Casa · B2 Upper Intermediate · Lesson 20 of 20 · Step 2
Changing workplaces and sentence transformations
Words · tap a card to see it used
Grammar
Paraphrasing requires rewriting a sentence so the meaning stays the same but the structure changes. Key strategies: active to passive ('They cancelled the meeting' → 'The meeting was cancelled'), cleft sentences ('It was the pandemic that changed everything'), fronting ('Never before had so many people worked from home'), modal substitution ('You must apply' → 'It is necessary that you apply'), reported speech, and conditional restructuring. This skill is essential for academic writing and advanced exams.
Exercises · type, then check
1. Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets so that the meaning stays the same. Write only the transformed sentence.
2. Choose the sentence that has the same meaning as the original.
Reading
It is estimated that nearly half of all current jobs could be automated within the next two decades. Never before has the pace of technological change been so rapid, and rarely have workers faced such uncertainty about the future of their livelihoods. It was the pandemic that accelerated many of these trends — remote work, which had previously been a privilege for the few, became a necessity for the many. The gig economy, once seen as a fringe phenomenon, is now a significant part of the labour market. Of particular concern is the growing divide between those who can upskill and those who cannot. It is often the most vulnerable workers — those in routine manual or clerical roles — who face the greatest risk of redundancy. Had governments invested more heavily in education and retraining programmes earlier, the transition might have been smoother. What is needed now is not resistance to change but a sustainable framework that protects workers while embracing innovation. It is this balance that will define the future of work — provided that society is willing to confront the difficult questions about fairness, opportunity, and the meaning of a livelihood in an automated world.
1. According to the passage, what role did the pandemic play in changing work?
2. What does the passage suggest is the greatest challenge for the future of work?
Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone
Writing
Write a paragraph (8–10 sentences) about how technology is changing work. Include at least one example of each: a passive sentence, a cleft sentence (It was... that...), a fronted/inverted sentence (Never before...), and a sentence transformation using a modal.
Check your exercises first, then mark the lesson done.