Paraphrasing: What I Mean Is - Functional Language
Practise paraphrasing: what i mean is at B2–C1 level with useful phrase patterns and short situation-based responses. A separate page of suggested answers supports checking and discussion of other appropriate responses.
What’s in the worksheet?
- Useful phrase patterns
- Situation-based response practice
- Space for written responses
- Suggested answers on page 2
Restate a professional point precisely without changing its scope or status.
Worksheet preview
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Page 1 of 2 · A4 printable PDF
Page 2 of 2 · Answer key · A4 printable PDF
A simple way to teach it
Before the lesson
Give learners page 1; use the suggested answers on page 2 after they have written and compared their own responses.
- Identify the key distinctions: timing not cost, two extra people, and a draft not a final decision.
- Write paraphrases using More specifically, To be clear or another suitable phrase.
- Compare versions of one point and check that simplification has not lost an essential limitation.
Support and extension
Provide original meaning/key detail notes. Extend with a plain-language version for a non-specialist listener. Accept faithful alternatives; paraphrasing is not adding new evidence or strengthening a tentative claim.
Suggested approach. Adjust the pace and number of questions to suit your class.
