Q&A - PSLE English
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Xtintedcandies:
loaves is plural of loaf, and it is countable.The loaves of bread has/have been baked.
Please help. Thanks
eg. How many loaves did you bake?
Hence,
The loaf of bread has been baked
The loaves of bread have been baked -
Iggy23:
Hi, the answers are as follows:
1) are (students precede the word university so the plural form should be used as it refers to the students)
It's not always accurate to look primarily at the denominator, in this case \"students\". Do look at the numerator \"A third\" and contextualise it. \"One of the students\" will yield a singular predicate. And of course, we all know the expression \"the number\" takes a singular verb, but \"a number\" takes a plural verb, regardless of the plurality of the noun in the denominator.
2) are (the word \"none\" is usually treated as a plural)
Historically, none takes the singular, but these days, pedants have accepted both, depending on the semantics. The question deliberately gave the Positive Context, \"All of the items are expensive\" and requires the student to inverse/transform it to Negative \"None of the items are cheap\". I would think \"are\" is the correct logical answer.
3) hold off (hold on is to keep hold of it, which doesn't suit the context; hold up is to stall; hold out is to resist something)
4) have scored (The addition of \"have\" is to suit the sentence because there isn't a specific time like yesterday, last week, or two days ago. \"Have scored\" is the present perfect tense that explains scoring but the timing is unknown.)
Actually the timing is not unknown here, because the writer used \"is\", the simple present. That should give you a big hintIggy23:
I believe it's when the noun preceding the is/are that determines it. Let's say we use a term like water, sugar, milk - Things that are uncountable. In this case, we'll use \"is\": None of the milk is spoilt/ None of the water is contaminated.
I think these 2 uncountable noun e.gs are kind of awkward! hehe... -
D3@n:
It is my understanding that both \"is\" and \"are\" can follow \"none of\", but it depends on the situation.
The case for the singular \"is\" is more straight-forward. It is used for uncountable nouns.
None of the water is clean.
None of the money is returned.
For countable nouns, there are opposing schools of thought.
But both \"is\" and \"are\" are possible, it simply depends on the semantics (ie. the intended meaning) of the sentence.
\"None of ___ is\" would be placing the emphasis on the individual whereas \"None of ___ are\" would be placing the emphasis on the group as a whole.
For example,
None of the items is cheap.
This would mean each single item is expensive.
None of the items are cheap.
This would mean all the items are expensive.
Having said that, for the examination purpose of synthesis (where students are not tested on semantics), we should stick to the singular \"is\" for \"None of\".
Do you mean Transformation instead? :?
Hence,
All of _____ are ===>>>None of _____ is
Hope this helps. -
jetsetter:
Yes, I do mean Transformation indeed.D3@n:
It is my understanding that both \"is\" and \"are\" can follow \"none of\", but it depends on the situation.
The case for the singular \"is\" is more straight-forward. It is used for uncountable nouns.
None of the water is clean.
None of the money is returned.
For countable nouns, there are opposing schools of thought.
But both \"is\" and \"are\" are possible, it simply depends on the semantics (ie. the intended meaning) of the sentence.
\"None of ___ is\" would be placing the emphasis on the individual whereas \"None of ___ are\" would be placing the emphasis on the group as a whole.
For example,
None of the items is cheap.
This would mean each single item is expensive.
None of the items are cheap.
This would mean all the items are expensive.
Having said that, for the examination purpose of synthesis (where students are not tested on semantics), we should stick to the singular \"is\" for \"None of\".
Do you mean Transformation instead? :?
Hence,
All of _____ are ===>>>None of _____ is
Hope this helps.
Thank you for pointing it out, head-scratching and all. -
jetsetter:
For exam purposes, with the negation of the sentence, I think students are supposed to transform the plurality as well to contrast \"All\" against \"None\". So I would maintain that \"is\" is the answer to provide.
2) are (the word \"none\" is usually treated as a plural)
Historically, none takes the singular, but these days, pedants have accepted both, depending on the semantics. The question deliberately gave the Positive Context, \"All of the items are expensive\" and requires the student to inverse/transform it to Negative \"None of the items are cheap\". I would think \"are\" is the correct logical answer. -
Please help.
1) If Tom elected class monitor, he _____ organise after-school activities.
(a) were/would
(b) was/will
were/will
(d) are / would
Answer : (a) but why Tom is’nt using was ?
2) Let’s have a break now,__ we?
(a) will
(b) won’t shall
(d) shan’t
Why answer is not (d) ?
Thanks in advance. -
shurley197323:
Please help.
1) If Tom ____elected class monitor, he _____ organise after-school activities.
(a) were/would
(b) was/will
(c) were/will
(d) are / would
Answer : (a) but why Tom is'nt using was ?
In conditional \"if\" sentences, \"were\" instead of \"was\" is used when the situation presented is hypothetical or unreal. It applies to even Singular nouns like Tom.
2) Let's have a break now,______ we?
(a) will
(b) won't
(c) shall
(d) shan't
Why answer is (c) not (d) ?
My take on this is semantics based.
Let's have a break now = Subjects (ie \"We\") are NOT having a break now
Hence \"shall\" is used to propose the opposite.
Anyone else has a different take? -
Thanks, D3@n
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Students (and even adults) of all ages make grammatical errors every now then which may seem trivial but in fact essential to take note and correct.
One of the most commonly made mistakes is the choice between ‘I’ and ‘me’. For example:
1) Felix and I/me enjoy watching movies.
2) Mummy baked cookies for Henry and I/me as we were planning to head to the park.
There is a very simple rule that you can follow, which is the ‘COVER-UP RULE’.
In the 1st example, to decide whether it’s ‘I’ or ‘me’, cover or remove the phrase ‘Felix and’. You will then realise that ‘I’ is the answer.
Similarly for the 2nd example, cover or remove ‘Henry and’. You will see that ‘Mummy baked cookies for me’ and not ‘Mummy baked cookies for I’.
Cover/Remove the additional person in the question and you will find the answer. Piece of cake!
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Hi I have an S&T query
1. Having cheated in the school's bug eating competition, Reginald was consumed by guilt and tearfully admitted his crime.
Consumed _________________________________________________________
Ans Given: Consumed by guilt having cheated in the school’s bug eating competition,
Reginald tearfully admitted his crime.
Daughter's ans: Consumed by guilt of having cheated in the school’s bug eating competition,
Reginald tearfully admitted his crime.
Which would be correct? Many thanks in advance
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