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Rephrasing Exercises - Exercices de Traduction Intralinguale
Rephrasing Exercises - Exercices de Traduction Intralinguale
EXERCISES -
EXERCICES DE
TRADUCTION
INTRALINGUALE
Renaud Méry
INTRODUCTION
The exercises presented in this teaching document are commonly known as "rephrasing" or
"rewording" exercises. Most of the time, we think of translation between different languages,
and that's Interlingual translation, a form of rephrasing which involves a source language L1
and a target language L2. However, rephrasing in one's own language, or as in this case in a
foreign language, is another form of translation - Intralingual translation - which is precisely
what these exercises are based upon. The fact is that many learners, when trying to speak a
foreign language, spontaneously indulge in some sort of Interlingual translation, yielding to
an instinctive tendency to translate from their own mother tongue, and not surprisingly, the
result is very often disappointing, awkward, unidiomatic (e.g. because of frequent cases of
word-for-word translation). The reason for such results is simply that Interlingual translation
is a difficult exercise : establishing correspondences between two different systems is a very
complex operation, especially when the target language is not familiar to you (which explains
why professional translators invariably translate into their native language).
What is recommended here is that learners should be encouraged to explore the system of the
foreign language from within, so they can become familiar with the semantic and syntactic
properties of all its elements and the way these can be combined to create meaning. A French-
speaking student who wants to learn English should leave aside for a time the grammar and
the lexicon of French so as to think in English, i.e. construct sequences of English words used
exclusively on the basis of their intrinsic properties and functions within the system of
English, without any reference to the system of French.
One might object that Intralingual translation is sterile, because it involves no creation of
meaning, the general rule of the game being precisely to preserve purely referential meaning
while changing syntactic structures, word order, grammatical or lexical elements etc. But the
reader will easily see that these exercises call for great creativity on the student's part, where
expression is concerned. For each exercise, clear instructions are given, fully compatible with
the general principle of meaning preservation, but in most cases, each particular example
poses a specific problem, and requires a specific solution. The approach is therefore very
different from that of structural exercises, which generally propose a model such as A ‡ A’,
and ask the student to produce B ‡ B’, C ‡ C’ by analogy. Such repetitive exercises do not
entail any need for creativity, and treat students like Pavlov's dogs. Learning a foreign
language does not merely involve acquiring conditioned reflexes...
The rephrasing exercises presented here are obviously not meant for beginners. I wrote them
when I was a lecturer at the "Université Antilles Guyane" and used them (quite often without
a written text) with first to third year students specializing in English. The practise was meant,
not only to improve their competence and performance in English, but also to stimulate their
linguistic observation and reflection. Important differences between synonymous pairs were
commented upon, for example, thematic differences involved in active or passive sentences.
Last but not least, the technique provided very convenient tests for exams, because it was easy
to adapt their difficulty to the level required; assessment and marking could be made easy,
fast, objective, and very precise, once a scoring grid had been worked out. The exercises
under 38. "Controlled rephrasing" are one example of what can be used for a written test.
N.B. Please note that the exercises presented here are FREE, they can be downloaded, shared,
modified, used for teaching (or learning) but never for commercial purposes.
EXERCISES PRESENTED IN THIS TEACHING DOCUMENT
1. NEGATIONS
2. TIME, TENSES AND TIME ADJUNCTS
3. ANAPHORIC DEVICES
4. REPORTED SPEECH AND TENSE AGREEMENT
5. FROM DIRECT TO INDIRECT QUESTIONS
6. MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION VERBALS
7. DECOMPOSITION OF COMPLEX SENTENCES
8. SUBSTITUTIONS
9. SUBORDINATORS
10. MODALS
11. QUANTIFIERS
12. TOPICALIZATION
13. WORD ORDER CHANGES THAT DO NOT AFFECT MEANING
14. SUBJECT INVERSIONS
15. EXCLAMATORY AND INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
16. PASSIVE
17. ΟΡΤΙΟΝΑL DΕLΕΤΙΟΝS
18. IT REPLACEMENT
19. COMPLEX SENTENCES
20. FROM FINITE TO NON-FINITE VERB PHRASES
21. LOGICAL SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS
22. OPPOSITIONS: MORPHEME A VERSUS MORPHEME B
23. OPPOSITIONS: MORPHEME A VERSUS Ø (ZERO)
24. OPPOSITIONS BETWEEN MODAL VERBS
25. DIFFERENCES IN PUNCTUATION
26. DIFFERENCES IN WORD ORDER
27. FROM NON-FINITE TO FINITE VERB PHRASES
28. IDENTICAL CATEGORIAL SEQUENCES
29. DOUBLETS
30. GRAMMATICAL HOMONYMS
31. SYNONYMOUS AND NON-SYNONYMOUS SENTENCES
32. DISTORSION
33. AMBIGUOUS SENTENCES
34. LEXICAL REPHRASING
35. MODALISATION
36. IDENTICAL LEAD REPHRASING
37. GRADUAL PROMOTION TO MAIN SUBJECT POSITION
38. CONTROLLED REPHRASING
39. MULTIPLE CONTROLLED REPHRASING
40. FREE MULTIPLE REPHRASING
+ 5 FURTHER SUGGESTIONS
1. NEGATIONS
For each of the following sentences, find a paraphrase in which a negative form beginning with N-
(such as NOT, NO, NEVER etc.) has been inserted, suppressed or moved.
In each of the following cases, use the data provided to make sentences paraphrasing them and
putting to contribution such words as FOR, SINCE, AGO, BEFORE, LAST etc.
Subordinate the sentence between quotation marks to the accompanying sentence, making sure that
tenses duly agree when they are supposed to.
For each of the following direct questions, give a paraphrase containing an indirect question
subordinated to the main clause: "Tell me...'
N.B. Pay special attention to irregular verb forms.
In each of the following sentences, change the construction of the main verbal (i.e. verb or adjective)
without changing the overall meaning.
Break up each of the following complex sentences into as many simple ones as you can.
1. She is fully aware that Bob and I are the best of friends.
2. He felt quite certain he would succeed.
3. They were thankful we had come to the rescue.
4. She rightly complained that there was too much noise.
5. I was shocked to see her suffering.
6. I am ashamed that you were completely forgotten.
7. I'm pleased to have finished at last.
8. I'm glad you like my new house.
9. He was astonished to see us at the Tate Gallery.
10. I'm quite confident she will be competent for the job.
11. He simply rejoiced that we were reconciled again.
12. Our friend's death reminded us that we were still at war.
13. I am most happy that she finally accepted my offer.
14. He forced her to sign the cheque.
15. I'm proud I was able to help you.
16. I'm sorry I'm late.
17. They all agree that the price of oil will have to go up.
18. He consented to give us all the figures.
19. Peter is certain to pass the exam.
20. Peter is certain he will pass the exam.
8. SUBSTITUTIONS
In each of the following sentences, replace a word or phrase by something else, making all other
necessary arrangements, without changing the overall meaning nor the remaining words.
Give a paraphrase for each of the following sentences, inserting a subordinator ( a relative pronoun
or a complementizer etc.) such as THAT, WHO, WHOM, WHICH, IF, WHEN, WHERE, FOR etc.
making all other necessary arrangements (deletion and/or addition of certain elements, word order
changes etc.)
Give a paraphrase for each of the following sentences, inserting a modal verb such as CAN,
COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHALL, SHOULD, WILL, NEED, OUGHT etc. making all other
necessary arrangements (deletion of certain elements etc.)
For each of the following sentences, provide a paraphrase in which the underlined noun phrase will
become the main subject, and as a consequence a new topic.
Don't forget to make all other necessary arrangements (deletion and/or addition of certain elements,
word order changes).
In the following sentences, whenever possible, change the order of words without changing the
meaning (remember your sentence must be an accurate paraphrase of the original one).
For each sentence, give an equivalent in which the original "logical" subject has been moved to the
right, not forgetting to make all necessary re-arrangements.
For each of the following sentences, provide a paraphrase beginning with a wh- word (what, who,
whom, whose, which, when, why, where, how)
Passivize the following sentences, i.e. in each case move a complement to subject position and insert
be + -en (-en = past participle ending), without forgetting to make any other changes made necessary
by these two operations.
In the following sentences, delete all the elements whose deletion does not affect meaning.
In each of the following sentences, replace IT with another noun phrase to be found in the sentence,
and make other arrangements when necessary.
Combine the sentences given in each case to form one complex sentence that preserves the overall
meaning.
Paraphrase each of the following sentences, replacing at least one finite verb
form by a non-finite one (i.e. an infinitive, a gerund or a participle).
In each case, provide the paraphrase in which each verbal has its logical subject to its immediate left
and (if the case arises) its logical object to its immediate right.
Compare the meanings of the two sentences given under each of the numbers in this exercise,
through their respective paraphrases.
Compare the meanings of the two sentences given under each of the numbers in this exercise,
through their respective paraphrases.
Under each of the numbers in this exercise, you will find two sentences which are identical except
for their punctuation. Compare their respective meanings through their respective paraphrases.
Under each of the numbers in this exercise, you will find two sentences which only differ in word
order. Compare their respective meanings through their respective paraphrases.
Rephrase the following sentences, substituting in each case a finite (i.e. tensed) verb phrase
for the non-finite one (i.e. infinitive, gerund or participle) contained in the original sentence.
Make sure you assign the correct subject to its corresponding verb in each case.
28.A. In each case, find a paraphrase for one of the sentences given which has no analogous
grammatical counterpart for the other.
In each case, say if the two sentences given are synonymous or not. If not, explain the difference
between them.
In each case, show the difference in meaning between the first sentence and the second through a
paraphrase for the latter.
For each of the following ambiguous sentences, give as many different paraphrases as there are
meanings (N.B. the paraphrases should be synonymous with the original sentence but not with one
another).
Paraphrase each of the following sentences, transferring as many lexical items as you can from one
category (i.e. verb, noun, adjective etc.) to another.
Modify each of the following sentences, retaining the same thematic structure and integrating the
indication of modality suggested between brackets within the predicate.
1. The maid stole the diamonds (or at least it seems to be the case).
2. The plane crashed in the Andes (or at least that is what the press reported).
3. The safe was open (maybe).
4. John will reject our offer (it is very likely).
5. The house was haunted by a ghost (people believed so).
6. The man was murdered (people believe so).
7. This type of problem could not be solved (it would be difficult).
8. John will get the job (it is virtually certain).
9. Two children were missing (as it seemed).
10. The man escaped from a high security prison (at any rate, people say so).
11. Five union leaders have been arrested (people thought so).
12. Five union leaders were arrested (people think so).
13. The man was a plain clothes policeman (as it turned out).
14. You are right (it must be the case).
15. I know his father (as it happens).
16. Bob will win the match (I am sure of that).
17. This text cannot be translated (it is impossible).
18. There is a mistake in the accounts (it might be the case).
19. George Kerry will win the election (it seems that it is likely).
20. John will be elected (he considers that it is likely).
36. IDENTICAL LEAD REPHRASING
For each of the following sentences, give a paraphrase beginning with the same word as the original
one.
For each of the following sentences, give successive paraphrases in which a given Noun Phrase is
moved gradually towards the left until it reaches the beginning of the sentence and acquires the
function of main clause subject.
For each of the following sentences, give a paraphrase beginning with the word(s) indicated between
brackets.
38. A
1. People believed that someone had reported that her husband was dead. (Her husband...)
2. It is likely that he will give us no money. (He is not...)
3. The car must be washed and polished; that's what I want. (I Want...)
4. It is said that it is very interesting to talk to her. (She...)
5. I haven't seen Peter for two years. (It is...)
6. People were always finding fault with him or making fun of him. (He...)
7. He little suspected that I'd cracked the code. (Little...)
8. People considered that it was not worthwhile talking about the subject. (The subject...)
9. It appears that a difficulty arose the next day. (There...)
10. She's met my friend Peter before, which is surprising. (It...)
11. That they showed the documents to the ambassador is certain. (The ambassador...)
12. The President answered all their questions, and in doing so he was wise. (It...)
13. People feared that the boat had sunk. (The boat...)
14. They lost sight of a very important problem. (The problem...)
15. People believe that the peasants killed the two journalists. (The two journalists...)
16. John married Mark' sister, and Mark married John sister. (John and Mark...)
17. It seems that nobody is missing. (There...)
18. I bought this car (that I have now) 6 years ago. (I have...)
19. He did not reveal the Secret until the end of the trial. (Not...)
20. People thought that living with him was difficult. (He...)
38. B
1. People say that the terrorists abducted the manager. (The manager...)
2. John thinks (that) it is probable that the new product will be banned. (John...)
3. John was very generous to give the old lady all that money. (It...)
4. It is certain that the jury will give the prize to Paul. (Paul...)
5. It is high time for you to ring her up. (It...)
6. It seems that they have taken account of my warning, doesn't it? (My warning...)
7. The President ordered the embargo to be lifted. (The President...)
8. Jane likes people to make a fuss of her. (Jane...)
9. The boy said he came from which university? (Which university...)
10. People believe that the Americans flew hundreds of troop to the front. (Hundreds...)
11. Bob is always criticizing Paul's work and Paul is always criticizing Bob's work. (Bob and Paul...)
12. It is a long time since I last had the pleasure to meet her. (I...)
13. She little suspected that we had discovered her secret. (Little...)
14. The passers-by saw a man cross the street. (A man...)
15. I'm writing this exercise on my best friend's computer. (The
computer...)
16. I last saw her a fortnight ago. (I...)
17. We shall have to take care of him for a month. (He...)
18. It is worthwhile taking notice of his advice. (His advice...)
19. Peter thinks you made no mistake. (Peter...)
20. This exercise is too easy for second year students. (This is ...)
38. D
38. F
1. Mary believed that someone had reported that the enemy had killed John. (John...)
2. It is certain that the jury will give the first prize to Bob. (Bob...)
3. Did you get the mechanic to change the oil-filter? (Did...)
4. You mustn't tell them our secret under any circumstances. (Under...)
5. The people present saw someone come out of the bank. (Someone...)
6. John was kind to lend me a hand. (It is...)
7. People say that the police arrested dozens of demonstrators. (There...)
8. It seems to be very pleasant to talk with John, doesn't it? (John ...)
9. He believed (that) there was someone in the house. (He...)
10. It is ten years since they pulled down the church.(The church...)
11. Someone is looking into the question. (The question...)
12. We have lost track of the document, haven't we? (The document...)
13. I'd rather be examined by Doctor Brown. (I'd rather...)
14. You and John talked about what, on that occasion? (What...)
15. The man drove away in Peter's car. (The car...)
16. We shall have to make room for the computer. (The computer...)
17. If we'd taken notice of this, nothing would have happened. (Had this...)
18. She lived in her own house. (The house...)
19. It is surprising for you to know about it. (It...)
20. This exercise is so easy that everybody will get a good mark. (This is...)
38. H
1. The young girl had done nothing of the sort, ever. (Never...)
2. People believe that a death squad threw the body in the river. (The body...)
3. Jane married Betty's brother, and Betty married Jane's brother. (Jane and Betty...)
4. People fear that the dog bit several children. (Several children...)
5. I wish we'd already finished the job. (I...)
6. Would you like the choir to sing this hymn for the ceremony? (Would...)
7. Your husband was very brave to stand up to them. (It...)
8. It is worthwhile insisting on this point. (This point...)
9. People say that the man's attempt failed. (The man...)
10. It was ten years since anyone had last used the machine. (The machine...)
11. It must be that an incident occurred. (There...)
12. I want you all to obey my orders. (I...)
13. The dog was not wearing its collar but another dog's collar. (The collar...)
14. They caught hold of his suggestion immediately, didn't they? (His suggestion...)
15. It is likely that the surgeon will not operate on the patient tomorrow. (The patient...)
16. I prefer you to come back later. (What...)
17. She's working for two American companies. (The companies...)
18. He made such a bad impression that they dismissed him at once. (So...)
19. They are making a new attempt to repair the booster. (A new attempt...)
20. The exercise they gave us was too difficult. (We...)
39. MULTIPLE CONTROLLED REPHRASING
For each of the following sentences, give the number of paraphrases required, using the leads
suggested between brackets.
For each of the sentences listed below, give as many paraphrases as you possibly can, using the same
lexical items (i.e. the same vocabulary) as in the original sentences.
9. His wife believed that the radio had reported that he was dead.
11. My parents considered that talking about such trifles was not worthwhile.
13. The police have looked into numerous complaints this month.
14. People fear that the terrorists executed the hostage yesterday.
17. That his constituents will elect him again, he considers, is virtually certain.
Express as clearly as you can what is, in a very general sense, implied or presupposed etc. by
each of the following sentences.
Add to each of the following sentences a tag question to confirm/check information or ask for
agreement.
Convert the following newspaper headlines (which use telegraphic style known as headlinese)
into fully explicit and grammatically correct sentences:
The following sentences are obviously incomplete, though of a type extremely common in
every day conversation. Put the missing elements back in.
EXERCISES
SUGGESTED
SOLUTIONS
1. NEGATIONS - SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
1. John has been working since 8 o’clock / for 4 hours. / He started working 4 hours ago.
2. Paul has been sleeping for 3 hours / since 9 o’clock. He went to sleep 3 hours ago.
3. I have had this car since January 1982 / for 6 years. / I bought this car 6 years ago.
4. Jane has been ill since last Sunday / for 5 days. / She was taken ill 5 days ago.
5. Bill Clinton has been President of the United States since 1992 / since 1992. He was elected 2
years ago.
6. I haven't seen him since the beginning of this month / for a month. I last saw him a month ago.
7. We've been living in this house for 6 months / since last July. We moved in 6 months ago.
8. I've known her since she was 22 / for 6 years. I made her acquaintance 6 years ago.
9. I've been up since 9 / for 2 hours. I got up 2 hours ago.
10. I haven't been to the theatre for 4 years / since I was 18. I last went to the theatre 4 years ago.
11. John became a teacher 6 years ago. He's been a teacher for 6 years. He's been a teacher since
1990. Next year he will have been a teacher for 7 years.
12. I haven’t seen Mary for 5 years.
13. Mr Brown has been dead for 2 years.
14. I haven't heard from him for over a year. I last heard from him over a year ago.
15. I hadn't heard from him for over a year. I had last heard from him over a year before.
16. I last went to Paris 2 years ago. I last met him 2 years ago.
17. John had been in the army for 12 years when I met him 6 years ago.
18. John's been waiting for you for half an hour.
19. My wife first drove this car in April this year and it’s Xmas time.
20. It was ten years before I saw him again.
21. John and Mary had been married for 4 years when they divorced 10 years ago..
22. The miners have been on strike for over a week.
23. I haven't seen John since the Sunday before last. I last saw John over a week ago.
24. I met John 4 years ago. He had been living in London for 4 years.
John came to live in London 8 years ago and I met him 4 years later.
John left London 2 years ago. He had been living in London for 6 years.
3. ANAPHORIC DEVICES - SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
1. Bob and I are the best of friends. She is fully aware of it/that.
2. He would succeed. He felt quite certain of/about it.
3. We had come to the rescue. They were thankful for it.
4. There was too much noise. She rightly complained about it.
5. I saw her suffering. I was shocked at/by that.
6. You were completely forgotten. I am ashamed of that.
7. I have finished at last. I'm pleased with that.
8. You like my new house. I'm glad of that.
9. He saw us at the Tate Gallery. He was astonished by that.
10. She will be competent for the job. I'm quite confident about/of that.
11. We were reconciled again. He simply rejoiced over/about it.
12. We were still at war. Our friend's death reminded us of that.
13. She finally accepted my offer. I am most happy about/with that.
14. She signed the cheque. He forced her into it.
15. I was able to help you. I'm proud of it.
16. I'm late. I'm sorry about it.
17. The price of oil will have to go up. They all agree on/about that.
18. He consented to something. He gave us all the figures..
19. Something is certain. Peter will pass the exam.
20. Peter is certain of/about something, namely that he will pass the exam.
8. SUBSTITUTIONS - SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
For each of the following sentences, provide a paraphrase in which the underlined noun phrase will
become the main subject, and as a consequence a new topic.
Don't forget to make all other necessary arrangements (deletion and/or addition of certain elements,
word order changes).
N.B. YOU CAN ALSO DO THIS EXERCISE THE OTHER WAY ROUND
11. People say that a team of experts have proved that the theory is wrong.
12. The doctor did not allow her to go back to work until the end of the year.
15. People said that someone had reported that a bomb had killed him.
16. People believed that the board had easily accepted Mary.
25. People say that Mrs Thatcher (has) sent a long letter to Mr Bush.
33. AMBIGUOUS SENTENCES - SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
6. For her birthday, Mary Parker was given a book by George Eliot.
6' For her birthday, Mary Parker was given a book written by George Eliot.
6" For her birthday, George Eliot gave Mary Parker a book.
19. Peter had the book that you wanted taken out of the library.
19' Peter had someone take out of the library the book that you wanted.
19" Peter had the book that you wanted someone to take out of the library.
20. Mary hid the car keys, so her husband couldn't go out.
20' Mary hid the car keys, and as a result her husband wasn't able to go out.
20" Mary hid the car keys, in order to make it impossible for her husband to go out.
23. His wife bought a new hat, which didn't please him.
23' His wife bought a new hat, and that hat didn't please him.
23" His wife bought a new hat, and her doing that didn't please him.
28. Water supplies have been cut off for two weeks.
28' Water supplies have been cut off/not available these last two weeks.
28" They have just cut off water supplies for the next two weeks.
3. People believed that the radio had reported that someone had killed her.
People believed that the radio had reported that she had been killed.
People believed that the radio had reported her to have been killed.
People believed she had been reported killed.
She was believed to have been reported killed.
4. It seems that it is certain that the company gave a bribe to the minister.
It seems that it is certain that the company gave a bribe to the minister.
It seems that it is certain that the minister was given a bribe by the company.
It seems that the minister is certain to have been given a bribe the company.
The minister seems certain to have been given a bribe by the company.
5. People believe that it is likely that George Bush will win the election.
People believe that George Bush is likely to win the election.
George Bush is believed (to be) likely to win the election.
6. It is certain that it will seem to them that it is difficult to solve the problem.
It is certain that it will seem to them that the problem is difficult to solve.
It is certain that the problem will seem to them (to be) difficult to solve.
The problem is certain to seem to them difficult to solve.
7. People considered that it was not worthwhile talking about such trifles.
People considered that such trifles were not worth talking about.
People did not consider such trifles to be worth talking about.
Such trifles were not considered worth talking about.
9. It is likely that people will consider that she was responsible for the incident.
It is likely that people will consider her (to have been) responsible for the incident.
It is likely that she will be considered responsible for the incident.
She is likely to be considered responsible for the incident.
10. People believed that there had been two demonstrators killed.
People believed that two demonstrators had been killed.
People believed two demonstrators to have been killed.
Two demonstrators were believed to have been killed.
3. That the spy showed the documents to the ambassador is virtually certain.
The ambassador is virtually certain to have been shown the documents by the spy.
It is virtually certain that the spy showed the documents to the ambassador.
The documents are virtually certain to have been shown to the ambassador by the spy.
The spy is virtually certain to have shown the documents to the ambassador.
7. It seems that it is likely that they will make fun of your objections.
They seem likely to make fun of your objections.
Your objections seem likely to be made fun of.
It seems (to be) likely that they will make fun of your objections.
What seems (to be) likely it is that they will make fun of your objections.
What seems (to be) likely it is that your objections will be made fun of.
10. People think that the two sides made little progress at the conference.
It is thought that the two sides made little progress at the conference.
Little progress is thought to have been made by the two sides at the conference.
People do not think that the two sides made much progress at the conference.
The two sides are thought to have made little progress at the conference.
The two sides are not thought to have made much progress at the conference.
There is thought to have been little progress made by the two sides at the conference.
11. People considered that talking about such subjects was not worthwhile.
It was considered that talking about such subjects was not worthwhile.
It was not considered that talking about such subjects was worthwhile.
Talking about such subjects was not considered worthwhile.
Such subjects were not considered worth talking about.
People didn't consider that talking about such subjects was worthwhile.
People didn't consider such subjects (to be) worth talking about.
12. If they had known he was a spy, they would never have given the documents to him.
Had they known he was a spy, they would never have given the documents to him.
Had they known he was a spy, never would they have given him the documents.
Had they known him to be a spy, never would they have given the documents to him.
If they had known he was a spy, they would never have given him the documents.
Had he been known to be a spy, never would they have given him the documents.
Had he been known to be a spy, never would he have been given the documents.
Never would they have given him the documents, if they had known he was a spy.
He would never have been given the documents, if he had been known to be a spy.
The documents would never have been given to him, if he had been known to be a spy.
They would never have given him the documents, if they had known him to be a spy.
Had it been known (that) he was a spy, they would never have given the documents to him.
etc.
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