How good are you at finding different ways to communicate the same message? Let's practise using the following sentence from yesterday's lesson:
I am considering whether to get a job or go to university.
How many different ways can you find to communicate this idea? You don't need to change all of the words in the sentence, and it doesn't matter if your suggestions are less (or more) formal than the original. Just practise the paraphrasing skill.
Here's one example:
I'm not sure if I should look for work or apply to university.
I’m in the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue my education.
Posted by: Vinod | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 10:51
I am uncertain about to a get a job or go to university.
Posted by: Ankit joshi | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 12:06
I am wondering about applying for a job to earn some money, or university to study further.
Posted by: Tae | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 12:16
I haven't decided if I should step into society or enrol in tertiary education;
I haven't made decision whether to get a job or continue to my study
I have no idea if I should go for a job as opposed to go to university
Posted by: paul | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 13:41
i am thinking about to get admission in university or to start work.
Posted by: laila | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 13:48
I am undecisive of going to a university or getting a job.
Can anyone give me feedback?
Posted by: gk | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 14:05
I’m trying to apply what we’ve learnt from yesterday lessen into my today practice, here it is: Wether I should find a job or study further is a crucial decision to be made.
Posted by: Oley | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 14:39
Vinod:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=+in+a+dilemma+over+whether%2Cwas+in+a+dilemma+about%2Ccaught+in+a+dilemma+between&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cin%20a%20dilemma%20over%20whether%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwas%20in%20a%20dilemma%20about%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ccaught%20in%20a%20dilemma%20between%3B%2Cc0
Ankit joshi:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=uncertain+about+the+*%2Cuncertain+about+what+to%2Cuncertain+about+whether+*%2Cuncertain+about+their&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2Cuncertain%20about%20the%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20future%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20nature%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20exact%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20meaning%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20outcome%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20value%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20extent%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20precise%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20direction%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20the%20best%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cuncertain%20about%20what%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cuncertain%20about%20whether%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20or%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20the%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20they%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20he%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20a%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20it%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20she%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20you%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Buncertain%20about%20whether%20their%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cuncertain%20about%20their%3B%2Cc0
Posted by: Csaj | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 17:07
Tae:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=wondering+about+the+*%2Cwondering+about+that+myself%2Cwondering+about+what+to%2Cwondering+about+whether+to&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2Cwondering%20about%20the%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20future%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20meaning%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20nature%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20fate%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20man%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20possibility%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20wisdom%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20people%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20strange%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwondering%20about%20the%20other%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwondering%20about%20that%20myself%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwondering%20about%20what%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwondering%20about%20whether%20to%3B%2Cc0
Paul:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=decided+if%2C+decided+whether&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cdecided%20if%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cdecided%20whether%3B%2Cc0
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=made+decision%2Cmade+a+decision+*%2Cmade+a+decision+as+*%2Ca+decision+as+to+which&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cmade%20decision%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cmade%20a%20decision%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20that%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20about%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20on%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20and%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20in%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20which%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20not%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20for%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20as%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cmade%20a%20decision%20as%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20as%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20as%20a%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bmade%20a%20decision%20as%20he%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ca%20decision%20as%20to%20which%3B%2Cc0
laila:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=thinking+about+whether+*%2C+thinking+about+whether+I+should%2C+thinking+about+whether+to+*&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2Cthinking%20about%20whether%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20or%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20the%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20I%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20it%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20you%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20they%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20he%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20she%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20we%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cthinking%20about%20whether%20I%20should%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cthinking%20about%20whether%20to%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20to%20go%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20to%20do%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20to%20buy%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20to%20take%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthinking%20about%20whether%20to%20have%3B%2Cc0
Posted by: Csaj | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 17:14
gk:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=undecisive+*%2Cindecisive+*%2Cundecided+about%2C+undecided+whether%2C+undecided+about+whether%2C+undecided+as+*&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2Cundecisive%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bundecisive%20contests%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20and%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20battle%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20as%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20battles%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20in%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20war%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20action%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20conflicts%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecisive%20character%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cindecisive%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bindecisive%20and%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20battle%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20in%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20about%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20as%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20or%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20action%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20war%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20man%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bindecisive%20engagement%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cundecided%20about%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cundecided%20whether%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cundecided%20about%20whether%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cundecided%20as%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20the%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20yet%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20ever%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20between%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20he%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20of%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20it%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20I%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bundecided%20as%20before%3B%2Cc0
Oley: are you into sheep?
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/wether
Posted by: Csaj | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 17:20
I'm wondering about whether to find a job or get admission to university.
Posted by: PT | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 17:23
I was wondering whether I should start working or continue studying at university.
Posted by: PT | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 17:26
I am indecisive whether it is better to get a job or enter to university
Posted by: Mai Nguyen | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 18:36
Mai Nguyen et al
There is a difference between 'indecisive' and 'undecided':
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/indecisive
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/indecisive
So 'indecisive' suggests a character flaw and has a pejorative connotation, whereas 'undecided' does not.
Posted by: Csaj | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 21:33
I am a bit confused if I get a job or go to university.
Posted by: hang | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 23:04
I have not made up my mind whether to get a job or go to university yet.
Posted by: hang | Sunday, September 09, 2018 at 23:05
hang
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=confused+about+what+to%2C+confused+about+what+they%2Cconfused+about+whether+to%2Cconfused+about+whether+they+should%2Cconfused+as+to+*&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cconfused%20about%20what%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cconfused%20about%20what%20they%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cconfused%20about%20whether%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cconfused%20about%20whether%20they%20should%3B%2Cc0%3B.t2%3B%2Cconfused%20as%20to%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20what%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20the%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20whether%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20which%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20how%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20why%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20who%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20where%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20their%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bconfused%20as%20to%20his%3B%2Cc0
Posted by: Csaj | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 00:32
I'm contemplating whether to get a job or go to university.
Posted by: Vastav | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 01:04
Finding a job or going to university is my big decision right now.
Posted by: Cherry | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 05:48
I am working on making a decision about getting a job or joining the university.
Posted by: awad | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 06:41
---> I am stuck between choosing work or pursue higher studies.
---> The decision to start career or join university is taking time.
---> I have not finalised yet whether I should apply my earlier knowledge or should go for further knowledge
Posted by: Bilal Iqbal | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 07:03
I am thinking about whether to apply for a job or enroll in a university.
Posted by: Arun | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 07:18
I don't know whether I should go for work or university.
Posted by: liz | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 07:36
I am wondering about find a job or go to university.
Posted by: Katy | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 08:20
I am pondering whether to ...
I am pondering my future: whether to ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22i%20am%20pondering%20over%20the%22&tbm=bks&lr=lang_en
To work, or not to work;
to study, or not to study.
That is the question.
Whether it is better for me
to enrich my mind with a degree;
or to take up true work, and
struggle with all its stress and toil.
Posted by: Csaj | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 09:20
Csaj
Thank you very much ,I prefer to be a ewe haha , first day I typed ‘weather’ yesterday ‘wether’ .This 3 words including ‘whether’ will last in my mind forever haha Thank you again .
Posted by: Oley | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 11:49
Csaj : by the way I love your poem sounds like Shakespeare’s from the Hamlet ‘ to be or not to be , that is the question’ :-)
Posted by: Oley | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 12:00
1、I am thinking whether to land a job or to attend a university.
2、I am not certain if I should seek a job or apply for university.
3、I am struggling with whether to find a job or to go to university.
Posted by: Sophie | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 14:03
I am deciding whether to get a job or go to university
I am not entirely sure starting career would be the best option rather than going to university.
I cannot say which path would be practical; going to university or getting a job.
It is difficult to make a choice between continue your education or start a career.
It would be the first big decision that people make in their lives; going to university or get a job
Posted by: lilly | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 16:22
Cherry
If you look at the context of the only two examples on Google Books carefully, you will see that it is informal:
https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=%22is+my+big+decision%22&num=10
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&ei=74uWW6XjPJTM-QbA8oDQCA&q=%22was+my+big+decision%22&oq=%22was+my+big+decision%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3...162303.165532.0.166062.7.6.1.0.0.0.205.989.0j3j2.5.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.0.0....0.STHyxNAKTos
Also:
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22made+my+big+decision%22&lr=lang_en&tbs=lr:lang_1en&tbm=bks&ei=X4uWW77YEYrr-QbEzbeABA&start=10&sa=N&biw=1272&bih=954&dpr=1
'big' is often considered informal.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/big
Posted by: Csaj | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 16:25
Bilal Iqbal:
... between choosing work or pursue[grammar error here]
Katy:
about find [grammar error here]
lilly:
between continue [grammar error here]
going to university or get [grammar error here]
Posted by: Csaj | Monday, September 10, 2018 at 16:31
I need to prioritize between job and university.
Posted by: sim | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 01:56
I am not pretty sure which is better, working or studies at university.
I have no idea whether I should need to get a job or apply to uni.
Posted by: LEWIS | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 02:12
I am in dilemma about the choice of employment and study at university.
I am confused whether to find a job opportunity or complete a degree.
Posted by: Jack | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 03:47
Jack:
I would refer you to Csaj's comments and graph to Vinod and hang above
Posted by: Oleg | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 04:46
LEWIS
If you look through the examples of 'not pretty sure' you will see that it is mostly used with second conditional in a contra-factual context. I would recommend you avoid the phrase, or thoroughly research exactly when and where you can use it properly.
Secondly, 'pretty' in this sense is colloquial, so avoid in writing:
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/pretty
Posted by: Oleg | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 04:52
It is yet to decide whether to apply for a job or enroll for a graduate study.
Posted by: Jammy | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 12:14
Jammy:
-> It is yet to be decided whether ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22is%20yet%20to%20be%20decided%22&tbm=bks&lr=lang_en
It would be more normal to use a less-official-sounding, more personal phrase when talking about oneself: ->
I have yet to decide whether ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22i%20have%20yet%20to%20decide%22&tbm=bks&lr=lang_en
Posted by: Oleg | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 19:10
I don't know whether to work or study; it's a real dilemma.
Posted by: Ahmed | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 07:35
I am confused about finding a job or going to university.
Posted by: Kevin | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 11:26
I am trying to choose between earning money and getting a bachelor's degree.
Posted by: Rachel | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 18:25
Kevin,
'I am confused about finding a job' sounds as if you don't know how to go about it. If you are confused about which to choose, then you need to insert 'whether': I am confused about whether to find ...
Posted by: Khe | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 19:39
i am confused still to go for work/job or apply for further study.
Posted by: sadia | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 22:56
sadia
Refer to Csaj's comments to hang further up this page
Posted by: Oleg | Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 01:45
Khe,
Thank you very much!
Posted by: Kevin | Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 12:00
I am thinking that maybe i will go university or to work.
If I will not go to university I am thinking to start to work.
I do not decide yet whether i go to university or to work.
Whenever i will have free time i will think for my future. To university or to get job.
Posted by: Onur B | Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 18:20
I am two-minded about finding a job or continuing my studies.
I am undecided about applying for a job or attending university.
I am not sure if it is a better idea to apply for a job or attend university.
I am thinking about either taking on a job or attending university.
I am weighting up whether to apply for a job or become a university student.
Posted by: K.T. | Monday, September 17, 2018 at 00:55
i am wondering should i move on getting a job or going to futher education.
Posted by: Alice Vu | Monday, September 17, 2018 at 09:47
K.T.
-> I am in two minds about whether to find ....
-> I am weighing up ....
Posted by: Sunita | Monday, September 17, 2018 at 10:57
I am taking a decision to join postgraduate degree or look for a job
Posted by: Abdikarim adam abdi | Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 12:58
I am in two minds of whether should i pursue my studies or should i look for job opportunities
Posted by: saandeep | Wednesday, October 03, 2018 at 02:09
I am not sure whether start looking for work or get enrolled in university.
Posted by: Prableen kaur khurmi | Friday, October 05, 2018 at 04:57
I am facing with the dilemma of whether secure a job or enrol in tertiary education.
Posted by: Quynh Pham | Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 18:32
I am not sure what I should do at this moment. Whether should I apply for a job or enroll the other course?
Posted by: Christina Tran | Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 22:10
I'm thinking if I should apply for a job or go to a university.
Posted by: Judith | Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 12:13
I can't make up my mind about looking for job or enrol university.
Posted by: RT | Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 09:50
sorry there should be 'to' after the word enrol
Posted by: RT | Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 09:54
It is difficult to decide whether I should go for job hunting or apply to university .
Posted by: RT | Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 12:24
I am confused about whether to work or apply to a university.
Posted by: Madina | Monday, June 10, 2019 at 14:17