PARAPHRASING TECNIQUES

Example:

0. What type of sports do you like to play the most?

FAVOURITE

What ____________________ sport?

Example: is your favourite

In the exam, you must write the missing words in CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate
answer sheet.

Step 1
Read the two sentences and the word given. Which words in the second sentence also belong to the
first sentence? Answer: “what” and “sport”. So omit these words from the first sentence like this:
What type of sports do you like to play the most? (It doesn’t matter if the words do not match
exactly).
Words we have left to modify: type, of, do, you, like, to, play, the, most, favourite (word given).
Step 2 – Grammar Analysis
Word given is favourite. “Favourite” = adjective. There’s generally only one auxiliary verb used
with adjectives which we use to make sentences attributable: to be.
The first sentence is in the present simple, so we will need the present simple.
Typical sentence structure in English is: subject + verb + object. “What” is the subject, and it will
be followed by a verb.
“Favourite” is an adjective. And we know we need the verb “to be” in the third person singular
(am/is(are) because the noun “sport” is singular. We need “is”.
The word “sports” belongs to the recipient (the person being asked the question), therefore we need
a possessive adjective in second person to “possess” sports. That possessive adjective is “your”.
“Sport” in the second sentence is a noun. What modifies a noun? An adjective. “Favourite” is an
adjective and must precede the noun.
Reread both sentences to make sure they:
1. Have the same meaning.
2. Are grammatically correct.
3. You use between two and five words to complete the second sentence.
Example:
26. David and Jane don’t have a good relationship.
GET
David and Jane _don´t get along___ with each other.
Step 1
Read the two sentences and the word given. Which words in the second sentence also belong to the
first sentence? Answer: David and Jane
Words we have left to modify don’t, have, a, good and relationship.
Step 2 – Grammar Analysis
Word order in English: subject + verb + object. The subject is “David and Jane”. So, the subject
will be followed by a verb.
Is the first sentence in the present, past or future?
Is the first sentence negative or positive?
Given that the first sentence is negative we will need to negate the second sentence. In English, we
use the auxiliary verb “to do” to negate ordinary verbs. “Get” is an ordinary verb (non-auxiliary
verb).
The subject is plural (two people) and we need the present simple form (first sentence is in the
present) of the verb “do” in third person plural, which is don’t (remember we need its negative
form).
“Don’t” can now be followed by an ordinary verb, the verb given, get.
This is the hard part. As you can see, you’re going to need a phrasal verb that means “have a good
relationship with” Generally, phrasal verbs are irregular and there’s no telling as to how to obtain it.
Usually, It’s a question of learning phrasal verbs by memory.
Phrasal verbs are composed of a verb (in this case, get) and a preposition or adverb. You know that
you’re going to need either an adverb or preposition to form the phrasal verb to mean “have a good
relationship with”. I.e. I get ____ with her.
The two possible options are on or along. Both are acceptable. I.e. Jake gets along/on with Maria.