Paraphrasing Techniques

Paraphrasing means saying the same idea in a different way. You change the words and/or structure but keep the meaning the same. Here are 5 helpful paraphrasing techniques.

5 Paraphrasing Techniques

Using synonyms
Use a different word form
Change the word order
Change active voice to passive
Use a combination of techniques

Using Synonyms

A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning as another word.

Big → large
Start → begin
Happy → glad

Example

Original sentence	Paraphrased sentence
She is happy with her test result.	She is glad about her test result.
Classes will start by Monday.	Classes will begin by Monday.
The big conference room is available.	The large conference room is available.

Notice that “happy” is paired with the preposition “with” and the adjective “glad” is paired with “about”, this is called adjective + preposition collocation.

MORE ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION COLLOCATION HERE

Exercise 1: Match the following synonyms.

Exercise 2: Read the sentences and paraphrase using synonyms.

He is tired after the long day.
They need to buy some food.
The test was easy.
The teacher asked me to assist her with the books.
The weather can fluctuate during the rainy season.
He got a steady job at the supermarket.
I want to purchase a new phone this weekend.
They will arrive at the airport at 5 p.m.
My little brother wants to grow a plant in the garden.
She was extremely mad at the situation.

Using a Different Word Form

Sometimes you can paraphrase a sentence by changing a verb to a noun or adjective and vice versa.

Teach (verb) → teacher (noun)
Decide (verb) → decision (noun)
Help (verb) → helpful (adjective)

Example

Original sentence	Paraphrased sentence
She teaches English.	She is an English teacher.
They decided to go to Japan instead.	They made the decision to go to Japan instead.
The company helps through charity.	The helpful company gives through charity.
The fluctuation of gas prices is an effect of the ongoing war.	Gas prices fluctuate as an effect of the ongoing war.
The successful businessman used a special marketing strategy.	The businessman succeeded by using a special marketing strategy.

Exercise 1: Change the word form of the following.

steady (adj.) >>> _____________________ (noun)
quick (adj.) >>> ______________________ (adv.)
reduction (noun) >>> _________________ (verb)
unexpectedly (adv.) >>> ________________( adj.)
earning (noun) >>> ___________________ (verb)
moderately (adv.) >>> _________________ (adj.)
limit (verb) >>> _______________________ (adj.)
compare (verb) >>> ___________________ (noun)
annual (noun) >>> ____________________ (adv.)
produce (verb) >>> ____________________(noun)

Exercise 2: Re-write the following using a different word form.

How long is the ______ from Hatyai to Bangkok ? (FLY)
I have a very good ______ with both my siblings. (RELATION)
Pulling my front tooth was completely ______ (PAIN).
I can tell from your ______ that you’re not really happy. (EXPRESS)
We offer free ______ for purchases over 300 THB. (DELIVER).
Mary hasn’t had a lot of ______ lately, so I hope he’ll do well with his new company (SUCCEED)
It is ______ colder today that it was yesterday (CERTAIN).
What ______ is he ? Chinese or Thai ? (NATION)
You have the ______ . – You can either go by van or bus (CHOOSE).
My best friend has a great ______ . (PERSON).
You need a lot of ______ to write a good story (IMAGINE)
The movie was ______ . I almost fell asleep. (BORE)
Be very ______ . There are many broken shards. (CARE).
It’s simply ______ . I have won the lottery . (BELIEVE)
I have to hold a ______ at my sister’s wedding (SPEAK)
There’s a lot of ______ about that on the internet (INFORM)
The students were very ______ when the teacher came in (NOISE).
The film was a bit ______ . I didn’t really understand what happened (CONFUSE)
He has to wear these gloves for ______ reasons (SAFE)
Mary was ______ for two years before she found a new job (EMPLOY)
In India, there are a lot of ______ in the streets (BEG).
When I gave up smoking I started putting on more ______ (WEIGH).
I had no ______ in finding the right street . (DIFFICULT)
He talked about ______ and peace in our world (FREE)
______ , I was invited to watch the new film (LUCKY)
The ______ of our rainforests is a serious problem (DESTROY)
Animals in a zoo don’t live in their ______ environment (NATURE)
______ does not have anything to do with how much money you have (HAPPY)
Thank you for being so ______ yesterday (HELP)
He has been a long- ______ runner for a few years now (DISTANT)
Don’t you think it’s too ______ for you to go sailing in such weather (DANGER)
This is my last ______ . – Don’t walk across the lawn ! (WARN)
He gave me some good ______ on where to go shopping (ADVISE)
If you want to complain about the product, please go to the ______ (MANAGE).
The new flat is not ______ . It’s too expensive (AFFORD)
John is six years old. He’s very ______ and full of life (ACT)
My mother spent her ______ in France (CHILD)
I have made a few ______ to your article (CORRECT)
Every child should get a good ______ (EDUCATE).
Listen carefully to the ______ before you go out ! (INSTRUCT)

Changing Word Order

Another way to paraphrase a sentence is to change the word order of the sentence.

Original sentence	Paraphrased sentence
Tony hurt himself while he was repairing the car.	While he was repairing the car, Tony hurt himself.
It was raining when I left home.	When I left home, it was raining.
Many women like to change their appearance from time to time.	From time to time, many women like to change their appearance.
Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.	One of the most beautiful cities in Europe is Venice.

*Note: Not all sentences can be paraphrase in this manner. Sentences with Adverbs, adverbial phrases, adverb clauses and prepositional phrases

work well with this type of paraphrasing technique.

Exercise 1: Arrange the words in correct order to create meaningful sentences.

likes / She / to/sing/.
The / flies / sky / bird / high / in / the /.
Read / every / day / I / books /.
Are / colorful / butterflies / Some /.
On / playing / the / children / are / swings / happily /.
a / sunny / is / day / It / today.
always / brush / teeth / you / should / your / before / bed /.
cookies / mom / my / baked / delicious /.
The/ reads/ story/ teacher/ students/ the/ to/ a
wait/ I/ go/ on/ can’t/ to/ a/ holiday.

Exercise 2: Change the word order of the following.

She goes to the gym every morning.
We met our friends at the park.
He studies English because he wants a better job.
They watched a movie last night.
I will call you after dinner.
He walked to school quickly.
On weekends, we like to go hiking.
The children played in the garden.
She is learning Spanish for her trip to Spain.
I usually drink coffee in the morning.

Active Voice to Passive

Rules

Identify the SUBJECT, VERB, and OBJECT. [ The chef prepares the meal.]
Interchange the subject and object. [The meal—prepares — the chef.]
Use a Form of “be” (am, is, are, was, were, being, been) and Past Participle [The meal is prepared — the chef.]
Use “by” + Original Subject [The meal is prepared by the chef.]
Maintain Tense [prepares (simple present) >>> is prepared]

ACTIVE VOICE: The chef prepares the meal.

PASSIVE VOICE: The meal is prepared by the chef.

Example

Simple Present Tense
is,am,are+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
He lights the candle.	The candle is lighted by him.
He does not light the candle.	The candle is not lighted by him.
Do you eat meat?	Is meat eaten by you?

Present Continuous Tense
is,am,are+being+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
I am driving a car.	A car is being driven by me.
I am not driving a car.	A car is not being driven by me.
Am I driving a car?	Is a car being driven by me?

Present Perfect Tense
has,have+been+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
She has stolen my book.	My book has been stolen by her.
She has not stolen my book.	My book has not been stolen by her.
Has she stolen my book?	Has my book been stolen by her?

Simple Past Tense
was,were+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
She finished work.	Work was finished by her.
She did not finish work.	Work was not finished by her.
Did she finish work?	Was work finished by her?

Past Continuous Tense
was,were+being+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
He was revising his books.	His books were being revised by him.
He was not revising his books.	His books were not being revised by him.
Was he revising his books?	Were his books being revised by him?

Past Perfect Tense
had+been+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
I had completed the assignment.	The assignment had been completed (by me).
I had not completed the assignment.	The assignment had not been completed (by me).
Had I completed the assignment?	Had the assignment been completed (by me)?

Simple Future Tense
will,shall+be+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
My uncle will pay my tuition fee.	My tuition fee will be paid by my uncle.
My uncle will not pay my tuition fee.	My tuition fee will not be paid by my uncle.
Will my uncle pay my tuition fee?	Will my tuition fee be paid by my uncle?

Future Perfect Tense
will, shall+ have been+3rd verb
ACTIVE	PASSIVE
We shall have done our homework.	Our homework shall have been done by us.
We shall not have done our homework.	Our homework shall not have been done by us.
Shall we have done our homework?	Shall our homework have been done by us?

Modals	Auxiliary Verb in Passive Voice	ACTIVE VOICE	PASSIVE VOICE
Can/ Could	Can/Could+ be+ 3rd verb	I can solve these problems.	These problems can be solved by me.
		I cannot solve these problems.	These problems cannot be solved by me.
		Can I solve these problems?	Can these problems be solved by me?
Has to/ Have to	Has to/ Have to+3rd verb	He has to complete his assignment.	His assignment has to be completed by him?
Must	must+3rd verb	You must learn this book.	This book must be learnt by you.
May	may+be+3rd verb	I may buy the book.	The book may be bought by me.
Might	might+ be+ 3rd verb	They might play chess.	Chess might be played by them.
Should	should+ be+3rd verb	Students should learn all lessons.	All lessons should be learnt by students.

Imperative Sentences
Lets + new object + be/Not be +past participle or 3rd form
ACTIVE VOICE	PASSIVE VOICE
Shut the door.	Let the door be shut.
Post the letter at once.	Let the letter be posted at once.
Always speak the truth.	Let the truth always be spoken.
Do not starve the cow.	Let the cow not be starved.
Let him help his brother.	Let his brother be helped by him.
Clean your room.	Let your room be cleaned.
Learn your lesson.	Let your lesson be learnt.
Please do me a favor tonight	You are requested to do me a favor tonight.
Get out of my house.	You are ordered to get out of mu house.
Kindly do not smoke in public place.	You are requested not to smoke in public place.

Exercise 1

Determine if these sentences are in the active or passive voice. If a sentence is in the active voice, identify its subject and verb. If a sentence is in the passive voice, rewrite it so that it is in the active voice. (If a passive sentence has no “doer,” make one up!)

The coffee was still boiling after it was served.
The students worked on their papers all night.
The wind was making the tree sway.
Mary been holding her hand up to answer the question.
The three dogs were being walked.
The earth continually spins on its axis.
The students were released from class.
Tony gave his speech flawlessly.
Without interruption, the scarf was knit by Mary.
We were driven to the beach by Tony in his minivan.
The class was taught by Mary in the evenings.
Café Mocha closed early, so Danny brewed her own pot of coffee.
The professor and her aid passed out the exam, and it was taken by the students.
Tony explained the importance of proofreading one’s sentences.
The exercise sheet was finished by you!