All About English Creative Writing

[Herbie]

HI TAS,


For comprehension qn.

Shld the answer be phrased as (1) or (2)
(1) The word is "inadequate".

or (2) The word is "adequate."

Kindly advise.

[The Alternative Story]

[quote]Hi TAS,


I've got 2 questions & hope you can help

1) Any tips to help differentiate some commonly misspelled words like

Lose vs Loose

Save vs Safe

Quote vs Code[/quote]Hi Singapore45,

Vocabulary is one area that many children do not do well as there
are simply too many vocabulary words out there for them to
remember. The best solution is to read but at the same time
there are many children who either do not read enough or
cannot really translate their reading to actual learning.

Hence, making use of mnemonic strategies helps.

One mnemonic strategy that can be used is to Create Associations
of the word. So when you see the word, you see a letter that stands
out for the meaning or you have a story behind it that helps you to remember.

We will give mnemonic strategies behind each word to make it easy to
remember. Of course, there is no fixed way, you can also make up
your own association or story:)

Meaning of Lose: It is used as a verb. It means to part
with unintentionally- I lose my things very often

Meaning of Loose: It is used as an adjective.
It means not tight or not restraining - My pants are loose

How to remember the difference? (Mnemonics)
- LOOse, there are 2 Os, the word 'loose' is so loose you
can fit in 2 Os instead just 1 O.

- LOse, you are so careless, you manage to LOse the other 'O'
in the word. So 'Lose' has one O because you 'lose' the other 'O'

Meaning of save: It is used as a verb - I saved you from the fire.

Meaning of safe: It is used as an adjective - I am safe at last.

How to remember the difference? (Mnemonics)
- saVe: the V stands for Verb
- saFe: the F stands for 'foolish' - 'foolish' is an adjective
just like 'safe' is.

Meaning of quote: to repeat the words of someone or a text -
I quoted from Shakespeare to impress her.

Meaning of code: a set of principles or laws to follow/a
system of using symbols to pass information -
What is the code of conduct in such a situation? /Do you know
the secret code?

How to remember the difference? (mnemonics)
- QuoTe: the T can stand for someone Talking..so to quote is to
repeat what the person says

- Code: C.O.D.E stands for Careful, Obedient, Detailed, Excellent.
If you live by this code of behaviour, you will do well in school.
[quote]2) Is the word speed a noun or a verb?

Seems like it can be used both as a noun and a verb so i am a bit confused.[/quote]It can be used as both a noun and verb.

Speed (verb): Can you please speed up?

Speed (noun): The car's speed is slowly inching up/The
speed at which he ate was astounding.
[quote]Thank you in advanced TAS![/quote]No problem!

TAS

[The Alternative Story]

Herbie:

HI TAS,


For comprehension qn.

Shld the answer be phrased as (1) or (2)
(1) The word is \"inadequate\".

or (2) The word is \"adequate.\"

Kindly advise.

Hi Herbie,

The full stop should be outside the bracket (in this instance \"..\")
when asked for 'The word'/'The phrase'.

So the answer should be The word is \"inadequate\".

The full stop is inside the bracket when you are asked to quote
a sentence because you are quoting the entire sentence
including the full stop which comes with the sentence.

Eg: The sentence is \"I quit today.\".

The full stop outside the bracket is actually used to show that you have
finished your own sentence, the full stop inside the bracket is used to
show you have quoted the whole sentence. However, it is also not
wrong to just write the sentence without the full stop outside the bracket.-
The sentence is \"I quite today.\"

TAS

[singapore45]

Hi TAS,


Thank you for your quick response! Very impressed by the quality of your reply.

One more question

What is the difference between Don’t and Doesn’t ?

Is there any specific circumstances where we use Don’t and Doesn’t?

Thank you so much TAS!

[The Alternative Story]

Hi Singapore45,


You are most welcome!

The difference between 'don't' and 'doesn't' is

- don't is the contraction for do not. It is used for subjects
like 'I', 'You' and 'plural' subject nouns like 'We', 'they',
'The girls' etc.

Eg:

They don't like swimming.

- doesn't is the contraction for does not. It is used for subjects
that are 'singular'- 'she', 'he', 'the girl' etc.

Eg:

The girl doesn't like swimming.

TAS

[Fongg]

Hi TAS,


I noticed that there are interesting ways to help in vocab.
I am in need of some help here.

What is the difference between
1. Beside vs Besides

2. Defuse vs Diffuse

Thank you

[The Alternative Story]

Fongg:

Hi TAS,


I noticed that there are interesting ways to help in vocab.
I am in need of some help here.

What is the difference between
1. Beside vs Besides

2. Defuse vs Diffuse

Thank you

Hi Fongg,

Yes, we often use mnemonics to increase the retention rate of the
students learning vocabulary.

Difference between Beside vs Besides

Beside: It means next to. Eg: She is beside me.

How to remember: Be-side, Be by my side. So if you
by my side, it means you are beside me.

Besides: It means in addition to. Eg: Besides, meat, I like fish.

How to remember: BesideS. The extra 's' can stand for
'something else'. So in addition to whatever you have, you want something else.

Difference between Defuse and Diffuse

Defuse: It means to disarm. Eg: The tense situation was
defused by her.

How to remember: De-fuse. You move the 'fuse' away from
the situation,thus calming things down.

Diffuse: It means to spread in all directions. Eg: Smoke
diffused throughout the room.

How ro remember: DI-ffuse. DI can stand for DI-fferent
DI-rections.

TAS

[Fongg]

Hi TAS,


Thanks for the reply abt vocab questions.
Will you set up a centre in the east since you did creative wkshops in the east before? As I have a group of friends who all stay in east…

[singapore45]

Hi TAS,


Do you have a centre in the east?

Please pm me the details as i have a nephew p4 and a niece p1 staying at the east area. I’m afraid they might not be able to travel very far as they have many classes going on.

Also, if you can let me know more about the class details!

Thank you TAS

[concern.027392mum]

Hi TAS, I was at your last workshop for parents at singapore post.

I really like the way how you all use mnemonics to remember spellings and rhythms to help remember the creative writing techniques.
A question about personification and metaphors, sometimes I forget the distinction between the 2, can you elaborate on that again?

I actually recommended 3 kids to yishun. I heard they have improve and like the lesson. However yishun is too far for me, I also stay in the east area. many people in the east are interested. I really hope you an open a centre soon for easterners like me.