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Paraphrase a French sentence: change the shape, keep the meaning

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Practise faithful French paraphrase in an editing dialogue. Move a condition, change a noun into a verb and preserve permission, action and scope.

In short

Change the construction while keeping the actor, action, permission and condition. Move a condition to the front or turn a verb into a noun. Check the force: sont autorisées à grants permission; doivent creates an obligation.

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Two adult visitors with plain folders pause outside a French stone public building whose entrance is closed by a simple unmarked barrier, no signs or writing.
The closed entrance explains si le bâtiment n’est pas accessible. Illustration: Atelier

The sentence you are working from

Les équipes sont autorisées à reporter la visite si le bâtiment n’est pas accessible.

The teams are allowed to postpone the visit if the building is inaccessible.

You are reviewing a paragraph with an editor. Read the exchange, then switch to practice mode and explain your choices from the English cues. The questions focus on meaning, so you can compare your answer with the French line even when your wording differs.

Your lines are hidden in practice mode. Say them aloud, then reveal to compare.
  1. Éditrice

    Avant de reformuler, que faut-il conserver ?

    English

    Before paraphrasing, what needs to be kept?

  2. Vous

    Les équipes, le report de la visite, l’autorisation et la condition d’accès.

    List the actor, action, permission and condition.

    English

    The teams, postponing the visit, permission and the access condition.

  3. Éditrice

    Peut-on commencer par la condition ?

    English

    Can we begin with the condition?

  4. Vous

    Oui : si le bâtiment n’est pas accessible, les équipes sont autorisées à reporter la visite.

    Move the condition to the front and keep the permission explicit.

    English

    Yes: if the building is inaccessible, the teams are allowed to postpone the visit.

  5. Éditrice

    Et si tu remplaces le verbe « reporter » par un nom ?

    English

    And if you replace the verb “postpone” with a noun?

  6. Vous

    En cas d’impossibilité d’accès au bâtiment, les équipes ont l’autorisation de demander le report de la visite.

    Try a version with a noun for postponement; keep track of the action.

    English

    If access to the building is impossible, the teams are allowed to request postponement of the visit.

  7. Éditrice

    Attention : tu as ajouté une demande. Le texte autorise le report lui-même.

    English

    Careful: you have added a request. The text permits the postponement itself.

  8. Vous

    Je corrige : en cas d’impossibilité d’accès au bâtiment, les équipes sont autorisées à procéder au report de la visite.

    Correct the noun version so the permission covers postponing, not asking to postpone.

    English

    I will correct it: if access to the building is impossible, the teams are allowed to postpone the visit.

  9. Éditrice

    La phrase « Les équipes doivent annuler la visite » serait-elle fidèle ?

    English

    Would the sentence “The teams must cancel the visit” be faithful?

  10. Vous

    Elle change deux choses : l’autorisation devient une obligation, et le report devient une annulation.

    Explain both changes in meaning.

    English

    It changes two things: permission becomes an obligation, and postponement becomes cancellation.

  11. Éditrice

    Peut-on garder les mots « équipes » et « visite » ?

    English

    Can we keep the words “teams” and “visit”?

  12. Vous

    Oui. Ces mots désignent les mêmes personnes et la même activité ; je peux les garder en changeant la construction.

    Explain why necessary terms can stay.

    English

    Yes. These words name the same people and the same activity; I can keep them while changing the construction.

  13. Éditrice

    Quelle version choisirais-tu pour ton paragraphe ?

    English

    Which version would you choose for your paragraph?

  14. Vous

    La version verbale, qui est plus directe ici. Je garderais la version nominale si le report devenait le sujet de la phrase suivante.

    Choose a version for this paragraph and explain when the noun version could help.

    English

    The version with a verb, which is more direct here. I would keep the noun version if postponement became the topic of the following sentence.

How do you paraphrase a French sentence?

A faithful change can move the focus
Starting sentenceNew constructionMeaning kept
Seuls les membres peuvent voter.Le vote est réservé aux membres.Only members are eligible to vote.
L’inscription est obligatoire pour participer.Pour participer, il faut s’inscrire.Registration remains required for participation.
Question 1No account needed
Which rewrite keeps the original access condition and permission?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Si le bâtiment est inaccessible, les équipes sont autorisées à reporter la visite.. The second option keeps the teams, postponement, permission and the same condition. The others change the action, force or scope.

Question 2No account needed
What does Seuls les membres peuvent voter establish?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Voting is restricted to members.. Seuls restricts who may vote. It gives eligibility, while actual participation remains a separate question.

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