SAYING THE SAME THING DIFFERENTLY

by Bibi Baxter

• Notes (scroll to next box)

• Exercise 1     Various

• Exercise 2:    I want & I don't want

• Exercise 3:    I don't like ....... 

• English is a very rich language with many ways of saying the same thing.  

• Varied constructions make written work more interesting to read

• Varied constructions can make speeches powerful and persuasive

• Students must be very careful when learning new constructions, because they often end up with a mish mash - a confused combination of two different constructions which is inaccurate and often cannot be understood.

• In order to avoid this confusion, learn each construction very carefully, use it in speech and writing to ensure you know it well, before starting to learn another construction.

• Exercise 1:  Mixed Constructions

• Level:           Advanced

INSTRUCTIONS

• Do not attempt this exercise unless you have a good knowledge of English as it may confuse you.

• Fill the gaps so that you have a sentence with the same meaning as the first sentence.

• Anna does not dance or swim

• Anna ....................... dances ....................... swims

• Anna ....................... dances or swims

• Never ....................... Anna dance or swim

• Jake steals and sets fire to cars

• Not only ..................................................................... cars

• Jake ....................... a tendancy ................................................... cars

• Jake ....................... habit of .............................................. cars

• Jake will ....................... and .............................................. to cars

• I have never seen such a tall man

• Never ..............................................

• In all my life, I .....................................................................

• Never in my life .....................................................................

• Although I have tried everything to open this box, I cannot do so.

• Try as I might, .....................................................................

• No amount of trying ....................... enable .......................this box

• .......................................... and .............................................. in vain

• No matter how much I try, ..............................................

• ....................... my utmost ......................., but to no avail.

The Answer Key

• Exercise 2:  Mixed Constructions to replace WANT & DON'T WANT

• Level:           Advanced

INSTRUCTIONS

• Do not attempt this exercise unless you have a good knowledge of English as it may confuse you.

• Fill the gaps so that you have a sentence with the same meaning as the words in brackets.

NOTE

In many languages the use of WANT & DON'T WANT is considered to be polite;  however, in English, it is not, as it is too direct, thereby sounding harsh and often aggressive.  Initially, intermediate students should therefore be taught to use:  WOULD LIKE/WOULD NOT LIKE whenever they need to say WANT/DO NOT WANT, e.g. 

• I want you to sing to me / I would like you to sing to me

• I don't want to visit the Arctic / I wouldn't like to visit the Arctic

On the other hand, advanced students will be delighted to discover thatfind a range of interesting constructions can be used instead.  This exercise contains a few of them.

Geoffrey:  May I borrow your copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare please?

Peter:  Certainly.    Please.................................................................................................... (1-I want it back)

Geoffrey:  How long can I keep it for?

Peter:  ...............................................grateful ...............................................................by Friday the latest.   (2-I want it back no later than Friday) 

Geoffrey:  Joshua & Julia have separated.

Peter:   Yes, but Joshua................................................... (3-Joshua wants her back)

Geoffrey:  What would you like?  Tea, or coffee?

Peter:   Tea ...................................welcome...............................................  (4-I want tea)

Geoffrey:  The Queen is visiting our town tomorrow.

Peter:  It ............................................................................................ (5-I don't want to see her)

The Answer Key

Geoffrey:    

• Exercise 3:  Mixed Constructions  to replace "I don't like ............."

• Level:          Advanced

• Activity:       Matching  (or Milling & Matching)

• Language:   Advanced constructions

• Functions:    Expressing Dislikes, Declining

INSTRUCTIONS

• Do not attempt this exercise unless you have a good knowledge of English as it may confuse you.

• Match the beginning of the sentences with the correct endings, so that you have a sentence with correct grammar and a similar meaning to the example.

Example:  I don't like alcohol. 

The Answer Key

1. Alcohol doesn't appeal ....

2. Alcohol doesn't much ....

3. I'm not very .... 

4. I prefer ....

5. I would prefer to drink ....

6. I don't ....

7. My taste buds ....

8. Alcohol doesn't agree ....

9. Alcohol seems to be....

10. I find alcohol ....

11. Alcohol seems to.... have....

12. Unfortunately, not everyone ....

13. There is a ....

14. I just cannot....

15. Alcohol tastes....

• ....a bitter taste.

• ....appeal to me.

• ....cannot seem to get to grips with alcohol.

• ....coffee (rather) than alcohol.

• ....coffee to alcohol.

• ....enjoy alcohol.

• ....enjoys alcohol and I'm one of those, I'm afraid.

• ....keen on alcohol.

• ....rather on the strong side.

• ....rather strong to me, so I don't enjoy it.

• ....small minority, who don't enjoy alcohol and I'm one of them.

• ....stomach it;  even the smell puts me off.

• ....to my taste buds.

• ....to upset my stomach/tummy.

• ....with me.

• Anna does not dance or swim

• Anna neither dances nor swims

• Anna never dances or swims

• Never does Anna dance or swim

• Jake steals and sets fire to cars

• Not only does Jake steal, but he also sets fire to cars

• Jake has a tendancy to steal and set fire to cars

• Jake is in the habit of stealing and setting fire to cars

• Jake will steal and set fire to cars

NOTE: RE LAST SENTENCE

• Jake will = It is Jake's habit to (steal and set fire to cars)

• When speaking WILL is emphasised and not contracted

• I have never seen such a tall man

• Never have I seen such a tall man

• In all my life, I have never seen such a tall man

• Never in my life have I seen such a tall man

• Although I have tried everything to open the box, I cannot do so.

• Try as I might, I just cannot open the box.

• No amount of trying will enable me to open this box

• I have tried and tried to open this box in vain

• No matter how much I try, I cannot open this box.

• I have tried my utmost to open this box, but to no avail.

1. Please don't forget to return it. (I want it back)

2. I would be grateful if you would return it by Friday the latest (I want it back by Friday)

3. Joshua is keen for her to return to him. (He wants her back)

4. Tea would be very welcome, thank you. (I want tea)

5. I would rather not see her. (I don't want to see her)

6.  

1. Alcohol doesn't appeal to my taste buds.

2. Alcohol doesn't much appeal to me.

3. I'm not very keen on alcohol.

4. I prefer coffee to alcohol.

5. I would prefer to drink coffee (rather) than alcohol.

6. I don't enjoy alcohol.

7. My taste buds cannot seem to get to grips with alcohol.

8. Alcohol doesn't agree with me.

9. Alcohol seems to upset my stomach/tummy.

10. I find alcohol to be rather on the strong side.

11. Alcohol seems to have a bitter taste.

12. Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys alcohol and I'm one of those, I'm afraid.

13. There is a small minority, who don't enjoy alcohol and I'm one of them.

14. I just cannot stomach it;  even the smell puts me off.

15. Alcohol tastes rather strong to me, so I don't enjoy it.

R-Z

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