Parafraza/6

To the best of my knowledge, the building was set on fire deliberately.

As far as I know, the building was set on fire deliberately. (To the best)

Is it possible for Mr Bailey to deliver the letters by tomorrow?

Can Mr Bailey deliver the letters by tomorrow? (Is it)

Isn't there any other way of solving the conflict than by force?

Can the conflict be only solved by force? (Isn't there)

After his uncle's death, Lou came into/came in for the house and the garden

After his uncle's death, Lou inherited the house and the garden. (into)*

It is common knowledge that the newspaper is published by the right-wing party.

Everybody is aware that the newspaper is published by the right-wing party. (It is common)

All but one clerk were honoured by the boss.

Everybody was honoured by the boss with the exception of one clerk. (All but)

He did not take kindly to anybody else's demands.

He wasn't very willing to accept anybody else's demands. (take kindly)

He has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

He will have to spend seven years in prison. (sentenced)

Are you in possession of William Wharton's latest book?

Have you got William Wharton's latest book? (possession)

After we (had) replaced the flat tyre with a new one, we went on driving to the countryside.

Having replaced the flat tyre with a new one, we went on driving to the countryside. (After we)

Rather than waste my time at the mathematics department I preferred to take a course in psychology.

I preferred to take a course in psychology instead of wasting my time at the mathematics department. (Rather than)

I reported him to the police on the assumption that he was guilty of theft.

I reported him to the police because I assumed he was guilty of theft. (assumption)

It suddenly dawned on me (that) I had strayed from the main route.

I suddenly realized I had strayed from the main route. (dawned)

I think those tools may come in handy.

I think those tools may prove useful. (come)

Try as I might, I failed to solve the puzzle.

I tried really hard but I failed to solve the puzzle. (Try as)

Is there no alternative to our working night shifts?

Do we have to work only night shifts all the time? (Is there no alternative)

I'll have to get round to tidying up the garden shed next week.

I'll have to find some time to tidy up the garden shed next week. (get round to)

John has committed himself to looking after the baby tomorrow.

John has taken it upon himself to look after the baby tomorrow. (committed)

Being too shy, Julia won't speak to the boy first.

Julia won't speak to the boy first as she is too shy. (Being)

It was three years ago that/when Michael painted his last picture.

Michael painted his last picture three years ago. (It was)*

Not wanting to wake us up, mother left the room rather quickly.

Mother left the room rather quickly because she didn't want to wake us up. (Not)

It is possible/probable/likely that Muriel forgot/has forgotten about the evening classes.

Muriel may have forgotten about the evening classes. (It is)*

She doesn't earn (much) enough to afford to buy expensive cosmetics.

She earns too little to afford to buy expensive cosmetics. (She doesn't)

Even though she was warned firmly not to use the faulty oven, she kept doing so.

She was warned firmly not to use the faulty oven, but she still kept doing so. (Even)

If you happen to come across the missing files, let me know at once, please.

Should you come across the missing files, let me know at once, please. (happen)*

Is it advisable for you to practice the piano so often?

Should you practice the piano so often? (advisable)

Since their father's death, they have been in dire straits.

Since their father's death, they have had serious financial problems. (straits)

Susan prides herself on her sports achievements.

Susan is very proud of her sports achievements. (Susan prides)

The statement boils down to making the public aware of the present situation.

The direct aim of the statement is to make the public aware of the present situation. (The statement boils)

The farmers need financial backing badly.

The farmers are in a desperate need of financial backing. (badly)

The flight attendant asked me to refrain from smoking.

The flight attendant asked me to put down the cigarette. (refrain)

The minister claims that another rise in food prices is on the cards.

The minister claims that another rise in food prices is possible. (cards)

The concert was poorly attended.

There was poor attendance at the concert. (attended)

They say about half of the staff will be given the sack.

They say about half of the staff will be made redundant. (sack)

This case bears resemblance to the one we investigated last year.

This case is similar to the one we investigated last year. (bears)

She was nowhere to be found.

We couldn't find her anywhere. (She was)

We are indebted to all those who gave us their support.

We have a debt of gratitude to pay to all those who gave us their support. (indebted)

At no time did we lose hope that our missing son would return some day.

We never lost hope that the our missing son would return some day. (At no time)

We all had confidence that Tom would succeed in passing his final exams.

We were all convinced Tom would succeed in passing his final exams. (confidence)

We were all taken aback by the rude response that the boy gave to his loving mother.

We were all shocked by the rude response that the boy gave to his loving mother. (aback)

What surprised us was the fact that no support was offered to the survivors.

We were surprised by the fact that no support was offered to the survivors. (What)

What right have you got to order me about?

What right have you got to give me orders? (about)

Where is the annual meeting taking place?

Where is the annual meeting being organized? (place)

William and Simon don't get on with each other.

William and Simon don't like each other. (get)

There's no denying (that) the old town square is imposing.

You cannot deny the old town square is imposing. (There's no)

You are bound to have serious problems if you don't have any health insurance.

You may have serious problems if you don't have any health insurance. (bound)

Immediately you reach the nearest town, you should ask for some medical support.

You should ask for some medical support as soon as you reach the nearest town. (Immediately)

You should (always) conform to the safety regulations.

You should never disobey the safety regulations. (conform)

Under no circumstances should you forget about your grandmother's birthday.

You shouldn't forget about your grandmother's birthday in any circumstances. (Under no)

For fear of getting soaked Alfred put on his raincoat.

Alfred put on his raincoat because he didn't want to get soaked. (For fear)

This place is familiar to all the inhabitants of the island.

All the inhabitants of the island know this place very well. (familiar)

Try as I might, I couldn't convince Debbie to deliver a speech.

Although I tried very hard, I couldn't convince Debbie to deliver a speech. (Try)

Carol : 1) has an obligation to do the washing up at home. 2) is under an obligation to do the washing up at home.

Carol is obliged to do the washing up at home. (an obligation)**

Did Celia have an intention to invite /of inviting her landlord to dinner?

Did Celia intend to invite her landlord to dinner? (an intention)*

Did she make good use of her spare time?

Did she use her spare time in a good way? (make)

She played/was played second fiddle in the plot.

Her role in the plot was of secondary importance. (second fiddle)*

His mother claims that he is susceptible to flu.

His mother claims that he can easily be infected with flu. (susceptible)

Hardly had I touched the handle when the burglar alarm went off.

I just touched the handle and the burglar alarm went off. (Hardly)

When did they begin/start listening to this loud music?

How long have they been listening to this loud music? (When)*

What/How big is his monthly income?

How much money does he make a month? (income)*

There is nothing/not anything more I can do to make you feel comfortable.

I cannot do anything more to make you feel comfortable. (There)*

I couldn't make head or tail of what he said.

I couldn't understand a word of what he said. (tail)

Not for a single moment did I think of giving up going on the expedition.

I didn't think of giving up going on the expedition for a single moment. (Not for a single moment)

I scarcely understood/I understood scarcely anything of what the man said to me.

I didn't understand much of what the man said to me. (scarcely)*

I do not go along with the conclusions you have put forward.

I don't agree with the conclusions you have put forward. (along with)

I haven't the faintest idea how much of that syrup she ought to be given.

I don't know how much of that syrup she ought to be given. (faintest idea)

It couldn't have been Barney who broke the mirror as he was outside all the time.

I'm sure it wasn't Barney who broke the mirror as he was outside all the time. (It couldn't)

If I were you, I would dispose of the files.

If I were you, I would throw the files away. (dispose)

Weather permitting, we may go camping at the weekend.

If the weather is fine, we may go camping at the weekend. (permitting)

You should get/You had better get/Get down to work otherwise you won't be able to pass the entrance exam.

If you don't get down to work, you won't be able to pass the entrances exam. (otherwise)*

If you hope to be a good driver, you must abide by the traffic regulations.

If you hope to be a good driver, you mustn't break the traffic regulations. (abide)

It is up to her whether the costs are to be reimbursed or not.

It depends on her whether the costs are to be reimbursed or not. (up)

However much you offer to pay, he'll never sell the family memorabilia.

It doesn't matter how much you offer to pay, he'll never sell the family memorabilia. (However)

In all probability, they have had problems with their car.

It is more than probable that they have had problems with their car. (In all)

Unbelievable as/though it seems, he has learned that long poem by heart.

It seems unbelievable, but he's learned that long poem by heart. (Unbelievable)*

I wished somebody had voted in favour of our party.

It was a pity nobody voted in favour of our party. (I wished)

It's nearly impossible to reach the peak of the mountain on foot.

It's hardly possible to reach the peak of the mountain on foot. (It's nearly)

It is of no/little concern to us what they do after lessons.

It's not our concern what they do after lessons. (It is of)*

They might not have been notified of the changes in the timetable.

It's possible that they haven't been notified of the changes in the timetable. (They might)

Lisa does not interest Jack so much as her parents' big fortune.

Jack isn't so much interested in Lisa as in her parents' big fortune. (Lisa)

The lift of many wild animals is in peril.

Many wild animals are in danger of extinction. (The lift)

The CD player was repaired at Mark's expense.

Mark had to pay for repairing the CD player. (expense)

I owe my precious life to the lifeguard.

My precious life was saved by the lifeguard. (I owe)

Nigel takes my problems for granted.

Nigel doesn't pay much attention to my problems. (granted)

No such idea has ever crossed my mind before.

No such idea has ever occurred to me before. (crossed)

There were no/not any fatalities in the accident.

Nobody died in the accident. (no fatalities)*

One of the patients was short of breath.

One of the patients couldn't breathe properly. (short)

We are running/getting low on our supplies of firewood.

Our supplies of firewood will soon be finished. (low)*

No sooner had we departed than Tommy came down with a cold.

Right after our departure Tommy came down with a cold. (No sooner)

No matter how strongly Robert warned his wife, she refused to listen to his advice.

Robert warned his wife pretty strongly, yet she refused to listen to his advice. (No matter)

Sally has a strong distrust of modern technology.

Sally distrusts modern technology strongly.(Sally has)

The Wrights : 1) don't have much money to make ends meet. 2) can hardly make ends meet.

The Wrights don't have much money to live in comfort. (ends meet)**

Provided (that) there are no objections from the public, the ballot will be carried out.

The ballot will be carried out on condition that there are no objections from the public. (Provided)

It wasn't until after the governor's death that the whole truth came out.

The whole truth didn't come out until after the governor's death. (It wasn't)

The possibility of any further storms can't be ruled out.

The possibility of any further storms can't be excluded. (out)

To tell you the truth, I bought these shoes for a song.

To tell you the truth, I bought these shoes on the cheap. (song)

Who was (sitting) behind/at the wheel when the collision occurred?

Who was driving the car when the collision occurred? (the wheel)*

What was the reason for Mary's resignation?

Why did Mary resign? (the reason)

How about having a good time in the casino this night?

Why don't we have a good time in the casino this night? (How)

Your leaving the house at night is out of the question.

You are forbidden from leaving the house at night. (Your)