REPHRASING EXERCISES

REWRITE THE SENTENCE WITHOUT CHANGING ITS MEANING. BEGIN AS INDICATED.

1. As his wife does not work, he does almost nothing at home.

As his wife does not work, he does hardly... anything at home
2. Sound doesn’t travel as fast as light in the air.
Light... travels faster than sound in the air.
3. She hasn’t celebrated her birthday at home for three years.
She last... celebrated her birthday three years ago.
4. It’s impossible that I will finish work earlier than usual today.
I... won’t be able to finish work today earlier than usual today.
5. “I am hungry. I’m going to have a two-egg omelette”, he said.
He said that... he was hungry and was going to have a two-egg omelette.
6. She is too proud to apologise for her behaviour.
She isn’t... humble enough to apologise for her behaviour.
7. We spend our holidays in this village every summer.
This is … where we spend our holidays every summer.
8. From my point of view, you made a terrible mistake.
In… my view / opinion, you made a terrible mistake.
9. Don’t touch the match or you’ll burn your finger.
If… you touch the match, you’ll burn your finger.
10. He was gluing the pieces of the broken toy.
The pieces … were being glued of the broken toy.
11. Although he had been vaccinated, he caught the flu.
Despite… the fact that he had been vaccinated / having been vaccinated / his vaccine, he caught the flu.
12. I’m feeling better. It isn’t necessary for you to stay with me all night long.
I’m feeling better. You… needn’t / don’t have to stay with me all night long
13. Except for Susan, everybody else arrived late.
Apart… from Susan, everybody else arrived late.
14. Could you lend me some money for the bus ride?
Could I… borrow some money for the bus ride?
15. The couple stole her new handbag.
The couple robbed… her OF her handbag.
16. I wish I had a good ear for music.
If … only I had a good ear for music.
17. They put a horseshoe on the main door to have good luck.
A horseshoe... was put on the main door to have good luck.
18. I don’t like restaurants like this. They are too posh.
I don’t like restaurants of … this type / kind. They are too posh.
19. You didn’t earn as much as you had been told.
You earned… less than you had been told.
20. He started drinking too much two years ago.
He has… been drinking too much for two years.
21. You remembered to switch off the lights, didn’t you?
You… didn’t forget to switch off the lights, didn’t you?
22. The turkey for dinner was so big!
How big… was the turkey for dinner!
23. I don’t have a laptop, so I can’t write your report now.
If… I had a laptop, I could write your report now.
24. I don’t visit my relatives in Munich very often.
I seldom… visit my relatives in Munich.
25. We haven’t elected a new government for four years.
It’s … four years since we haven’t elected a new government.
26. The sand wasn’t clean enough to sunbathe on it.
The sand was … too dirty to sunbathe on it.
27. I wish I had gone to that party. It was so much fun!
I regret… not going to that party. It was so much fun!
28. He felt overwhelmed by the situation.
The situation was … overwhelming for him.
29. They like lentils better than chickpeas.
They don’t … chickpeas as much as lentils.
30. He knows how to ski.
He … can ski.
31. He had a terrible headache because he hadn’t taken his pills.
 If … he had taken his pills, he would have a terrible headache.
32. This is the coldest winter we remember.
We don’t … remember a winter as cold as this one.
33. The luxury car was too expensive for him to buy.
He couldn’t … buy / afford the luxury car because it was too expensive.
34. He didn’t say anything when he saw me.
He said… nothing when he saw me.
35. Do you intend to write a new novel next summer?
Are you … going to write / planning on writing a new novel next summer?
36. Even though she trains very hard, she seldom wins her matches.
Despite… the fact that she trains very hard / training very hard / her hard training, she seldom wins her
matches.
37. It’s ages since he last played the piano.
He hasn’t … played the piano for ages.
38. Margaret sent her mother a bunch of flowers.
Margaret sent a… bunch of flowers to her mother.
39. It’s possible that he took the wrong bus.
He … may / can / might have taken the wrong bus.
40. Gabriel swims better than anybody in the team.
Nobody… in the team swims better than Gabriel.
41. She hates borrowing things from other people.
She hates other … people lending things to her.
42. They won freedom in the country a century ago.
They have ... had freedom in the country for a century.
43. The job was so dangerous that she was paid an extra salary.
It was … such a dangerous job that she was paid an extra salary.
44. Almost nobody came to the demonstration.
Hardly… anybody came to the demonstration.
45. When was gun powder invented?
How long… is it since gun powder was invented?
46. How desperate the poor woman is!
The poor … woman is desperate!
47. Do you think you could learn German easily?
Do you think German … could be easy for you to learn?
48. It’s half an hour now since they started painting.
They have … been painting for half an hour.
49. I’ll lend you the money you need, if you like.
Would you … like me to lend you the money you need.
50. What a pity you can’t see her newborn baby!
I wish… you could see her newborn baby.
51. You are quite slim. It’s not necessary for you to do so much exercise.
You are quite slim. You … needn’t / don’t have to do so much exercise.
52. The last time I drank gin was a month ago.
I haven’t … drunk gin for a month.
53. Paul’s brother won the first prize in the contest.
Paul is the boy … who won the prize in the contest.
54. She had the biggest collection of foreign coins in the school.
Nobody in the school … had a bigger collection of foreign coins than hers.
55. My sister know how to ride a bike when she was four.
My sister … could ride a bike when she was four.
56. Why don’t you stop smoking for ever?
I wish… you would stop smoking for ever.
57. You get on well with most people.
You don’t … have problems getting on with most people.
58. How fast he ran! Nobody could overtake him.
He ran so… fast that nobody could overtake him.
59. “I have never seen a volcanic eruption”, you said.
You said… that you had never seen a volcanic eruption.
60. It’s a long time since I last travelled by train.
I haven’t … travelled by train in a long time.
61. Keep the food in the fridge or it will rot.
If… you don’t keep the food in the fridge, it will rot.
62. He started his job as a bodyguard five months ago.
He has... had his job as a bodyguard for five months.
63. It is such a comfortable sofa that she bought it without hesitation.
The sofa was … so comfortable that she bought it without hesitation.
64. “Come here with me”, Stewart said.
Steward told.. someone to come there with him.
65. He gets up earlier than his wife.
His wife doesn’t … get up earlier than him.
66. Perhaps they’ve eaten all the almonds in the packet.
They… can / may / might have eaten all the almonds in the packet.
67. When did the earthquake take place?
How long is … it since the earthquake took place?
68. It took the men a month to mend the road.
Mending… the road took the men a month.
69. He is fond of outdoors walks with his friends.
He is keen ... on walking outdoors / outdoors walks with his friends.
70. Somebody has stolen my credit cards.
Somebody has robbed … me OF my credit cards.
71. The police found out that she had killed his husband with cyanide.
The police found out that her husband … had been killed with cyanide.
72. I hate people who litter the streets.
I wish … people wouldn’t litter the streets.
73. Rachel wasn’t competent enough to be trusted.
Rachel was … too incompetent to be trusted.
74. The TV commercials finished before I came back.
By the time … I came back the TV commercials hadn’t finished.
75. Don’t make so much noise while you’re eating your soup.
Stop … making so much noise while you’re eating your soup.
76. I’m certain Roger and Angela have been to Rome because they speak Italian so fluently.
Roger and Angela … must have been to Rome because they speak Italian so fluently.
77. She hasn’t taken her car to the mechanic for two years.
The last … time she took her car to the mechanic was two years ago.
78. They delivered the sound system to me in less than two days.
I had … the sound system delivered in less than two days.
79. “Did you spend Christmas with your parents?”, I asked him.
I asked him… if he had spent Christmas with his parents.
80. Elizabeth used to laugh more than her brother.
Elizabeth’s brother … used to laugh less than his sister.
81. Preparing a chocolate mousse took her less than 20 minutes.
It… took her less than 20 minutes to prepare a chocolate mousse.
82. She should have taken an umbrella with her.
If only … she had taken an umbrella with her.
83. It’s now a year since she started the new gym.
She has ... been in the new gym for a year.
84. I won’t listen to your explanations unless you listen to mine first.
I’ll listen …. to your explanation when you listen to mine.
85. She was on the point of having a shower when I came.
She was about … to have a shower when I came.
86. The collapse of the building was the architect’s fault.
The architect was to … blame for the collapse of the building.
87. The shoemaker is mending my shoes.
I … am having my shoes mended by the shoemaker.
88. When she saw the doctor, she felt much calmer.
On … seeing the doctor, she felt much calmer.
89. It is said that they are lovers.
They … are said to be lovers.
90. She’d rather eat fruit than take vitamin pills.
She prefers ... eating fruit to taking vitamin pills.
91. If you read more English books, you will find the vocabulary easier.
The more… books you read in English, the easier you will find the vocabulary.
92. I’ve never seen such a horrible statue.
It’s … the most horrible statue I have ever seen.
93. I advise you to go earlier to get the tickets.
You’d … better go earlier to get the tickets.
94. Listening to other ideas is something good.
It … is good to listen to other ideas.
95. I think his popularity is increasing day after day.
It looks as … if his popularity is increasing day after day.
96. The man switched off the lights to save energy.
In order to … save energy, the man switched off the lights.
97. Having saved some money, they started the company.
As … they had saved some money, they started the company.
98. While I was talking to her, I realised she was in pain.
In … talking to her I realised she was in pain.
99. He managed to get the official licence to open the bar.
He succeeded … in getting the official licence to open the bar.
100. If he hadn’t been for my help, he wouldn't have done it.
But … for my help, he wouldn't have done it.
101. The girl he was looking at is in my class.
The girl at … whom / who he was looking is in my class.
102. The carpenter will repair the door of his bedroom tomorrow.
He … will have the door of his bedroom repaired by the carpenter tomorrow.
103. The only one who passed all the exams was Peter.
Nobody… passed all the exams but / except Peter.
104. Henry finds it strange to eat snails.
Henry is not … used to eating snails.
105. “OK, you can have the day off”, my boss told me.
My boos agreed … that I have the day off / on me having the day off.
106. Martha can’t wait to see me next holidays.
Martha is looking … forward to seeing me next holidays.
107. She had never visited a bigger castle.
It was … the biggest castle she had ever visited.
108. They will give me access if I identify myself.
Provided… I identify myself, they will give me access.
109. Their new air-conditioning was installed last week.
They … had their new air-conditioning installed last week.
110. Her parents made her marry a man she didn’t love.
She … was made / forced to marry a man she didn’t love.
111. In my view, she did a great job.
As far … as I am concerned, she did a great job.
112. Neither of the blue cars was my father’s.
My father’s … car was none of them.
113. They use pesticides so as to kill some harmful insects.
They use chemicals in … order to kill some harmful insects.
114. The jury must come to a decision in two days.
The jury is … to come to a decision in two days.
115. “I’m sorry I didn’t send you the letter”, she said to me.
She apologised … for not sending / having sent me the letter.
116. You shouldn’t eat salty food so often.
You’d … better not eat salty food so often.
117. The only person who had seen the accident was her.
Nobody … except / but her had seen the accident.
118. In the course of doing the sudoku, she learned some new techniques.
While … she was doing the sudoku, she learned some new techniques.
119. “Would you like to have a whisky with me?”, Henry asked me.
Henry invited … me to a have a whisky.
120. You ought to wash your hair.
Your hair… needs some washing / to be washed.
121. Without your support, I wouldn’t have done it.
If it … hadn’t been for your support, I wouldn’t have done it.
122. The sales are expected to increase this year.
It … is expected that the sales will increase this year.
123. It’s no use calling her because she is too far away.
There’s … no point in calling her because she is too far away.
124. As I get older, I’m fatter.
The older… I get, the fatter I am.
125. The robot they were talking about is cutting-edge.
The robot about … which they were talking is cutting-edge.
126. The oil of her car will be changed in the garage next week.
She … will have the oil of her car changed in the garage next week.
127. He said he would resign if another option wasn’t found.
He said he would resign, provided … another option wasn’t found.
128. The tyre turned out to have a hole.
It … turned out the tyre had a hole.
129. We went the station to say goodbye to our friends.
We went to the station to see … our friends off.
130. It is impossible for him to write with his right hand.
There is … no chance / possibility for him to write with his right hand.
131. “I’ll help you to do your homework later”, he told his son.
He promised … his son / that he would to help him with his homework later.
132. But for you, my glasses would be broken now.
If it … hadn’t been for you, my glasses would be broken now.
133. You should reduce the amount of sugar you take daily.
You should cut down … on the amount of sugar you take daily.
134. If I were you, I wouldn’t do it again.
You’d better … not do it again.
135. “I won’t go to that hotel again”, she said.
She refused … to go to that hotel again.
136. They will come if we give them enough time.
They will come as … long as we give them enough time.
137. Falling in front of people is very embarrassing for me.
It is … very embarrassing for me to fall in front of people.
138. “I wished I hadn’t bought that car”, my bother said,
My brother regretted … having bought / buying that car.
139. She will study in Liverpool, even if her parents don’t like the idea.
She will study in Liverpool whether ... her parents like it or not.
140. This machine is able to lift heavy weights.
This machine is capable … of lifting heavy weights.
141. You should buy the tickets now before the concert is sold out.
It’s high … time you bought the tickets before the concert is sold out.
142. “Why don’t you come back later?”, said George.
George suggested … coming back later.
143. I’ll pay you a visit on my way to school.
I’ll drop … by on my way to school.
144. It doesn’t matter if you are coming or not.
It makes … no difference if you are coming or not.
145. On getting home, he took his shoes off.
As soon … as he got home, he took his shoes off.
146. There is no points in you closing the door.
It’s no … use closing the door.
147. “Be careful, the water is really hot”, he said.
He warned … me to be careful because the water was really hot.
148. A plumber is fixing her loose taps.
She … is having her loose taps fixed by a plumber.
149. I was about to ring you when you called me.
I was on … the verge of ringing you when you called me.
150. I don’t care what your friends think of me.
It doesn’t … matter what your friends think of me.
151. He realised that the danger was real when he heard the explosion.
Only … after having heard / hearing the explosion, he realised that the danger was real.
152. You mustn’t ever go into that building.
Under … no circumstances must you go into that building.
153. You accused me of stealing the laptop.
You put … the blame on me for stealing the laptop.
154. Call me if you have any doubts about the machine.
Should you … have any doubts about the machine, call me.
155. I hardly ever watched this kind of films.
Seldom … did I watch this kind of films.
156. It would be a good idea to order some food.
We should… order some food.
157. He loves bungee jumping, no matter how dangerous it is.
However … dangerous bungee jumping it is, he loves it.
158. I have hardly ever had such a pleasant flight.
Rarely … have I had such a pleasant flight.
159. As they couldn’t pay for it, they were rejected.
Being … unable to pay for it, they were rejected.
160. While Sandra was ill, I did part of her job.
During … Sandra’s illness, I did part of her job.
161. If you promise not to tell anybody, I will tell you.
Only… if you promise not to tell anybody, I will tell you.
162. You are certainly a great speaker.
You are by … far a great speaker.
163. They are proud of their great friendship.
They pride … themselves of their great friendship.
164. If you eat less sugar, you will feel much better.
Eat … less sugar and you will feel much better.