Lesson 10 of 125 min read
Paraphrase Without Changing Meaning
A paraphrase is another accurate expression of the same idea. Changing every word is unnecessary and can turn a careful statement into a different claim.
Understand the pattern
Start by identifying the facts: who or what, the action, the time and any qualification. In Some commuters may benefit from the new route, some limits the group and may limits certainty. A paraphrase that says The route benefits everyone loses both qualifications even though it sounds fluent.
Use more than synonyms. You can change a verb to a noun, change clause order or use an active rather than passive structure. Rising costs delayed the project can become The project was delayed because costs rose. The causal relationship stays explicit; changing it to Costs rose after the project was delayed would reverse the logic.
Retain technical or precise terms when necessary. If the passage names carbon dioxide, a vague replacement such as gas may lose an important distinction. Likewise, familiar words can be the most accurate choice. After drafting, compare your version with the source for omissions and extra claims before judging its elegance.
Language in context
| Word or pattern | Meaning or use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| increase / a rise | A possible verb-to-noun change | Costs increased. There was a rise in costs. |
| because / due to | Different grammatical complements | The event stopped because it rained / due to rain. |
| may / might | Retain uncertainty where appropriate | The change may help. It might be beneficial. |
| some / all | Different scope, not synonyms | Some residents complained, not necessarily all residents. |
Worked example
Reason through the choice
Paraphrase: The survey suggests that some students prefer shorter lectures.
Answer: According to the survey, shorter lectures may appeal to a proportion of students.
The new version keeps the source, limited group and cautious claim. It does not say the survey proves that every student learns more in short lectures; learning outcomes were not mentioned.
Try it yourself
Write your answers before opening the key. For open responses, the suggested answer is one possible version; keep the meaning and check the target pattern.
- Rewrite The project was delayed because materials arrived late using due to.
- Find the added claim: Original: The bus is cheaper. Paraphrase: The bus is cheaper and faster.
- Paraphrase Many customers could benefit from longer opening hours without making it certain.
Check answers and explanations
1. The project was delayed due to the late arrival of materials. Due to introduces a noun phrase here; the cause stays unchanged.
2. And faster. Nothing in the original supports the statement about speed.
3. Extended opening hours might help many customers. Might preserves uncertainty, and many retains the original scope.
Use it in your PTE preparation
PTE Academic
Before writing a summary, separate the main claim from examples and qualifications. Restate the main relationship, retain necessary terminology and keep the author's certainty. A short accurate sentence is preferable to an ambitious paraphrase with new information.
PTE Core
When explaining a message to someone else, preserve actions, dates and conditions. If a refund is available only with a receipt, a paraphrase that omits that condition may mislead the listener even if the vocabulary is correct.
Recall and transfer
Write a sentence containing may, some and because. Paraphrase it without looking, then underline where each qualification and relationship appears in the new version. If one disappeared, revise the meaning before changing any more words.