Q&A - PSLE English

[Learning Partners]

jetsetter:

Learning Partners:

Hi jetsetter,

I agree that aspect will impact on tense, that is the meaning of a sentence will affect the tense, but it still does not mean that to get the right meaning, we have to use the wrong tense, right?

It's just that it's only a week away from the PSLE and it's very frustrating to see parents and pupils being needlessly confused.

Reported speech is one of the components in PSLE English that, if mastered, will lead to full marks. It's not like vocab, where you can't guarantee what words will come out. If you master the rules of reported speech, barring careless mistakes, you'll score full marks for that question.

And the rules are simple, one of which is:
[list]

simple present tense in speech becomes simple past tense in reported speech

[/list]Don't need to overthink the question.

If Mum asked Peter if the dishes were washed, she was asking about the dishes, not why Peter had not washed them.

It's called reported speech (because you just report what was said), not interpretative speech.

Er, no leh...My guai low 'Cher (from Cambridge) said depends on the aspect, aka \"meaning\" of the verb in question wor...Nevermind lah...too cheem to delve into the technicalities with the laymen here.

You can look at the e.g. in this British Council http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/zh-hans/grammar-reference/reported-speech-1 to see why it's not that \"simple\". Even in minutes of meeting, if the action is habitual and still true here and now, no need to convert to past tense.

I totally understand Piggylala's Cher's reasoning, cos she took that non-washing as a state that occurred further in the past from the time of speaking/asking, not concurrent as you've proposed. We need to draw the timeline to understand why, but we dont hv the luxury of time now.

:celebrate:

Hi jetsetter,

I thought that is what I meant when I explained 'aspect' but if you disagree, we shall agree to disagree then.

Regarding the link you sent me, I checked it out. Noted that in no instance does the simple present tense in direct speech change to past perfect tense in reported speech.

What they have is that simple present tense can be changed to simple present tense because action is still ongoing (can also be for a fact, like:

Peter said, 'The sun rises from the east everyday.'
Peter said that the sun rises from the east everyday.)

Totally agree, and this is taught in school.

But simple present tense to past perfect tense? I cannot agree with it. The webpage on the British Council that you gave also does not have this conversion. So I rest my case.

[Learning Partners]

marstolive:

Hi I have got 2 question tags to clarify. Hope someone can share some light.


1. Jane dislikes chocolate, ( doesnt or does )she?

2. Harry barely do housework, (doesnt or does) he?

TIA

Hi marstolive,

1. I agree with your child's teacher.

Jane dislikes chocolate.
'Dislikes' is a verb being used in the positive (is that the correct word to use?) form.

Jane does not dislike chocolates.
Now 'dislike' is being used in a negative form.

Hence the question tag for your question should be negative:

Jane dislikes chocolates, doesn't she?

Stress to your child not to be taken in by the meaning of the verb (disagree, deny, etc.), but to see if the word 'not' or equivalent (hardly, seldom, never, etc.) is in front of the verb in the same clause.

[TheWriter]

SOS mum:

The class was very noisy as the teacher was unable to manage the boisterous boys.


Due to __________
the teacher's unability to manage the boisterous boys, the class was very noisy OR

Due to the fact that the teacher was unable to manage the boisterous boys, the class was very noisy.

TIA

Both are ok, but it should be \"inability\" in the first answer.

TheWriter

[jetsetter]

Learning Partners:

jetsetter:

[quote=\"Learning Partners\"]
Hi jetsetter,

I agree that aspect will impact on tense, that is the meaning of a sentence will affect the tense, but it still does not mean that to get the right meaning, we have to use the wrong tense, right?

It's just that it's only a week away from the PSLE and it's very frustrating to see parents and pupils being needlessly confused.

Reported speech is one of the components in PSLE English that, if mastered, will lead to full marks. It's not like vocab, where you can't guarantee what words will come out. If you master the rules of reported speech, barring careless mistakes, you'll score full marks for that question.

And the rules are simple, one of which is:
[list]

simple present tense in speech becomes simple past tense in reported speech

[/list]Don't need to overthink the question.

If Mum asked Peter if the dishes were washed, she was asking about the dishes, not why Peter had not washed them.

It's called reported speech (because you just report what was said), not interpretative speech.

Er, no leh...My guai low 'Cher (from Cambridge) said depends on the aspect, aka \"meaning\" of the verb in question wor...Nevermind lah...too cheem to delve into the technicalities with the laymen here.

You can look at the e.g. in this British Council http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/zh-hans/grammar-reference/reported-speech-1 to see why it's not that \"simple\". Even in minutes of meeting, if the action is habitual and still true here and now, no need to convert to past tense.

I totally understand Piggylala's Cher's reasoning, cos she took that non-washing as a state that occurred further in the past from the time of speaking/asking, not concurrent as you've proposed. We need to draw the timeline to understand why, but we dont hv the luxury of time now.

:celebrate:

Hi jetsetter,

I thought that is what I meant when I explained 'aspect' but if you disagree, we shall agree to disagree then.

Regarding the link you sent me, I checked it out. Noted that in no instance does the simple present tense in direct speech change to past perfect tense in reported speech.

What they have is that simple present tense can be changed to simple present tense because action is still ongoing (can also be for a fact, like:

Peter said, 'The sun rises from the east everyday.'
Peter said that the sun rises from the east everyday.)

Totally agree, and this is taught in school.

But simple present tense to past perfect tense? I cannot agree with it. The webpage on the British Council that you gave also does not have this conversion. So I rest my case.[/quote]
Appreciate your invaluable contribution. :rahrah:

Anyway, I'm not taking PSLE this year.

Peace.... :siam:

[Learning Partners]

Lol.



If I come across as being a firebrand, let me state that that is not my intent. It’s just that conversion of direct speech to indirect speech is something that can be mastered, when people know the rules. And I feel strongly that it would be helpful to clear up any misconceptions parents or pupils may have, especially with the PSLE being less than a week away.


No hard feelings.

[sharonkhoo]

SOS mum:

slmkhoo:

[quote=\"SOS mum\"]Sorry, one more


Joan barely has the opportunity to go shopping with her friends, _____she?
(1) has (2) does (3) hasn't (4) doesn't

\"has\". \"Barely\" is considered a negative word here, so the tag should be positive.

But answer shèet said \"does\". Am confusing too[/quote]The verb in the question tag should match the verb in the main question. I think the answer sheet is wrong.

[marstolive]

Learning Partners:

marstolive:

Hi I have got 2 question tags to clarify. Hope someone can share some light.


1. Jane dislikes chocolate, ( doesnt or does )she?

2. Harry barely do housework, (doesnt or does) he?

TIA

Hi marstolive,

1. I agree with your child's teacher.

Jane dislikes chocolate.
'Dislikes' is a verb being used in the positive (is that the correct word to use?) form.

Jane does not dislike chocolates.
Now 'dislike' is being used in a negative form.

Hence the question tag for your question should be negative:

Jane dislikes chocolates, doesn't she?

Stress to your child not to be taken in by the meaning of the verb (disagree, deny, etc.), but to see if the word 'not' or equivalent (hardly, seldom, never, etc.) is in front of the verb in the same clause.

:thankyou:

[Teacher Aaron]

Learning Partners:

marstolive:

Hi I have got 2 question tags to clarify. Hope someone can share some light.


1. Jane dislikes chocolate, ( doesnt or does )she?

2. Harry barely do housework, (doesnt or does) he?

TIA

Hi marstolive,

1. I agree with your child's teacher.

Jane dislikes chocolate.
'Dislikes' is a verb being used in the positive (is that the correct word to use?) form.

Jane does not dislike chocolates.
Now 'dislike' is being used in a negative form.

Hence the question tag for your question should be negative:

Jane dislikes chocolates, doesn't she?

Stress to your child not to be taken in by the meaning of the verb (disagree, deny, etc.), but to see if the word 'not' or equivalent (hardly, seldom, never, etc.) is in front of the verb in the same clause.

Learning Partners is correct in this case. In question tags, the determination of positive or negative is on the basis of polarity of the verb phrase, and not determined by any singular verb on its own.

I stand corrected.

[atutor2001]

Aiyo, really confusing. Positive negative, negative positive, positive positive and lastly negative negative. Though my ang mo no very good, I still can limenber the first 3 combinations all may be ok. Only negative negative mostly cannot one. So both combinations below all can one. The 1st one is to show surprise while lumber 2 is to seek confirmation.


Jane dislikes chocolate does she.
Jane dislike chocolate doesn’t she.

So limenber, different combination of polarity for different purpose. That is grammar. Not must die die use positive negative or negative positive. That is call study dead book.

[marstolive]

Hi atutor ,


I wanna say your science contribution is fantastic! How do u do that since your kids are no longer in primary sch?