Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

Reformulation and rewriting

 

We could reformulate with:

 

A. Wishes

1. I haven’t got a car. I would very much like to have one

I WISH……………………………………………………………………………………..

 

2. He went to bed late last night. He regret it now.

a)HE WISHES………………………..……………………………………………………

b)HE WISHES…………………………………..…………………………………………

 

3. We don’t live in a big house. I would like us to.

a)I WISH……………………………………………………………………………………

b)I WISH…………………………………………………………………………………….

 

4. He won’t stop shouting.

I WISH………………………………………………………………………………………

 

5. You are playing that music. I would like you to stop playing it but I don’t expect that you will.

I WISH……………………………………………………………………………………….

 

6. I lost my temper. I regret it now.

I WISH………………………………………………………………………………………

 

7. You didn’t tell me the truth. I am very sorry that you didn’t.

a)I WISH…………………………………………………………………………………….

b)I WISH……………………………………………………………………………………

 

8. I don’t have an interesting job. I would like my job to be more interesting.

I WISH…………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

Remark:

Wishes about the present and future

1. We use 'wish' + past simple to express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be different.

I wish I spoke Italian. -- I don't speak Italian

I wish I had a big car. -- I don't have a big car

I wish I was on a beach. -- I'm in the office

Future: I wish it was the weekend tomorrow. -- It's only Thursday tomorrow

2. We use 'wish' + past continuous to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present (or future).

 

I wish I was lying on a beach now. -- I'm sitting in the office

I wish it wasn't raining. -- It is raining

Future: I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow. -- You are leaving tomorrow

Wishes about the past

We use 'wish' + past perfect to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.

I wish I hadn't eaten so much. -- I ate a lot

I wish they'd come on holiday with us. -- They didn't come on holiday with us

I wish I had studied harder at school. -- I was lazy at school

 

Wish + would

We use 'wish' + would + bare infinitive to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.

I wish you would stop smoking.

-- You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me

I wish it would stop raining.

-- I'm impatient because it is raining and I want to go outside

I wish she'd be quiet.

-- I am annoyed because she is speaking

 

B. Conditional sentences

 

Exercise1: Rewrite the following sentences by replacing (if) with a conjunction

1. I won’t help him if he doesn’t ask me properly

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. If I could get a job, life here would be much happier

……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. If you had a lot of money, do you think you would give up work?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

4. If the train arrives on time, they will be here in a few minutes

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. If he doesn’t agree to my request, what will I do then?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

6. You can go out tonight if you get back by midnight

…………………………………………………………………………………………

7. If you’d offer to pay me 20,000 Frs., I wouldn’t have done it

…………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Exercise2: Put the verbs into the right form

1. Jennifer was here not long ago. If you (come)………………..……... round earlier, you (see)...........……her

2. Why don’t you tell him the truth, if you (not/tell)………………..…… him the truth, you (regret)………………... it one day

3. If he is angry, his face always (go)…………….. bright red

4. If you (have)………………….any problem, give me a ring

5. If I could have called you, I (tell)……………………… you what was happening

6. He wouldn’t be coming here if he (not/want)…………………to

7. The radio (not/walk)…………………..if the batteries are flat

8. If you were planning to leave your husband, I (advise)………………………you against it

9. If the concert has already started, we (not/allowed)……………………..to get in

 

 

 

Remark:

 

Types	Usages	Formations and examples
Type one	Possible present	If + present + present If I see Andrew at the meeting, I will give him the message
Type two	Impossible present	If + past + would infinitive If my parents were alive, they would be proud of me
	Impossible future	If she changed job, she would be much happier
Type three	Unfulfilled past	If + past perfect + would have + p.p If she had worked harder, she would have succeeded

 

Note:

In type 1: we can have: present continuous, present perfect simple and continuous, can or should

In type 2: we can have: past continuous, could, were/was to

In type 3: we can have: past perfect continuous, could have + p.p

 

B. Other ways of expressing condition

In sentences: unless, even if, if only, as/so long as, assuming (that), on (the) condition (that), provided /providing (that)…

In questions: suppose/supposing (that), what…if, imagine…

 

C. Passive and active

 

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning

1. It is said that marry eats ten eggs a day

.…………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. It is believed that the wanted man is leaving in New-York

………………….…………………………………………………………………………

3. It is expected that the strike will begin tomorrow

……………………………………………………………………………………………

4. It is alleged that he stole 10,000 Frs.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. It was alleged that he stole 10,000 Frs.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

Exercise1:

Put the verbs between brackets into the right form and tense

1. Frostbite may occur when the skin (expose)………………………….to extreme cold. It most frequently (affect)…………………………..the skin of the cheek, nose and toe.

 

2. The first fish (appear)……………………… on earth 5 million years ago. Up to now, more than 20,000 kinds of fish (name)……………………….. and (describe) ……………… ……………..by scientists. New species (discover)………………………….every year, so the total increases continually.

 

3. Right now, Roberto in hospital, he(treat)…………………………….for a bad burn on his hand and arm.

 

4. There was a terrible accident in a busy road downtown yesterday. Dozens of people (see)………….it, including my friend who (interview)…………………………by the police.

 

5. The game (probably/win)……………………………..by the other team tomorrow. They are a lot better than us.

 

Exercise2:

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning

1. The clear explanation of the teacher helped the students

……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. The teacher dislikes students interrupting him while he talks.

…………….………………………………………………………………………………

3. Her mother must have taken him to hospital

……………………………………………………………………………………………

4. It was reported that six soldiers were killed in Iraq

……………………………………………………………………………………………

5. My car has been Brocken down. The mechanic will repair it tomorrow.

 …………………………………………………………………………………………

6. He hates people insulting him

……………………………………………………………………………………………

7. They should give him the reward because he really deserves it.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

NB: To be said to

This is Marry. She is very old and nobody knows exactly how old she is. But:

It is said that she is 108 years old.

She is said to be 108 years old.

(Both sentences mean: “People say that she is 108 years old”)

You can also use this structure with: alleged, believed, considered, expected, known, reported, thought, understood…etc.

N/B: If we have: it + passive verb + relative clause in the first sentence, we will have: subject + passive verb + infinitive clause

 

 

D. Inversion of adverbs or auxiliaries

 

Exercise1:

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning

1. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed

……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. I have seldom heard such a talented singer

……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. If john had known that she was hungry, he would have brought her to a restaurant

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

4.  The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent’s advice

……………………………………………………………………………………………

5. He had never felt so depressed

……………………………………………………………………………………………

6. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customer’s lost property

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the party

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his wife’s face

…………………………………………………………………………………………

9.  She never at any time said that she was allergic at cats

…………………………………………………………………………………………

10. The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances

……………………………………………………………………………………………

11. He had scarcely stepped outside when it started to rain

……………………………………………………………………………………………

12.  This switch must not be touched on any account

……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

E. Reported speeches

 

1. “They took the dangerous criminal to prison last month”

The police informed the press that………………………………………………………

2.  “You would better not go out tonight” I said to him

I advised him to…………………………………………………………………………

3. “How many members are there in the organization?”

She asked us ……………………………………………………………………………

4. “I am sorry we gave wrong information about the origins of AIDS”

He said………………………………………………………………………………….

5. “The journalists were unfair when they published false information”

She says………………………………………………………………………………….

6. “You never tell the truth about AIDS” the doctor said to his colleagues

The doctor said to his colleagues ………………………………………………………

7. “Are you telling me that you have learned nothing during all your years of colonization?”

She wondered……………………………………………………………………………

8. “America would remain unchallenged if it maintained the geopolitical balance” he said

He said……………………………………………………………………………………

9. “Why did Mat look so embarrassed when he saw Carole?”

He asked………………………………………………………………………………….

10. “What will happen to our culture and our traditions?”

He asked…………………………………………………………………………………

11. “Will you send me the report when it is finished?”

He asked me……………………………………………………………………………

12. “She was elected president in 1996” They said

They said……………………………………………………………………………….

13. “Where is the seat of African union organization?”

She wanted to know……………………………………………………………………

14. “The police have been investigating new allegation of fraud”

A spokesman said…………………………………………………………………………

15. “Do you know much about slavery?”

She has asked……………………………………………………………………………

 

 

Remarks:

1.  if the reporting verb is in present, present perfect or future, there is no change in tenses

2.  if the reporting verb is in the past, there is change in tenses

3. While reporting question we note that there is no inversion of verbs and on question mark

 

Mixed Reformulation

EXERCISE 1: Rewrite by using the prompt given

1-Whoever comes to the party, he will be entertained.

No matter………………………………………………………………………..

2-In spite of the rain, we started to play football.

Despite…………………………………………………………………………..

Rainy…………………………………………………………………………….

Although…………………………………………………………………………

3-Despite his braveness, he always has bad marks

Although…………………………………………………………………………

4-It’s not useful to learn eating

It’s no use…………………………………………………………………………

5-I prefer reading to cheating

I would rather……………………………………………………………………

6-His mother wants him to marry his cousin

He would rather…………………………………………………………………..

7-He is thinking of leaving his country

He can’t help………………………………………………………………………

He cannot but……………………………………………………………………..

8-She usually cheated at cards

She …………..…………………………………………………………………….

She …………….……………………………………………………………………

9-I used to drive a Mercedes but now I drive a Citroën

I……………………………………………………………………………………

I……………………………………………………………………………………

10-If you do not put some sun scream, you will get sunburns

Unless……………………………………………………………………………..

11-If we have enough time, we will visit Saliou

Should…………………………………………………………………………..

12-I am going to an interview; you ought to iron my shirt.

I…………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

EXERCISE 2: rewrite by using words between brackets

1-She can’t swim, she has never learnt (know)

……………………………………………………………………………………..

2-I’m so worried! I am sure they have missed the train (must)

………………………………………………………………………………………

3-Don’t try and phone him, his train is out of order (it’s no use)

………………………………………………………………………………………

4-If he doesn’t work harder; he will lose his job (unless)

………………………………………………………………………………………

5-His mother hopes he will be a pianist (would like)

……………………………………………………………………………………..

6-As soon as he went to sleep he started to snore (no sooner)

………………………………………………………………………………………..

7-Elizabeth’s husband smokes in bed. She doesn’t like that (disapprove)

……………………………………………………………………………………..

8-I am certain she didn’t throw that book away; she keeps everything (can’t)

………………………………………………………………………………………

9-When I saw her for the first time, I immediately remembered her mother when she was her age (remind)

………………………………………………………………………………………

 

EXERCISE 3 :( same exercises as 2)

1-If anta and Abdou have to face the music; no dictation will feel save (have)

……………………………………………………………………………………

2-Dictation may be very powerful but he will pay for his crimes sooner or later (no matter)

……………………………………………………………………………………….

3-No sooner had Gbagbo dismissed Ouatara’s victory than troubles started (hardly)

………………………………………………………………………………………

4-It’s a pity that the developed countries are unwilling to free up more money for basic education in Africa (wish)

…………………………………………………………………………………….

5-They lost the match because they underestimated their opponents

If………………………………………………………………………………….

6-Despite the lengthy talk about debt relief, wealthy countries do little efforts to make it happen

Lengthy……………………………………………………………………………..

7-They regret being unable to make good on their promises

If only………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

EXERCISE 4: rewrite by using the equivalence of the underlined words

The pupil was not bright, yet he succeeded in having good marks

……………………………………………………………………………………..

You can go out on condition that you learn your lesson

……………………………………………………………………………………..

In spite of his illness, he plays in the rain

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Some people like cold weather while on the other hand some others like hot weather

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

You will be late if you do not run

…………………………………………………………………………………………

So far the children have had a good behavior

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Learn your lesson if not, you will have bad marks

………………………………………………………………………………………….

She laughed on purpose to annoy him

…………………………………………………………………………………………

It will probably happen

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

There were about ten of them

………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

REMARKS

Yet=however

On condition that=provided/as long as

In spite of=despite

While on the other hand=whereas

If not=unless

So far=until now/up to now

If not=otherwise

On purpose to=in order to

Probably=might

About=around

 

EXERCISE 5 :( mixed reformulation)

They will never eradicate corruption in this country

……………………………………………………………………………………………

These people have got no time to waste

These………………………………………………………………………………………

“She was elected president in 1996” They said

They said……………………………………………………………………………………

These exercises may be difficult, but they managed to do them by themselves.

Although…………………………………………………………………………………

Though Bombardier is courageous and strong, he can’t beat Yekini

Despite……………………………………………………………………………………

In spite of………………………………………………………………………………….

Courageous……………………………………………………………………………….

It’s hundreds of years since slavery was abolished

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

They don’t want this tragedy to continue (would rather)

……………………………………………………………………………………………

They have never lived such a bad situation

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Laws only are not going to change hearts

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

It would be a good idea if you start saving money

……………………………………………………………………………………………….