.
It’s two months since she last phoned her mother.
13. I haven’t seen your wife for a long time.
It’s a long time since I last saw your wife.
14. I have never read such an interesting book.
This is the first time I have read such an interesting book.
15. I haven’t seen a good film for ages.
It’s ages since I last saw a good film.
16. It’s ages since I last visited Russia.
I haven’t visited Russia for ages.
MODAL VERBS

1. It is possible that I finish work earlier than usual today.

I may finish work earlier than usual today.
2. I am not sure that she is his girlfriend.
She might be his girlfriend.
3. Smoking is forbidden in hospitals.
You mustn’t smoke in hospitals.
4. It’s possible that her boyfriend is coming to the wedding.
Her boyfriend may come to the wedding.
5. The fireman managed to rescue the child from the burning house.
The fireman was able to rescue the child from the burning house.
6. It is possible that we’ll be together soon.
We may be together soon.
7. You must not smoke in here.
Smoking is forbidden here.
8. Smoking is forbidden in most restaurants.
You mustn’t smoke in most restaurants.
9. You can’t have a bicycle.
You are not allowed to have a bicycle.
10. Perhaps they only open the museum in the morning.
They may only open the museum in the morning.
11. If you want my advice, go to the dentist!
You should go to the dentist.
12. I’m sure she’s telling lies.
She must be telling lies.
13. I’m sure they are at home. The lights are on.
They must be at home because the lights are on.
14. In my opinion, taking some exercise would be good for you.
You should take some exercise.
15. If you want my advice, don’t eat so many cakes!
You shouldn’t eat so many cakes.
16. I am sure she knows you are here.
She must know you are here.
17. They don’t allow smoking in this room.
You mustn’t smoke in this room.
18. Maybe your friend will call you on your birthday.
Your friend may call you on your birthday.
19. He knows how to play golf.
He can play golf.
20. It’s not necessary for you to make your bed.
You don’t have to /needn’t make your bed.
PASSIVE VOICE

1. The teacher glued the pieces of the broken toy.

The pieces of the broken toy were glued by the teacher.
2. Everybody must read the instructions first.
The instructions must be read first.
3. The police don’t oblige the suspects to say anything.
The suspects aren’t obliged to say anything by the police.
4. People speak English all over the world.
English is spoken all over the world.
5. I am having my house painted now.
My house is being painted now.
6. This story will shock you.
You will be shocked by this story.
7. You should post these letters.
These letters should be posted.
8. The shop assistant didn’t give us the ticket.
We weren’t given the ticket by the shop assistant.
9. Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Fleming.
10. You can make green paint by mixing blue and yellow.
Green paint can be made by mixing blue and yellow.
11. They say this tree is over 400 years old.
This tree is said to be over 400 years old.
12. They didn’t tell me the secret.
I wasn’t told the secret.
13. The teenager in red has broken the window.
The window has been broken by the teenager in red.
14. The teacher didn’t tell us the answer.
We weren’t told the answer by the teacher.
15. They have found the stolen money.
The stolen money has been found.
16. People consider that he is an expert on cricket.
He is considered to be an expert on cricket.
17. They have given us a Roald Dahl novel.
We have been given a Roald Dahl novel.
18. London will fascinate you.
You will be fascinated by London.
19. They will tell us the news tomorrow night.
We will be told the news tomorrow night.
20. Someone must tell her about the accident.
She must be told about the accident.
HAVE SOMETHING DONE

1. The engineer has repaired my television

I’ve had my television repaired (by the engineer).
2. My kitchen is being redecorated at the moment.
I am having my kitchen redecorated at the moment.
3. She’s getting someone to mend the windows.
She’s having the windows mended.
4. The mechanic is going to repair her car next week.
She is going to have her car repaired next week (by the mechanic).
5. The hairdresser cut my hair yesterday morning.
I had my hair cut yesterday morning.
6. They are servicing my new car next week.
I am having my new car served next week.
7. The ophthalmologist tests her eyes every year.
She has her eyes tested every year by the ophthalmologist.
8. The hairdresser cut my hair last week.
I had my hair cut last week.
9. Someone will cut your hair tomorrow.
You will have your hair cut tomorrow.

GERUND/INFINITIVE

1. He made an effort to speak in English.

He tried to speak in English.
2. She gave up going to French lessons.
She stopped going to French lessons.
3. Sharon hasn’t eaten junk food since last May.
Sharon stopped eating junk food last May.
4. Steve advised me to tell Paul about it.
Steve suggested telling Paul about it.
5. Beth hasn’t smoked since last December.
Beth stopped smoking last December.
6. I was not invited and I am sorry about that.
I would like to have been invited.
7. Will you post this letter for me, please?
Do you mind posting this letter for me, please?
8. I forgot to phone Lisa on her birthday.
I didn’t remember to phone Lisa on her birthday.
9. He didn’t remember to phone his wife yesterday.
He forgot to phone his wife yesterday.
10. Will you close the door when you leave, please?
Do you mind closing the door when you leave?
11. Please, don’t shoot.
He begged us not to shoot.
12. Learning English is not easy.
It is not easy to learn English.
CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

1. I don’t have a computer so I can’t type the essay on English grammar.

If I had a computer, I would be able to type the essay on English grammar.
2. I didn’t make a note of it in my diary, so I forgot about it.
If I had made a note of it in my diary, I wouldn’t have forgotten about it.
3. If the tickets don’t arrive, we won’t be able to go.
Unless the tickets arrive, we won’t be able to go.
4. If your friend doesn’t come before ten, he will miss the train.
Unless your friend comes before ten, he will miss the train.
5. Wendy didn’t study for her test. Therefore, she failed.
If Wendy had studied for her test, she wouldn’t have failed.
6. She made a lot of mistakes because she didn’t study hard for the exam.
If she had studied hard for the exam, she wouldn’t have made a lot of mistakes.
7. If you don’t review your notes tonight, you won’t do well tomorrow.
Unless you review your notes tonight, you won’t do well tomorrow.
8. I have failed all my exams at the university because I didn’t study enough.
If I had studied enough, I wouldn’t have failed all my exams at the university.
9. I didn’t go to the gym yesterday because my foot hurt.
If my foot hadn’t hurt, I would have gone to the gym.
10. If your boyfriend doesn’t arrive before eight, we will have to leave.
Unless your boyfriend arrives before eight, we will have to leave.
11. If we don’t meet this month, it will be too late.
Unless we meet this month, it will be too late.
12. I don’t know her address, so I can’t write to her.
If I knew her address, I could/would be able to write to her.
13. I didn’t open the door because I didn’t know it was you.
If I had known it was you, I would have opened the door.
14. I didn’t invite Beth. I had forgotten her telephone number.
If I hadn’t forgotten Beth’s telephone number, I would have invited her.
15. She divorced him because he was so terrible to her.
If he hadn’t been so terrible to her, she wouldn’t have divorced him.
16. We didn’t visit the museum because we hadn’t time.
If we had had time, we would have visited the museum.
17. She can’t come to the party because she is so busy.
If she wasn’t/weren’t so busy, she could come to the party.
18. He didn’t revise for the test so he failed.
If he had revised for the test, he wouldn’t have failed.
19. If you don’t hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert.
Unless you hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert.
20. You won’t understand the problem if you don’t listen carefully.
Unless you listen carefully, you won’t understand the problem.
21. I don’t earn much money. It’s a pity I can’t buy a new car.
If I earned much money, I could buy a new car.
WISH

1. I love German. Unfortunately, I can’t speak it fluently.

I wish I could speak German fluently.
2. I regretted having hit the dog on the head.
I wish I hadn’t hit the dog on the head.
3. I would like to have more free time these days.
I wish I had more free time these days.
4. I am sorry I didn’t tell him everything.
I wish I had told him everything.
5. I’m sorry I haven’t got a car.
I wish I had got a car.
6. What a pity I didn’t have time to see you last week.
I wish I had had time to see you last week.
7. I’m sorry I can’t speak French perfectly.
I wish I could speak French perfectly.
8. Mary was sorry she ate so many cakes.
Mary wished she hadn’t eaten so many cakes.
9. It’s such a pity you can’t come along!
I wish you could come along.
10. I’m sorry I didn’t work hard enough last year.
I wish I had worked hard enough last year.
11. I’m sorry we accepted the invitation.
I wish we hadn’t accepted the invitation.
12. I’m sorry I didn’t go shopping with you.
I wish I had gone shopping with you.
13. I am sorry I didn’t remember your birthday.
I wish I had remembered your birthday.
14. What a pity the weather was so bad last weekend.
I wish the weather hadn’t been so bad last weekend.
REPORTED SPEECH

1. “We will arrest them for illegal entry in the country”, the policeman said.
The policeman said that they would arrest them for illegal entry in the country.
2. “What time do the banks close today?”
Tim asked me what time the banks closed that day.
3. “Why don’t we play computer games?” said Michael.
Michael suggested playing computer games.
4. She said: “Are you coming to the party on Friday?”
She asked him if he was coming to the party on Friday.
5. “Don’t speak so loud, please”, she said to the students.
She ordered / begged / asked the students not to speak so loud.
6. “Perhaps it would be better to go out in the afternoon”, Sharon’s mother said.
Sharon’s mother recommended going out in the afternoon.
7. Mary said to us “Don’t be late.”
She told us not to be late.
8. The teacher said to me “Wait for me outside”.
The teacher told me to wait for him/her outside.
9. “How much money have you put into the account?”, they asked.
They asked me how much money I had put into the account.
10. “I have never seen anything so beautiful”, he said.
He said that he had never seen anything so beautiful.
11. The teacher said: “You have to hand your papers in at the end of this class”.
The teacher said that we had to hand our papers in at the end of that class.
12. The trainer said: “Molly, come back to the team!”
The trainer told Molly to come back to the team.
13. “Where did the robbery take place?” he asked.
He asked where the robbery had taken place.
14. “Where are your brothers, Sheila?”
She asked Sheila where her brothers were.
15. “Why don’t we have dinner out tonight?” said Martin.
Martin suggested having dinner out that night.
16. The man said to us: “Keep off the grass!”
The man ordered us to keep off the grass.
17. She asked me: “What time does your party start?”
She asked me what time my party started.
18. “How much is this T-shirt?”, she asked.
She asked how much that T-shirt was.
19. “I have read this book”, she said.
She said that she had read that book.
20. “I don’t know”, he told them.
He told them that he didn’t know.
21. He told us: “Don’t make so much noise!”
He ordered us not to make so much noise.
22. “Let’s go to the cinema on Tuesday”, said Mary.
Mary suggested going to the cinema on Tuesday.
23. “Can I go to the disco?”, Tim asked his mother.
Tim asked his mother if he could go to the disco.
RELATIVE CLAUSES

1. This is the place. We last had coffee together here.

This is where we last had coffee together.
2. This is the man. His job is very dangerous.
This is the man whose job is very dangerous.
3. That man’s brother is my new English teacher.
That is the man whose brother is my new English teacher.
4. My new neighbours have got a baby. Her name is Wendy.
My new neighbours have got a baby whose name is Wendy.
5. Fiona is smiling in the picture. She is my boss.
Fiona, who is my boss, is smiling in the picture.
6. This is the man. His dog bit my brother in the park.
This is the man whose dog bit my brother in the park.
7. Sharon is going to marry a man. He is Eric’s brother.
The man who Sharon is going to marry is Eric’s brother.
8. Shakespeare was a famous writer. He wrote beautiful sonnets.
Shakespeare, who was a famous writer, wrote beautiful sonnets.
9. Albert is coming back from hospital tomorrow. He has just broken his ankle.
Albert, who has just broken his ankle, is coming back from hospital tomorrow.
10. That woman’s husband is my boss.
That is the woman whose husband is my boss.
11. They didn’t pay for the ring.
This is the ring which/that they didn’t pay for.
12. I saw a man later. He was the president of the European Community.
The man, who(m) I saw later, was the president of the European Community.
13. The Da Vinci Code is a best-seller. It was written by Dan Brown.
The Da Vinci Code, which was written by Dan Brown, is a best-seller.
14. I visited a village yesterday but I did not like it.
I visited a village yesterday which I did not like.
CONNECTORS

1. Despite having been vaccinated she caught the flu.

Although she had been vaccinated, she caught flu.
2. As he hadn’t behaved himself, his parents got angry with him.
His parents got angry with him because he hadn’t behaved himself.
3. The children stayed at home because it was raining
As it was raining, the children stayed at home.
4. Although Orson was over seventy, he continued to cycle to work every day.
Despite being over seventy, Orson continued to cycle to work every day.
5. She needed a job, so she sent off an application form.
She sent off an application form because she needed a job.
6. We won’t buy that house because we don’t have enough money.
As we don’t have enough money, we won’t buy that house.
7. Although the weather was horrible, we went skiing.
In spite of the horrible weather, we went skiing.
8. Although she was ill, she visited other countries.
Despite being ill, she visited other countries.
9. She lost the race in spite of running well.
Although she ran well, she lost the race.
10. Despite the fact that it was very hot, she was wearing her winter clothes.
Although it was very hot, she was wearing her winter clothes.
11. Although it was cold, we went to the countryside.
In spite of being cold, we went to the countryside.
12. The children couldn’t go out to the playground because it was raining.
As it was raining, the children couldn’t go out to the playground.
13. Someone knocked at the door. The dog woke up.
The dog woke up because/ when someone knocked at the door.
14. In spite of her beauty, she doesn’t have a boyfriend.
Although she is (very) beautiful, she doesn’t have a boyfriend.
15. We bought our tickets on the Web because it was much cheaper.
Since it was much cheaper, we bought our tickets on the Web.
16. Although he was exhausted, he managed to finish reading the novel.
Despite being exhausted, he managed to finish reading the novel.
17. I felt really tired so I stayed at home.
I stayed at home because I felt really tired.
18. Although she was poor, she was happy.
In spite of being poor, she was happy.
19. Although the weather was awful, they had a great time.
In spite of the awful weather, they had a great time.
20. As it was Friday, the children stayed up late.
The children stayed up late because it was Friday.
21. Despite the fact that the questions were difficult, she got a high mark in her exam.
Although the questions were difficult, she got a high mark in her exam.
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
1. I’m not as good at English as you are.
You are better at English than me.
2. Albert’s drawing isn’t as good as Gerard’s.
Gerard’s drawing is better than Albert’s drawing.
3. I thought it would be better than that.
It’s not as good as I thought it would be.
4. Her jokes are not as good as his.
His jokes are better than hers.
5. Sheila is 1.55 m tall. Her brother is 1.70 m tall.
Sheila is less tall than her brother.
6. Alicia swims faster than Peter.
Peter swims slower than Alicia/ doesn’t swim as fast as Alicia.
7. The meat was better than the fish.
The fish was worse than the meat. / The fish wasn’t as good as the meat.
8. Bananas are more expensive than apples.
Apples are cheaper than bananas. / Apples aren’t as expensive as bananas.
9. Germany is richer than India.
India is poorer than Germany. / India is not as rich as Germany.
10. The film is not as good as the novel.
The novel is better than the film.
11. No other fictional secret agent is as famous as James Bond.
James Bond is the most famous fictional secret agent.

QUESTIONS
1. I spent my holidays in France.
Where did you spend your holidays?
2. The policeman knew where the thief was hidden.
Who knew where the thief was hidden?
3. My grandfather is eighty-two years old.
How old is your grandfather?
4. It takes me two hours to get there.
How long does it take you to get there?
5. Where are my keys?
I wonder where my keys are.
6. The next plane leaves at 9.45 p.m.
What time does the next plane leave?
7. Ben drives 200 miles every day.
Who drives 200 miles every day?
8. John lives next door.
Who lives next door?
9. I have English classes three times a week.
How often do you have English classes?
10. Gerard plays tennis twice a week.
How often does Gerard play tennis?
11. “Where is the nearest cinema, please?”
Could you tell me where the nearest cinema is?
12. Mary goes swimming twice a week.
Who goes swimming twice a week?
13. I have to wear a uniform whenever I work in front of the customers.
When do you have to wear a uniform?
14. John bought a new Rolls Royce.
What did John buy?
15. He visits his parents every Sunday.
How often does he visit his parents?