Q&A - P4 English
-
Hi,
Q) The flock of geese ___________ the poor little kitten.
attack or attacks?
_______________________________________________
Q1) My mother ___________ some tuna sandwiches for us to bring along for the excursion this Friday.
Child's answer: will prepare
Answer key: shall prepare
Q2) I __________return you the cookbook this Wednesday.
Child's answer: will
Answer key: shall
When to use 'will' and when to use 'shall'?
:thankyou: -
teh_oh:
Answer is the singular verb 'attacks' because the subject is 'flock', which is a singular collective noun.Q) The flock of geese ___________ the poor little kitten.
attack or attacks?teh_oh:
Answer key is wrong; child is correct. Yet another howler by an 'answer key'!Q1) My mother ___________ some tuna sandwiches for us to bring along for the excursion this Friday.
Child's answer: will prepare
Answer key: shall prepareteh_oh:
For what is expected in the PSLE, the answer key is correct; child is wrong.Q2) I __________return you the cookbook this Wednesday.
Child's answer: will
Answer key: shallteh_oh:
In what is required for the PSLE, 'shall' is used with the first person, and 'will' is used with the second and third persons.When to use 'will' and when to use 'shall'?
Think of 'first person' as the pronouns 'I' and 'we'.
'Second person' and 'third person' are 'you', 'he', 'she', 'it' and 'they'.
The picture, in fact, is somewhat more complicated than this, but that's a discussion for secondary level.
Rgds
R -
Q1. The answer - attacks. The "flock of geese" is referred to as a singular group – we are not talking about each geese’s direction of attack, but the direction of the flock as a whole - thus it requires the singular verb "attacks," not the plural verb "attack".
"Shall" and "Will" are modal verbs and they are one of the most confuse usage.
There are 2 main uses of "Shall" - (1) asking what someone wants you (or person) to do or advise. (2) Another use for shall is in expressing determination or a promise.
The use of "Will" is used in showing someone’s predictions about the future. For instance things that someone speaks or writes about before they actually happen. Also to take note that only "Will" can be used to show willingness.
Q1 :- answer is "will prepare"
Q2 :- anwer is "shall" -
Hello laughingcat :hi5: ,
I went Popular in the afternoon but was unable to get hold of the textbook for The New First Aid In English by Angus Maciver :sad: . The sales who attended to me (look a bit :? ) when I showed her the cover picture of this book I am looking for and said she has never seen it before! :scratchhead:
Anyway, it was very crowded so I guessed she has no much time \"entertaining\" my queries :wrongmove: ......
Nevertheless, I will try to source from Times Bookstore or other bigger bookstores
.
p.s. your explanation is always so clear and precise :salute: :salute: :thankyou: -
laughingcat:
Sorry, but your analysis is incorrect.Q1. The answer - attacks. The \"flock of geese\" is referred to as a singular group – we are not talking about each geese's direction of attack, but the direction of the flock as a whole - thus it requires the singular verb \"attacks,\" not the plural verb \"attack\".
'Flock' is one of those group collectives that can take both singular and plural forms. The verb is singular because 'flock' is singular, not because we are thinking of the group acting as one.
The verb would be plural if the subject was 'flocks', not because we are thinking of the individual geese acting separately.laughingcat:
For primary schooling, the students learn that 'will' is the neutral future. The primary students also learn about other ways of looking at the future eg 'be going to', present simple and present continuous.\"Shall\" and \"Will\" are modal verbs and they are one of the most confuse usage.
There are 2 main uses of \"Shall\" - (1) asking what someone wants you (or person) to do or advise. (2) Another use for shall is in expressing determination or a promise.
The use of \"Will\" is used in showing someone's predictions about the future. For instance things that someone speaks or writes about before they actually happen. Also to take note that only \"Will\" can be used to show willingness.
'Will' can also be used when making an instant decision.
Learning about 'will' beyond neutral future and instant decisions is not, I understand, in the primary syllabus.
Rgds
R -
ridcully:
Hi Ridcully,
Sorry, but your analysis is incorrect.laughingcat:
Q1. The answer - attacks. The \"flock of geese\" is referred to as a singular group – we are not talking about each geese's direction of attack, but the direction of the flock as a whole - thus it requires the singular verb \"attacks,\" not the plural verb \"attack\".
'Flock' is one of those group collectives that can take both singular and plural forms. The verb is singular because 'flock' is singular, not because we are thinking of the group acting as one.
The verb would be plural if the subject was 'flocks', not because we are thinking of the individual geese acting separately.laughingcat:
For primary schooling, my analysis is what the students must learn.\"Shall\" and \"Will\" are modal verbs and they are one of the most confuse usage.
There are 2 main uses of \"Shall\" - (1) asking what someone wants you (or person) to do or advise. (2) Another use for shall is in expressing determination or a promise.
The use of \"Will\" is used in showing someone's predictions about the future. For instance things that someone speaks or writes about before they actually happen. Also to take note that only \"Will\" can be used to show willingness.
With regard to the future, 'will' is the neutral future. The primary students also learn about other ways of looking at the future eg 'be going to', present simple and present continuous.
'Will' can also be used when making an instant decision.
Learning about 'will' beyond neutral future and instant decisions is not, I understand, in the primary syllabus. I believe that I did make this point in my earlier posting.
Rgds
R
Thanks for the further elaboration on the above; appreciates much :thankyou:
English is really \"big & wide\"
...There are soooooooooo...many things to learn & remember . Really appreciates all the efforts in putting what each has learnt and know at this forum for all to be aware :celebrate: ....
I am really each time I have to sit down and do English revision with DDs :nailbite: .....So, Rule 1 - Mummy learns first and fast then can coach 
-
Champion, you're welcome!
Yes, role-modelling learning yourself is an excellent example to set the kids.
More power to you!
:celebrate: -
ridcully:
Yes you are right that collective nouns can be taken as both singular and plural form. But I did not mentioned that all collective nouns must be taken as singular. What I meant that there is a common direction taken by the flock of geese and that explains why the usage of singular verbs.
Sorry, but your analysis is incorrect.laughingcat:
Q1. The answer - attacks. The \"flock of geese\" is referred to as a singular group – we are not talking about each geese's direction of attack, but the direction of the flock as a whole - thus it requires the singular verb \"attacks,\" not the plural verb \"attack\".
'Flock' is one of those group collectives that can take both singular and plural forms. The verb is singular because 'flock' is singular, not because we are thinking of the group acting as one.
The verb would be plural if the subject was 'flocks', not because we are thinking of the individual geese acting separately.
I believe my assessment is correct. Take for instance on the following:-
Example #1:- The shoal was moving north.
(singular - considered as one unit; 'shoal' is considered singular)
Example #2:- The shoal were darting in all directions.
(plural - considered as individuals; the shoal is considered as lots of individuals, and 'shoal' is considered plural.)ridcully:
What I am explaining here is for parents to know before teaching to children. Not exatly targeting for primary schoolers.
For primary schooling, the students learn that 'will' is the neutral future. The primary students also learn about other ways of looking at the future eg 'be going to', present simple and present continuous.laughingcat:
\"Shall\" and \"Will\" are modal verbs and they are one of the most confuse usage.
There are 2 main uses of \"Shall\" - (1) asking what someone wants you (or person) to do or advise. (2) Another use for shall is in expressing determination or a promise.
The use of \"Will\" is used in showing someone's predictions about the future. For instance things that someone speaks or writes about before they actually happen. Also to take note that only \"Will\" can be used to show willingness.
'Will' can also be used when making an instant decision.
Learning about 'will' beyond neutral future and instant decisions is not, I understand, in the primary syllabus.
Rgds
R -
hi Champion,
the book 'First Aid in English' is available in 'Singapore Polytechnic' library:-
http://www.lib.sp.edu.sg/search~S0?/Xfirst+aid+in+english&p=&SORT=D&Da=&Db=/Xfirst+aid+in+english&p=&SORT=D&Da=&Db=&SUBKEY=first%20aid%20in%20english/1%2C6%2C6%2CB/frameset&FF=Xfirst+aid+in+english&p=&SORT=D&Da=&Db=&1%2C1%2C -
Champion:
WOW! Champion you are really fast! :evil: Try calling the popular first and see whether can they advise you which branch has the book. This book is usually sold out quite fast. Or you can place a reservation.Hello laughingcat :hi5: ,
I went Popular in the afternoon but was unable to get hold of the textbook for The New First Aid In English by Angus Maciver :sad: . The sales who attended to me (look a bit :? ) when I showed her the cover picture of this book I am looking for and said she has never seen it before! :scratchhead:
Anyway, it was very crowded so I guessed she has no much time \"entertaining\" my queries :wrongmove: ......
Nevertheless, I will try to source from Times Bookstore or other bigger bookstores .
p.s. your explanation is always so clear and precise :salute: :salute: :thankyou:
Thanks. Actually I have learnt all of this at the British Council. There are a total of 8 lessons and the duration is whole day and is meant for teachers. If there is one, I would strongly advise parents to go. It is quite good as it teaches the technical aspect. I attended this early last year through a school principal who helped to enrolled me in.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login