A precise paraphrase changes the words but keeps the meaning, including every limit the author sets. Words such as “hampir semua”, “mungkin” and “kecuali” decide how strong a claim is. This skill appears in questions that ask for a summary and “in your own words” questions.
It belongs to the first-language comprehension module. It follows comparing supported interpretations, where accuracy to the text also matters.
How do you paraphrase without changing the claim?
Start by finding what the author limits. Then rebuild the sentence around the same limits in different words.
- Mark the qualifiers. Look for quantity (hampir semua, sebahagian, kebanyakan), certainty (mungkin, pasti, dijangka), time (biasanya, kadangkala) and exceptions (kecuali, melainkan).
- Mark the core claim. Who does what, or what is said to be true?
- Choose new words for the core claim with a different structure if possible.
- Put each qualifier back with a word of equal strength.
- Compare. Read both sentences and ask whether the paraphrase claims more, less or the same.
Worked example
The sentence is invented.
Hampir semua penduduk kampung bersetuju bahawa jambatan baharu itu mungkin dapat mengurangkan kesesakan.
Step 1, qualifiers: “hampir semua” (almost all, not all) and “mungkin dapat” (might, not will).
Step 2, core claim: the villagers agree the new bridge could reduce congestion.
Step 3, new words: “penduduk kampung” becomes “orang kampung”, “bersetuju” becomes “berpendapat”, “mengurangkan kesesakan” becomes “melegakan kesesakan”.
Steps 4 and 5, qualifiers restored and checked:
Majoriti besar orang kampung berpendapat bahawa jambatan baharu itu berkemungkinan melegakan kesesakan.
“Majoriti besar” keeps “almost all” without saying all, and “berkemungkinan” keeps the uncertainty of “mungkin”. The claim is the same strength as the original.
The mistake to watch for
Stronger than the text: Semua orang kampung bersetuju bahawa jambatan baharu itu akan melegakan kesesakan.
“Hampir semua” became “semua”, and “mungkin dapat” became “akan”. Both limits have gone, so the claim is now stronger than the author’s.
The opposite error also loses marks. Writing “Beberapa orang kampung fikir jambatan itu mungkin membantu” makes the claim weaker, since “beberapa” is far fewer than “hampir semua”. The correction is to underline each qualifier in the source and tick it off in your version.
Check yourself
All sentences are invented.
1. Source: “Cuaca dijangka cerah sepanjang hari, kecuali di kawasan tinggi.” Which paraphrase is faithful: (a) Cuaca akan cerah di mana-mana, or (b) Cuaca dijangka cerah sepanjang hari, tetapi tidak di kawasan tinggi?
Show answer
(b). It keeps the forecast (“dijangka”) and the exception for high areas. Version (a) removes the exception and makes the forecast certain.
2. List the qualifiers in: “Pelanggan biasanya menunggu kira-kira sepuluh minit.”
Show answer
“biasanya” (usually, not always) and “kira-kira” (about, not exactly). A faithful paraphrase: Pelanggan selalunya menunggu lebih kurang sepuluh minit.
3. “Sebahagian besar murid menyukai kantin baharu.” A student writes “Semua murid menyukai kantin baharu.” What changed?
Show answer
“Sebahagian besar” (most) became “semua” (all). The paraphrase now claims more than the text does.
Where this leads next
With precise paraphrase, you can practise every skill in this module together in the first-language comprehension practice set. The summary selection and paraphrase studio and the writing revision compare view let you compare your versions against the original. To revisit the first skill, go back to explaining an implied idea.
Teachers can check each qualifier in your paraphrases in online one-to-one Malay tuition.