PARAPHRASING

ALTINBAŞ UNIVERSITY
School of Foreign Languages
Modern Languages Department
ENG102
2023-2024 Academic Year, Spring Term
Grammar structures for effective
paraphrasing

• Changing word form

• Reducing clauses to phrases

• Changing from active voice to passive voice

• Using noun clauses

• Changing transitions
1. Changing word form
NOUN ADJECTIVE
VERB NOUN
ADVERB ADJECTIVE ……

• The way John approached the task was not very satisfying to the
director.
• John’s approach to the task did not satisfy the director.
approach (verb) > approach (noun)
satisfying (adjective) > satisfy (verb)
• She is a very careful driver and never goes over the speed limit.
• She drives very carefully and never goes over the speed limit.

careful (adjective) > carefully (adverb)

driver (noun) > drive (verb)
Read the sentences below and change the
form of the words in bold.

1. His popularity among fellow scientists is amazing.

It amazes people that he is very popular among fellow scientists.

2. Despite her severe disability, she fulfilled her goals in life.

Although she was severely disabled, she fulfilled her goals in life.
2. Reducing clauses to phrases

• Although she had a bad cold, she could finish the project.
a clause

• She finished the project in spite of a bad cold.

a phrase
Adjective Clause Reduction

• The boy who is riding his bicycle is Michael.

The boy riding his bicycle is Michael.

• English has an alphabet that consists of 26 letters.

English has an alphabet consisting of 26 letters.
Adverb Clause Reduction

• While I was vacationing in Hawaii, I met an old friend.

Vacationing in Hawaii, I met an old friend.

Noun Clause Reduction

• They admit that they have problems at home.

They admit having problems at home.
Reduce the dependent clauses to phrases by
eliminating words and changing verbs.
1. Knowledgeable consumers who are looking for bargains often shop
at outlet stores.
Knowledgeable consumers looking for bargains often shop at outlet
stores.
2. The ideas which are presented in the essay are controversial.
The ideas presented in the essay are controversial.
3. While we were hiking in the wilderness, we encountered a mountain
lion.
Hiking in the wilderness, we encountered a mountain lion.
4. Because it was looking for food, the black bear rummaged in our
garbage can.
Looking for food, the black bear rummaged in our garbage can.
5. Those who wish to travel with us must be ready to leave on short
notice.
Those wishing to travel with us must be ready to leave on short notice.
6. As he was returning from the beach, Alex met an old friend.
Returning from the beach, Alex met an old friend.
7. While he was walking on the beach, Alex found many interesting
shells.
Walking on the beach, Alex found many interesting shells.
8. Mr. Brown, who is responsible for public relations, is an employee of
the company.
Mr. Brown responsible for public relations, is an employee of the
company.
3. Changing from active voice to
passive voice
• Next year, John will write a story about European hockey
players.

• Next year, a story about European hockey players will be

written by John.
Change the verb from the active voice to passive voice.

1. Lightning struck the school.​

The school was struck by lightning.​
2. This morning the police arrested the burglar.​
This morning the burglar was arrested by the police.​
3. Hydrocarbons cause one type of air pollution.​
One type of air pollution is caused by hydrocarbons.​
4. Mr. Patel and his children prepared an elaborate supper for the
miners.​
An elaborate supper for the miners was prepared by Mr. Patel and his
children.​
4. Using Noun Clauses

A noun clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a

verb; however, it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Noun clauses can begin with …

 … a question word:  … a question word + TO infinitive:

where he lives what to say
what one says where to meet
who the man is
how she survives

 … “whether” or “if”:  … “that”:

whether she will stay that he is innocent

if she will stay that she knows three languages
Examples:
• I don’t know where he lives.

• We haven’t decided where to meet after school.

• Mark doesn’t know whether his friend will stay for a long time in New York.

• It’s surprising that she knows three languages.

• It is known that he is a successful teacher.

• Bob asked me if / whether I was ill (or not).

Select the response that best completes the sentence.

1. Last week, our cat gave birth to a litter of kittens, but we

didn't know where ________.
a) our cat was
b) was our cat
2. The cat belongs to my daughter, so my husband suggested
that ________ them for adoption.
a) should we offer
b) we should offer
3. Adopting a kitten depends on ____________ the ability
to care for it.
c) whether you have
d) whether have you
5. Changing transitions

• While in nearly every country in the world people drive on the

right, in England they insist on driving on the left.
• People in England insist on driving on the left unlike people in
almost all countries in the world.

They decided to buy a new car because of the problems that

they had with their old one.
Since they had problems with their old car, they decided to
buy a new one.
Change the transitions in bold below and write a sentence
in the same meaning
1. Johnny Pacheco has a creative talent as a composer; moreover, he is
a successful arranger.
Johnny Pacheco has a creative talent as a composer in addition to his
success as an arranger.
2. Although they tried hard, the students could not complete the
project in time as they were lacking in skills and knowledge.
Despite trying hard, the students could not complete the project in
time because of lacking in skills and knowledge.
3. All the soldiers had to take their masks with them as there was a gas
attack.
All the soldiers had to take their masks with them due to a gas attack.
References
• https://www.thoughtco.com/practice-changing-verbs-passive-
to-active-1690979
• http://www.sponsoravillage.ca/english-2020/clauses-indepen
dent-and-dependent-clauses-level-iii/reduce-clauses-to-phras
es-level-iii/
• http://www.grammarbank.com/transition-words.html