rephrase

[Teia]

Hi

How can I rephrase the following sentence? I have to start the new sentence with the determinative "the"

What makes me furious is people telling lies.
The.......

Shall I rephrase:

The most annoying / upsetting thing is people telling lies or
The most annoying is when people tell lies.

The above sentences sound rather strange. I can`t think of a better rephrasing at the moment, that`s why I need your help.

Thank you very much.

[BobK]

...
The most annoying / upsetting thing is people telling lies
or
The most annoying is when people tell lies.

The above sentences sound rather strange. I can`t think of a better rephrasing at the moment, that`s why I need your help.

Thank you very much.

The 2nd one does indeed sound rather strange, but not the 1st.

You can also use this sort of 'the' with to + infinitive:

The important thing is to keep your temper.

b

[Teia]

The 2nd one does indeed sound rather strange, but not the 1st.

You can also use this sort of 'the' with to + infinitive:

The important thing is to keep your temper.

b

Hi BobK

Can I rephrase : The people who tell lies make me furious. {?}
This last rephrasing came into my mind after having taken a short rest.

A short comment : this sentence is on the huge list of rephrasing and other types of subjects required by the Bacalaureat exam in May, this year in my country. Some of them are quite odd even to me.

Thank you very much for your help.

[BobK]

Hi BobK

Can I rephrase : The people who tell lies make me furious. {?}
This last rephrasing came into my mind after having taken a short rest.

...

That sentence is grammatically fine, but an examiner might think that it wasn't an accurate paraphrase, because what makes you furious is the event (the telling of lies), but your new sentence just says that the people do (perhaps even when they're not lying).

I think this objection is pretty weak; it's obvious from the context that the lying is what makes you furious. But you know the examiners better than I do - so you'll have to judge whether you can risk it!

b

[Teia]

That sentence is grammatically fine, but an examiner might think that it wasn't an accurate paraphrase, because what makes you furious is the event (the telling of lies), but your new sentence just says that the people do (perhaps even when they're not lying).

I think this objection is pretty weak; it's obvious from the context that the lying is what makes you furious. But you know the examiners better than I do - so you'll have to judge whether you can risk it!

b

Hi BobK

Well, I am sure you are right. I only prepare students for this exam[ and I can tell you that my students` level is not so high] that is why I asked for an expert`s opinion. All I try to say is that the subjects are sometimes too difficult if one takes into consideration the level these students are taught English in our high schools. Most students have been taught English for only four or six years.

Thank you very much for your reply.

Keep in touch

[queenbu]

Hi


What makes me furious is people telling lies.
The.......

Shall I rephrase:

The most annoying / upsetting thing is people telling lies

You can also replace annoying/upsetting by 'infuriating' if you really want to stick to the original sentence.