Several ways in paraphrasing for third year english majors at hanoi open university

HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGLISH

CODE:

17

---------------

GRADUATION THESIS
B.A DEGREE IN ENGLISH STUDIES

SEVERAL WAYS IN PARAPHRASING FOR
THIRD YEAR ENGLISH MAJORS
AT HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY

Supervisor

: PHẠM THỊ MINH PHƯƠNG

Student

: PHẠM HƯƠNG TRANG

Date of birth

: 23/05/1993

Course

: K18A2 (2011 – 2015)

HANOI, 2015


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

Acknowledgements

Having completed this graduation paper, first of all I am very to
acknowledgement to my supervisor Ms. Pham Thi Minh Phuong for her
enormously helpful guidance and support. Without her help, my thesis would
have been impossible.

In my particular, I express my thanks to Prof. Le Van Thanh , Rector of
Hanoi Open University and Dr. Ho Ngoc Trung, Dean of English Faculty, Dr.
Dang Ngoc Huong and Ms. Tran Le Dung (M.A) of English for their support
and encouragement.

My since thanks also go to all the teachers of English Faculty of for
their lectures and introduction which are very helpful and useful in my
research.

I also debt to my close friend of Group K18A2 for their ideas and help
me to finish this graduation paper.

Last but not least, I would like to give my thanks to my family members
for their help and support.
Hanoi, 4 May 2015

Student

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

Supervisor

1


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................ 1
PART A: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 4
1. Rationale ................................................................................................. 4
2. Scope of the study. .................................................................................. 5
3. Aims of the study .................................................................................... 5
4. Methodology ........................................................................................... 6
5. The design of the study ........................................................................... 6
PART B: DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................... 8
Chapter I LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................... 8
1.0 .Introduction.......................................................................................... 8
1.1.Definition of paraphrasing..................................................................... 8
1.2. The importance of paraphrasing ......................................................... 11
1.3. Summary............................................................................................ 13
CHAPTER II : PARAPHRAING SENTENCES AND PARAPHRAING
PARAGRAPHS ........................................................................................... 15
* PARAPHRASING SENTENCES ............................................................. 15

2.0. Introduction. ....................................................................................... 15
2.1.1 Some ways in paraphrasing sentences. ............................................. 15
2.1.1.1 Using different word order. ........................................................ 15
2.1.1.2. Using different voice of speech. ................................................ 16
2.1.1.3. Using different ways of speech ................................................. 22
2.1.1.4. Using different parts of speech. ................................................. 24
2.1.1.5. Using different verb pattern or synonyms. ................................ 26
2.1.1.6. Using different styles of speech ................................................ 29
2.1.1.7. Using different kinds of sentences............................................. 31
2.1.1.8. Using inferential/implied meaning ............................................ 32

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

2


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

2.1.2. Summary ......................................................................................... 33
*

PARAPHRASING A PARAGRAPH ..................................................... 34
2.2.0 Introduction. ..................................................................................... 34
2.2.1 Some steps in paraphrasing a paragraph ........................................... 35
2.1.1.1 Looking up the meaning of unfamiliar words............................. 35
2.2.1.2. The writers make ensure that they understand every part the
author wants to make in the paragraph ................................................... 39
2.2.1.3 Looking up the key words of the story such as names of the

people, ideas and event etc .................................................................... 43
2.2.1.4 Using one of the strategies to find your own words to rephrase
the paragraph ......................................................................................... 46
2.2.2 Summary ....................................................................................... 50

CHAPTER III: SOME USEFUL WAYS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING
PARAGRAPH. ............................................................................................ 51
3.1. Some ways in teaching paraphrasing ................................................. 51
3.2 Some ways in studying paraphrasing............................................... 58
PART C : CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 64
Appendix ...................................................................................................... 66
References .................................................................................................... 68

Part a
Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

3


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

INTRODUCTION

1. Rationale
Nowadays, English has become an international language and it is spoken
by most of the people throughout the world. It is widely used in all fields of
society such as : diplomacy, science. Technology and foreign trade and so on.
The purpose of language open usage is to communicate ideas among

people. People always do things for some purposes. Communication purpose
is also one of the main reasons why people learn foreign language in general
and English in particular.
In Vietnam, together with the open door policy, to fill the duty of
industrialization and modernization, learning English is the important and
necessary thing. It becomes the compulsory subject for pupils in most
secondary and high schools. In addition, it is more important for those who
want to find a good job. Therefore, many Vietnamese learners have chosen to
learn English more and more.
However, both learners and teachers of English have to deal with many
practices English skills such as listening, speaking, reading and especially
writing. Writing is considered the most difficult skill because it has wideranging implications for the way we think and learn as well as for our
chances of success, our personal development, and our relationship with other
people. From different kinds of writing, we learn how to of developing out
thoughts: how to reflect critically on our own behavior in autobiography ;
how to distinguish facts from opinion in concept explanations, further writing
helps us to learn effectively and think certifiably. However , writing is one of

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

4


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

the most difficult skills as the writers have to choose the words, structures,
sentences and punctuations.
In academic writing, sometimes the writers want to borrow somebody

else’s ideas to support their writing without copying her or his exact words.
The writer can use many ways to do this such as: quotation, summary and
paraphrase. However, paraphrase is better than others because we can rewrite
preciously published information in different words without changing its
original meaning. That is the reason why the writer choose this topic for my
graduation paper.
The thesis hopes that the small work on this field would be useful for
English learners, especially third year students English majors at HOU

2. Scope of the study.
In this thesis, because of the

time limit and knowledge relating

paraphrasing ; therefore, this thesis will concentrate on some ways in
paraphrasing for third year students.
This thesis decide to devote one chapter for literature review about the
paraphrase’s theories ( the definition, the importance). Other chapters are
intended the good methods in paraphrasing sentences and some steps in
paraphrasing paragraph.

3. Aims of the study
This study mentions the ways so as to help learners in general and third
year students in particular at HOU to improve their paraphrasing skills.
The study is concerned about:

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

5

Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

• The theories those are relevant with the paraphrasing
• The definition of sentence
• The definition of paragraph
• Some ways in paraphrasing sentences
• Some steps in paraphrasing paragraph

4. Methodology
For achieving the aims states, this thesis has carried out these following
methods:
• Discussing with my supervisor, teachers and friends who are
learning English
• Getting information from many foreign books
• Consulting supervisor and other teachers
• Collecting the paragraphs which are written by students of HOU
to find out the good ways to paraphrase

5. The design of the study
The thesis is divided into 3 parts:
• Part A: the INTRODUCTION : outline the Rationale, Scope.
Aims, Methodology and Design of the study.
• Part B : the DEVELOPMENT is divided into 3 chapters:
• Chapter I : Literature Review supplies a brief review of
paraphrase’s theories
• Chapter II : Some ways in paraphrasing sentences
• Chapter III : Some steps in paraphrasing paragraph

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

6


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

• Part C : The CONCLUSION with the summary of the main
points discussed in the previous parts.
In this paper, due to the time limit and knowledge of the
author, inevitable shortcoming are not avoidable, and the writer
would like to express my thanks to my teacher, learners and
friends for their comments and suggestions.

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

7


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

PART B : DEVELOPMENT
Chapter I
LITERATURE REVIEW
1.0 .Introduction

This chapter brings the comprehensive view about paraphrasing helping
the writers raise knowledge, improve writing skill with many different ways.

1.1.Definition of paraphrasing
Defining the word “paraphrase” is not an easy task although paraphrase
has been mentioned in a lot of books written by famous linguistics. There are
different definitions of paraphrase. When the writers want to borrow another
writer’s ideas to support their argument by using their own words, they cannot
avoid paraphrasing. Through paraphrasing the writer can express the same
ideas in different ways without having any changes. Therefore, this chapter
would like to introduce some definitions of paraphrase written by famous
writers.
According to Oshima & Hogue in Writing Academic English (p.133):
“paraphrase is a writing skill in which the learners “paraphrase” (rewrite)
previously published information in different words without changing its
original meaning”. Normally, the writers paraphrase only short selections
such as sentences, a series of sentences, or a short paragraph. When we write

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

8


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

a paraphrase, he/she state the author’s thought in his/her own words. A
paraphrase is usually as long as the original text in order to communicate its
full meaning.

In the St. Martin’s Guide to Writing (p.452), Charles R. Cooper defined
that “Paraphrasing is restating something the writers have read using your
own words”. As a critical reading strategy, paraphrasing can help to clarify
the meaning of an obscure or ambiguous passage. It is one of the three ways
of integrating other people’s ideas and information into our own writing along
with quoting (reproducing exactly the language of the source text, and
summarizing (distilling the main ideas of gist of the resource text) the writer
might choose to paraphrase rather than quote when resource\s the language is
not especially corseting or memorable. The writers might paraphrase short
passages but summarized longer ones.
Another view about paraphrasing written by DeliJaJ. Valiukennas in
Writing with Authority – A guide to Research Process (p.109) is that: “ when
you want to take quote material from notes and put it into his/her own words,
the writers are said to be paraphrasing.”
James A.W. Hefferman is Writing a College Handbook (p.245) defined
as follow: “paraphrasing is restating a short passage in your own words.”
Besides, demonstrating the writer’s understanding of what he/she read,
paraphrasing enables we to discuss text without quoting every words from
them and thus to avoid interrupting our essay without long quotations. If the
writers plan to analyze a particular passage in detail, we should quote it in
full. But if the writers simply want to convey essential point of the passage,
they can paraphrase all or part of it.

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

9


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for

third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

Those are the definition of paraphrasing written by famous linguistics but
there is a simple definition about paraphrase which the third year English
majors at Ha Noi Open University should know about it. That is written by
Mr. Huong, Dang Ngoc in Essentials of Writing (p.38). Mr. Huong defined
paraphrasing as follow: Paraphrasing is a writing skill you should develop
when the writers want to borrow somebody else’s ideas to support his/her
writing without copying his or her exact words (plagiarism). A paraphrase is,
therefore, usually as long as the original text in order to communicate its full
meaning.
According the Brenda Spatt, Writing From Sources, 8th ed. Bedford/St.
Martin's, 2011 she said "you retain everything about the original writing but
the words” Paraphrasing helps your readers to gain a detailed understanding
of your sources, and, indirectly, to accept your thesis as valid. There are two
major reasons for using paraphrase in your essays. The first, using paraphrase
to present information or evidence whenever there is no special reason for
using a direct quotation. Another, using paraphrase to give your readers an
accurate and comprehensive account of ideas taken from a source--ideas that
you intend to explain, interpret, or disagree with in your essay.
"When you take notes for an essay based on one or more sources, you should
mostly paraphrase. Quote only when recording phrases or sentences that
clearly merit quotation. All quotable phrases and sentences should be
transcribed accurately in your notes, with quotation marks separating the
paraphrase from the quotation” Brenda Spatt. (p469)
The writers also know what “paraphrasing” means expressing the same
ideas, just in a different way. It can be useful skill to have, especially if they
are trying to write an essay pr article. Of course, they always want to give

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

10


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

credit they use someone’s ideas, but paraphrasing gives them a chance to say
it in his/her words instead of using a direct quotation. By stating it his/her
way, the information may fit better into what they are writing allowing their
writing ro flow more easily from one ideas to the next.
The writers should be awareness of the differences between paraphrasing
and summarizing. Paraphrasing may sound suspiciously like summarizing,
but they are actually two different methods of a rewriting a text. In both
methods, the writers are putting the text in their own words, though
summarizing sometimes uses some example to illustrate this statement:
“ The fox talked its prey in the moonlight, it’s large ears and bright eyes on
high alert for the rabbit’s next move”. (original)
“ The rabbit stayed still in the light of the moon while the fox surveyed the
land using its spectacular hearing and night vision”. ( paraphrasing sentence)
“ Foxes hunt rabbits at night using their ears and eyes.” (summarization)
All in all, there are many different definitions of paraphrasing which were
written by many famous writers. All the writers expressed their point of views
about paraphrase in different ways. But all of them have the same point of
views about paraphrase that is using your own words and different structure to
paraphrase sentences or paragraphs without changing its original meaning.
And the paraphrase aims to clarify and simple the original.

1.2. The importance of paraphrasing

When the writers have finished the definitions of paraphrase written by
famous linguistics, it is unreliable that paraphrase has played an important
role in our life. Because of the purposes of the communication, sometimes the

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

11


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

writers want to borrow someone’s else ideas to support their writing without
copying his or her exact words. A paraphrase is therefore, a good way to
express their ideas in different ways but there are no changes in meaning .
Famous writers have given the advantages of using paraphrase such as : using
the writer’s own words, keeping full meaning , enabling the writers to discuss
text without quoting every word of them and thus avoid interrupting our essay
without long quotations. Writing a paraphrase brings together a number of
important reading, studying and in writing skills. Therefore, nowadays
paraphrase is commonly used in written or spoken in English.
In other words, the ability of paraphrasing is a valuable skill for any
writers. Paraphrasing helps in reducing the use of direct quotes, as they
merely reflect the knowledge of the original writer rather than his/her own
understanding. One of the biggest advantages associated with paraphrasing it
is reduces/ eliminates plagiarism if it is properly done. Plagiarism is copying
someone else’s work without providing proper references. In paraphrasing, a
writer has to choose different sentence structure and use of words before
writing it down. It also reflects the importance of paraphrasing that a writer

needs to have a good understanding of the words, their synonyms and
antonyms too.
The ability of paraphrasing is an important skill. Even though changing
the words of the original text does not necessarily mean that the person has to
change each and every word of the sentence, but it is a convention that a
person does not use more than three words from a single row. This rule
ensures that a writer will use his/ her set of words without completely
changing the idea behind the original passage.

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

12


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

In fact, many students is the chance of plagiarism increase if a student
copies and pastes whole sentences and paragraphs without paraphrasing them
and sometimes even without any reference. Paraphrasing skills help students
to understand and rewrite the idea in their own words while providing proper
references to ensure that it is not their ideas.
Paraphrasing helps in fulfilling the ethical responsibility of a writer as
well. It is the responsibility of students not to cheat in any sense. Whether it is
cheating in the exams or cheating from someone else’s paper without
referencing and re – wording his ideas. Another advantage associated with
paraphrasing is it gives a sense of fulfillment of the ethical responsibility as a
student.
The writers easily find the differences between paraphrasing or quoting.

Paraphrasing is considered better than quoting information as quoting the
information from any source merely presents the idea of the original writer.
Paraphrasing can reflect the understanding of a person paraphrasing and can
also help him understand what is written.

1.3. Summary
This chapter has given an over view of theories related in paragraph.
Through these theories, the writers can also understand the information of
sentence, paragraph and the importance of paraphrase.
This chapter cannot cover all the information of paraphrase. However it
will help learners, especially the third year English majors at HOU to
understand more about paraphrasing.

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

13


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

14


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

CHAPTER II : PARAPHRAING SENTENCES
AND
PARAPHRAING PARAGRAPHs

• PARAPHRASING SENTENCES
2.0. Introduction.
In daily life we usually borrow someone else’s ideas to support our
thoughts. We use our own words to express the same ideas. However, we
when we usually make mistakes in using structures, choosing words and
styles when we rewrite the author’s ideas in other ways. Therefore, we are
confused at the ways to deal with paraphrasing sentences without changing
the meaning of the author. In scientific report, the writer would like to
introduce several ways in paraphrasing sentences so that this helps the
learners , especially the third year English majors at Hanoi Open University
know how to paraphrase sentences in rewriting sentences. Not all learners of
English can change a sentence into another sentence by different grammatical
structures without changing its meaning, There are 8 ways in paraphrasing
sentences this scientific report would like introduce.

2.1.1 Some ways in paraphrasing
sentences.
2.1.1.1 Using different word order.
In written English, many learners think that they cannot change the order
of words in sentences , but it is a mistake. However changing the word order
is a good way in paraphrasing sentences. With the same quality of words, the

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

15

Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

writers can change one sentence into another without changing the meaning
of the original sentence by using different word order, For example:
After rewriting the original sentence by changing the order of words, two
sentences by changing the order of words, two sentences “ Summer comes
after Spring” or “ after Spring, Summer comes” has the same meaning that is
“ Mùa Xuân đi qua, mùa Hạ lại tới”. All in all, using different word order of a
good way to paraphrase sentences. The writers can use this way when they
want to borrow the author’s idea to support out idea without having any
changes.

2.1.1.2. Using different voice of
speech.
In modern English, voice is one interesting topic, which makes a lot of
concern from well-known grammarians, teachers and learners. According to
Godon E.M in Grammar of Present-day English (1974,p66) voice is defined
as follow: “Voice is the form of verb, which serves to show whether the
subject of the sentence is the agent of the subject of action expressed by the
predicate verb, There are two voices in English- The Active voice an the
Passive voice.”
As far as we know, voice consists of two areas, the active and the
passive. The writer can use different voice to review an action in two ways
(active or passive) without changing the meaning.
Before using different voice to support their thought based on the
author’s idea, the writers should know the function of active and passive

voice. The passive voice show that a person or a thing denoted by the subject

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

16


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

of the sentence is not the agent (the doer) of the action expressed by the
predicate verb. It is the object of the action. The subject of passive verb does
not act but it is undergone as an action, and the active voice shows that the
subject performs or its is responsible for the action of the verb.
The positive degree of adjective denotes the simple quality of one person.
The following sentences are good examples:
Another name for fruit shop is a green grocer. (Original)
Green grocer’s name is a fruit shop. (Paraphrase)
In this sentence, with the same quality of words, the write can make a
new sentence without changing of the original sentence. Therefore, the
readers can understand the content of the author’s idea after reading new
sentence. Another example:
The strain will not run tomorrow because of the strike. (Original)
Because of the strike, the train will not run tomorrow. (Paraphrase)
In the above example, the writer has changed the position of words to
emphasize the reason why the train will not run tomorrow. This makes the
meaning of sentence more important. The writer has paraphrased the original
sentence into another sentence by using different word order but the readers
can understand what the author wants to express.

The more different word order the writer use, the more various sentences
the writer has.
The subject must agree with the verb in number. (Original)
The verb must agree with the subject in number. (Paraphrase)

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

17


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

This example is a good evidence of using different word order without
changing the original meaning. The position of the words has changed. In this
example, the sentence “ the subject must agree with the verb in number” or “
the verb in number must agree with the subject” has the same meaning so the
reader can understand its full meaning.
What’s more, when using different word order, its meaning stays the
same when the writer translate it into Vietnamese. For example:
Summer comes after spring. (Original)
After spring, summer comes. (Paraphrasing)
After rewriting the original sentence by changing the order of words, two
sentences “ Summer comes after Spring” or “ After Spring, Summer comes”
the same meaning that is “Mùa Xuân đi qua, mùa hẹ lại tới”. All in all, using
different word order is a good way to paraphrase sentences. We can use this
way when we want to borrow the author’s idea to support out idea without
having any chances. I also hope that learners can use this way in paraphrasing
sentences usefully.

Changing the word order of a phrase or sentence is usually safer than
using synonyms because the words are the same, so the meaning must be the
same. However, its is not always easy to decide which words to move which
position the words should be moved. Also, when the writers move the word,
the writers might need to change some other words, add some other words or
cut some other words to ensure that the new sentence is grammatically
correct. Here are two suggestions for how to change the word order without
making errors:

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

18


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

- If the original sentence has two or more clauses, change the order of the
clauses
“ If they have some help, most people can paraphrase effectively.
However, practice is important because paraphrasing is difficult.”
(Original)
“ Most people can paraphrase effectively, if they have some help.
Paraphrasing is difficult, so practice is important.” (paraphrase)

- If the original sentence has an adjective and noun, change the adjective
into a relative clause.
“ Writing essays can be a challenging task”. (Original)
“ Writing essays can be a task which is challenging”. (Paraphrase)

This part mentions that using different voice is another way in
paraphrasing. From active voice, the writers can change into passive
voice, but it is still kept the meaning of the original sentence. The
following sentences are good examples:
The positive degree of the adjective denotes the simple quality of
one person, place or thing. (Active)
The simple quality of one person, place or thing is denoted by the
positive degree of the adjective. (Passive)
The action of the sentence has been presented in two ways (passive or
active structure) without having different meaning of the fact reported.
The first sentence is the passive voice, the focus on “ the positive
degree of the adjective” which performs the action “ denotes the simple

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

19


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

quality of one person, place or thing” receives the action “ denoted”.
This explanation that what important information is performed be made
the subject of the sentence.
When the writers want to mention the people or things that perform
the action they refer to use the active voice, for instance:
I often go to Ho Chi Minh city by train
In passive sentences, agent can be omitted if that person
irresponsible for an unpleasant decision, a result of specific person.

He burnt the dinner. (Active)
The dinner was burnt. (Passive) (He can be omitted)
In some cases. Passive sentence express more effectively than active
sentences. For example :
Tom ordered “Let kill Julia” ( Active)
“ Let kill Julia” was ordered by Tommy ( Passive)
The writers not only change from active structures into passive one but
they can change from passive structure into active one. For instance:
Boxes of eggs were sent to the market (Passive)
He sent boxes of eggs to the market. (Active)
In this example, with the same idea “ boxes of eggs were sent to
the market”, the writer can express in two ways with the same meaning.
In the first sentence because of unknowing the doer so they can use

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

20


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

passive voice, but in the second sentence they emphasize the doer does
action; therefore, the writers change from passive into active.
It is quite necessary to choose those constructions in certain
situation so as to achieve our objectives in writng and speaking.
For example:
This tree was planned by my father. (Passive)
My father planted this tree. (Active)

The action of the sentence has been presented in two ways without
having any changes in that fact reported. The first sentence is in the
passive voice. The subject “ the tree” receives the action “ planted”
from “my father”. The second sentence is in the active voice. The focus
is on “my father” who performed the action “ planted the tree”
However, the writer should remember that the passive voice is
used only when necessary sentences need changing into passive
sentences. For example:
I love you. (Active)
In this example, the writers cannot change into passive sentence
“ you are loved by me” because if they use void in this case, the
meaning can be changed into another meaning and two sentences has
different meaning.
In conclusion, if the writers have the same ideas, they can use
different voice ( active or passive) to express those ideas, the original
meaning has no changes. It is a good way in paraphrasing sentences

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

21


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

when they want to borrow anyone else’s ideas to support our ideas
without using the same structures.

2.1.1.3. Using different ways of

speech
According to Mr. James A.W. Hefferman (1990, p43) any statement,
whether spoken or written can be reported directly by quotation of the
actual words or it can be reported indirectly – by paraphrasing those
words. Therefore, this part introduces using different speech in
paraphrasing sentences, another way to rewrite sentences without
changing the meaning of the original sentence.
There are two kinds of speech, which are direct and in direct
speeches. When the writer use directly words of original statement are
memorable or important. Enclose the words in quotation marks, the
writer uses direct speech when the exact words of the original statement
are less important than their content. The writer does not use quotation
marks is direct speech.
The writer can use different speech (direct or indirect) to
paraphrase sentences when he/she wants to borrow somebody’s ideas to
support thoughts without having any changes in meaning. For example:
What time is it? She said. (Direct)
She asked me what time it is. (Indirect)
In the first sentence, the writer use direct speech whenever they
speak. The term “ direct speech” can be used to describe the way to

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

22


Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

represent the spoken words in writing “ she said directly”. But in the
second sentence, the indirect sentence is used because at this time
speaker does not say directly, she asks another person about “ what
time is it? ”so they do not use quotation marks in this sentence. Thus,
with the same question “What time is it?” the writer can express in two
ways by using direct or indirect speech, but he/she can keep the original
sentence.
When the writers change one sentence from direct speech into
indirect one, they must omit the quotation marks and the pronoun is
changed. For example, in the following example the pronoun “I” must
be changed because now the speaker says indirectly and listener reports
the speaker’s word but the meaning has not any changes.
Besides, changing sentences from direct speech into indirect
speech, they can change the sentence from direct into indirect sentence.
He suggested going to the sea. (Indirect)
“ Let go to the sea”” he suggested. (direct)
In the above sentence, the direct sentence has changed into direct
one, but its meaning “ going to the sea” is the same. However, it has
some changes in changing from direct speech such as quotation marks,
pronoun and so on.
When they change from indirect into direct speech, they should keep
in mind the changing of pronoun of verb tense.
He wanted to know where I was born. (Indirect)
“ Where were you born?” (Direct)

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

23

Graduation paper
Several ways in paraphrasing for
third year English Majors in Hanoi Open University

This question about the place where I was born can be presented in two
ways without changing in the fact reported. The first sentence is in the
indirect speech. The second one is in the direct speech, both sentences
are surrounding “ where I was born?”
Only some above examples, the writers can see that they can see
that they can use different ways pf speech to rewrite sentences to
express the same ideas. It , therefore, is another way that they can use
in paraphrasing sentences and the meaning is the same as the original
one.

2.1.1.4. Using different parts of
speech.
Using different parts of speech is another good way in paraphrasing
sentences. It has function keeping the original meaning. According to
Mr. Diane Larsen – Freeman (1993) eight parts of speech ( nouns,
pronouns, verbs, preposition, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions and
interjections.) make up sentences. As we study the various parts of
speech, we should remember that many words can be used as different
parts of speech in different contexts; for example the word “hate” can
be in different ways:
I hate pain.
His expression reveals hate.
The senator received many hate letters.

Ph¹m H-¬ng Trang – K18A2

24