 Paraphrasing is basically repeating or re-wording what somebody has said to you back to them, the way you understood it. This very simply shows to the person who you're talking to that you've listened to and understood what they've said and how you can actually say this back is okay so I think I'm hearing and then say it in your own words or I think what you're trying to say is and then finish that with is that accurate? This really really clarifies to the person you're listening to that you have listened because if you're paraphrasing what they've said in your own words the way you've understood it then clearly you've heard what they've said and you've internalized it. This also allows them to correct you if you've misunderstood what they said and it's a very very simple way to get clarity in a conversation so paraphrasing is the first thing you can do when you're doing verbal active listening.