REPHRASING EXERCISES

I. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICES:

1. My parents sent me to an English-speaking school. I
2. My mother didnt let me stay in the country. I
3. Thieves broke into our house. Our house
4. Temperature is measured by a thermometer.

A thermometer

5. E. Snchez was arrested, imprisoned and tortured in 1974. The police

6. She couldnt afford the Persian cat. The Persian cat
7. They ought to mend the roof. The roof
8. Did they repair all the windows?
9. Have they watered the plants?

Were
Have

10. They believe that the government is thinking of imposing new special taxes. The government
11. They claim that the drug produced undesirable side-effects. The drug
12. Everybody thinks she sings beautifully. She

II. RELATIVE CLAUSES:

13. I bought some red wine. It tasted like ink. The red wine
14. We saw an actor on TV. Whats his name? Whats
15. The river is very deep. The river runs by my house. The river
16. That is the man. My best friend is going out with him. That is the man
17. My bicycle has been stolen. I left it there. My bike,
18. Your new flatmate used to be my best friend. He works in that office. Your new
19. London burnt down in 1666. It had to be rebuilt. London,
20. The Liverpool Express was late. It should have arrived at 3. The Liverpool Express,
21. The Titanic was the largest ship ever made. It had a length of 300 m. The Titanic,
22. This is Mr. Jones. His company exports to France.

This is Mr. Jones,

23. That mans daughter has an original Picasso painting. That is

24. The teacher is very pleased. His students passed the test successfully.
25. That is the office I work in. That is the office
26. I study English in that school. That is the school
27. This is the house. My grandmother was born in it. This is

III. I WISH
28. It is a pity you are not here. If only you
29. Im sorry, but I cant help you now. I wish
30. She is unhappy because she is ill. She wishes

The teacher

31. I really want him to stop gambling. I wish

32. You never brush your teeth after meals. I wish
33. Im sorry I argued with my friend yesterday. I wish
34. Im sorry that I didnt finish my homework last night. I wish
35. She should have called her parents earlier. I wish
36. I should have learnt French at school.

I wish

37. She knows it was a mistake to take drugs. She wishes ...

IV. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES:

38. If they are not protected, the gorillas will soon disappear. Unless
39. If he doesnt work harder, he will lose his job. Unless
40. Well miss the train if we dont hurry. Unless
41. I will lend you the money only if you promise to pay me back. I wont
42. People burn coal in their homes, so the air is polluted. If
43. He doesnt like his job, so he isnt happy.

If

44. I cant speak French, so Im not going to live in France.

If

45. We didnt choose a book, so we didnt have any problems. If we...

46. He didnt wear gloves, so the police caught him.
47. They didnt follow the maps, so they got lost.
48. In my opinion, you should join a gym.

If he

If

If I

49. I advise you to look him straight in the eye. If I

50. My advice to you is to call the police. If I
51. Youd better not touch that button. If I
52. He is exhausted because he keeps training for so many hours. If he
53. I cant write to her because I dont have her address. If I
54. I got wet because I forgot my umbrella.

If I

55. We didnt go on holiday because we didnt have enough money. If we

V. PAST SIMPLE + LAST, AGO > PRESENT PERFECT + FOR, SINCE:

56. The last time it rained was in March ( since March)
57. The last time I had a job interview was 5 years ago (for)
58. I last heard from him in July.

I havent

59. We havent seen this show for 2 months.

The last time

60. I havent been to a museum since September.

I last

61. I first met Dan in 1980 and we are still good friends.

Dan and I have

62. He gave up smoking in 1993. He hasnt

63. We arrived in Spain 3 weeks ago. We have been .
64. When did you first get to know her?

How long

65. When did Sue start learning Chinese?

How long?

VI. SO - SUCH
66. The weather was so warm that I didnt need a coat.
67. The lesson was so boring that she fell asleep.

It was such

It was such

68. The stories are so good that nobody moves. They are
69. She speaks with such a strong accent that people cant understand her.

Her accent

VII. TOO - ENOUGH

70. The weather is too bad for camping. The weather isnt
71. The town was too small to be marked on the map.
72. He speaks too quickly for me to understand.

The town wasnt

He doesnt speak

73. The bridge is too narrow for trucks to pass. The bridge isnt
74. He couldnt reach the button because it was too high.

The button

75. The window was very small. He couldnt get through it. The window wasnt
76. The suitcase was very heavy. She couldnt carry it. The window wasnt
77. These shoes are very small. I cant wear them.

The shoes arent

VIII. MODAL VERBS

78. He isnt here. Perhaps he went out.

He must

79. Our car looks so clean and shining.

It must

80. Im sure the decision was difficult to accept.

81. I told you to slow down, but you didnt.

The decision must

You should

82. Driving fast in town was a stupid thing to do. You shouldnt
83. The police are stopping drivers on the road.
84. Its possible that she has already told him.
85. I dont believe he stole the money.
86. Im sure he didnt say that.
87. Im sure he isnt Spanish.

There may
She may

He cant .

He cant
He cant...

88. It isnt possible for me to see you tonight.

I cant

89. There is no need to walk. John will give us a lift.

90. It isnt necessary to buy me a gift.
91. You must not smoke in here.

We neednt

You neednt

Smoking

92. Maybe my boyfriend is coming to see me tonight.

My boyfriend

IX. COMPARATIVES - SUPERLATIVES:

93. Mum doesnt speak English as well as Dad.
94. TVs dont cost as much as they used to.
95. Fruit isnt as fattening as cheese.

Dad speaks

TVs cost

Cheese

96. Her canary sings better than mine.

My canary doesnt sing

97. The gazelle runs the fastest animal in the world.

98. Is this the cheapest food youve got?

No animal runs

Have you got?

X. QUESTIONS FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS:

99. Paul collected the rubbish
100. Journalists have it easier than most people
101. Obesity affects millions of people
102. I met Tom in the street
103. Im waiting here for Mary
104. This book belongs to Stephen
105. He hasnt phoned because her phone is out of order
106. That TV series begins in a few days
107. I have been driving since 1996
108. I go to the hairdressers every 2 months
109. My grandson weighs 20 pounds
110. Ten students were absent