Paraphrasing in English
Paraphrasing with participle phrases
Another way of changing the original sentence is using participle phrases. You can turn a subordinate clause into a participle or make one sentence out of two. The participle phrase takes on an adverbial meaning: it informs about time, cause and concessions.
1 Time
When students take up their studies, they often experience a decrease in self-confidence over the first weeks.
Taking up their studies, students often experience a decrease in self-confidence over the first weeks.
After students take up their studies, they often experience a decrease in self-confidence over the first weeks.
Having taken up their studies, students often experience a decrease in self-confidence over the first weeks.
2 Cause
Because fees depend on the status of the university, fees can vary widely.
Depending on the status of the university, fees can vary widely in the United States.
3 Concession
Although the student had nothing to do beyond it, she did not finish her dissertation in time.
Having nothing to do beyond her dissertation, the student did not finish it in time.
4 Passive
Of course, these participles can also be used in the passive.
Having been expelled from the university for plagiarism, she made a career as counterfeiter of money.
So now we can apply these rules to our paraphrase.
Exerting a great influence on our choice of food, dinner companionship, the fact that people usually eat together, increases the complexity of our choices of food (Foer 2009, 149).
Changing subordinate clauses into participle phrases and vice versa