Q&A - PSLE English
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Kloggy:
Ans is (b). This is known as the second conditional. Conditional sentences have two clauses: the if-condition clause and the main or result clause. When the if-clause is simple past [saw], then the main clause takes the form of ‘would + base verb’ [would give].1) If she saw the mess, she (a) would have given (b) would give you an earful.
Is the answer (a) or (b) ? Pls also explain why.
Ans (a) is third conditional. For the main clause to have the form ‘would have + past participle’, you would need the past perfect in the if-clause [had seen].Kloggy:
Ans (a). The main clause uses the present perfect ‘have tried out’ so verb consistency normally dictates we keep to the present perfect following ‘none’; this also helps to express the sentiment that the doctors have not given up trying because the present perfect frequently connects the past with the present.2) Doctors have tried out various cures, but none of them (a) has worked (b) had worked.
Is the answer (a) or (b) ? Pls also explain the reason for the answer.Kloggy:
A singular verb is used when 'all' means 'everything', and a plural verb is used when 'all' means 'everybody'.3) Although they have lost the game, not all 'is' lost.
In the above sentence, we use 'is' instead of 'are'. What are the grammar rules here that determines it should be 'is' and not 'are'.Kloggy:
I am curious as to your motive in choosing ‘fascinated’. Are you deliberately testing the breadth of my knowledge? I might need help from Mr James to explain this one.4) The word 'fascinated' can be used with various prepositions. For example,
> The baby was fascinated with the toy clown (can we use 'by' here?)
> I was fascinated by her voice
How do you decide when to use which preposition ?
And can 'fascinated' be used with 'in' ? If yes, can explain in what way ?
Prepositional usage is a bit of a minefield at the best of times, especially with ‘fascinated’. I would say that you could use both ‘with’ and ‘by’, although I usually see ‘with’ used in formal writing despite weighty dictionaries frequently showing examples using ‘by’.
My preference is ‘with’ when referring to the object of fascination, and ‘by’ when referring to the agent causing the fascination.
Is this really a taught P6 concept?
Rgds
R -
ridcully:
Ans is (b). This is known as the second conditional. Conditional sentences have two clauses: the if-condition clause and the main or result clause. When the if-clause is simple past [saw], then the main clause takes the form of ‘would + base verb’ [would give].Kloggy:
1) If she saw the mess, she (a) would have given (b) would give you an earful.
Is the answer (a) or (b) ? Pls also explain why.
Ans (a) is third conditional. For the main clause to have the form ‘would have + past participle’, you would need the past perfect in the if-clause [had seen].Kloggy:
Ans (a). The main clause uses the present perfect ‘have tried out’ so verb consistency normally dictates we keep to the present perfect following ‘none’; this also helps to express the sentiment that the doctors have not given up trying because the present perfect frequently connects the past with the present.2) Doctors have tried out various cures, but none of them (a) has worked (b) had worked.
Is the answer (a) or (b) ? Pls also explain the reason for the answer.Kloggy:
A singular verb is used when 'all' means 'everything', and a plural verb is used when 'all' means 'everybody'.3) Although they have lost the game, not all 'is' lost.
In the above sentence, we use 'is' instead of 'are'. What are the grammar rules here that determines it should be 'is' and not 'are'.Kloggy:
I am curious as to your motive in choosing ‘fascinated’. Are you deliberately testing the breadth of my knowledge? I might need help from Mr James to explain this one.4) The word 'fascinated' can be used with various prepositions. For example,
> The baby was fascinated with the toy clown (can we use 'by' here?)
> I was fascinated by her voice
How do you decide when to use which preposition ?
And can 'fascinated' be used with 'in' ? If yes, can explain in what way ?
Prepositional usage is a bit of a minefield at the best of times, especially with ‘fascinated’. I would say that you could use both ‘with’ and ‘by’, although I usually see ‘with’ used in formal writing despite weighty dictionaries frequently showing examples using ‘by’.
My preference is ‘with’ when referring to the object of fascination, and ‘by’ when referring to the agent causing the fascination.
Is this really a taught P6 concept?
Rgds
R
Dear Ridcully,
Thank you very much for your reply, much appreciated. I'm being challenged by my P6 DD on the answers, questioning me why it is this way and not that way. While my years of use of English 'tells' me what is the right answer, I'm at a loss when challenged with 'why' ..... you are my 'saving grace'.
As for the 'fascinated' question, it was one of the question we came across in an assessment book. The sentence given was
'The baby was fascinated ______ the toy clown' & my DD used 'by' but the correct answer given is 'with' (which I tend to agree). My DD challenged me on this and we looked up the dictionary, which suggests the prepositions normally used are 'by', 'with' and 'in'. This therefore brings us to wonder when to use what.
How I wish the schools explains and teach these grammar rules instead of just letting the students 'catch on' through practices .... -
Kloggy:
Fair enough.As for the 'fascinated' question, it was one of the question we came across in an assessment book. The sentence given was
'The baby was fascinated ______ the toy clown' & my DD used 'by' but the correct answer given is 'with' (which I tend to agree). My DD challenged me on this and we looked up the dictionary, which suggests the prepositions normally used are 'by', 'with' and 'in'. This therefore brings us to wonder when to use what.
In 'The baby was fascinated ______ the toy clown' the preposition 'with' would be the preferred answer because the toy clown is an object of fascination.
In 'The baby was fascinated by Uncle Ridcully's impersonation of SpongeBob' we use 'by' because Uncle Ridcully is an agent causing the fascination.Kloggy:
Absolutely. I am afraid that, at least in my experience, many teachers are simply not competent to teach grammar, and those who are competent are not eloquent enough to express the rules succinctly.How I wish the schools explains and teach these grammar rules instead of just letting the students 'catch on' through practices ....
:celebrate:
R -
Hi R,
Your explanations have been so clear. Can u please help me with these questions.
Q. Coco did not do her chores. Mrs Bala is reprimanding her.
Coco who did not do her chores is reprimanded by Bala. OR
Mrs Bala is reprimanding Coco who did not do her chores.
Which one of these is correct or is there any other correct answer and why.
The salesperson suspected that the young man was up to no good when he saw him ________ hard at the cash register.
(1) looks (2) looked (3) looking (4) was looking.
The given answer is (3)
Why is it so?
Thank you very much in advance.
KRR -
KRR:
The first answer is wrong because the passive verb form of ‘is reprimanding’ is ‘is being reprimanded’. Thus, it should be:Q. Coco did not do her chores. Mrs Bala is reprimanding her.
Coco who did not do her chores is reprimanded by Bala. OR
Mrs Bala is reprimanding Coco who did not do her chores.
Coco who did not do her chores is being reprimanded by Bala.
The second answer is correct.KRR:
Here, ‘looking hard at the cash register’ is a present participle phrase acting as an adjective to describe ‘him’.The salesperson suspected that the young man was up to no good when he saw him ________ hard at the cash register.
(1) looks (2) looked (3) looking (4) was looking.
The given answer is (3)
Why is it so?
The other verb forms of 'looks', 'looked' and 'was looking' are finite [verbs that change according to subject and tense]. However, the finite verb in the clause is 'saw', so we can readily rule these other options out.
Rgds
R -
ridcully:
Ridcully, I answer is (3) too but my reason is that \"saw\" is a verb of preception so the following verb should be gerund form (or infinitive). Is my guiding rule correct ? or maybe the same as you explained but expressed differently ?
Here, ‘looking hard at the cash register’ is a present participle phrase acting as an adjective to describe ‘him’.KRR:
The salesperson suspected that the young man was up to no good when he saw him ________ hard at the cash register.
(1) looks (2) looked (3) looking (4) was looking.
The given answer is (3)
Why is it so?
The other verb forms of 'looks', 'looked' and 'was looking' are finite [verbs that change according to subject and tense]. However, the finite verb in the clause is 'saw', so we can readily rule these other options out.
Rgds
R
Further, I am having great difficulties trying to explain when to use who and when to use whom, to my son. I checked various websites and books but it seems in \"modern\" English, often both are acceptable ? :yikes: Would appreciate if you could point the right direction to me. -
pixiedust:
I answer is (3) too but my reason is that \"saw\" is a verb of preception so the following verb should be gerund form (or infinitive). Is my guiding rule correct ? or maybe the same as you explained but expressed differently ?
It is a common mistake to confuse gerunds and present participles.
You usually have the following pattern after verbs of perception:
verb + object + present participle
Remember that gerunds act as nouns whereas present participles act as adjectives. For example:
I heard singing. ['singing' is a gerund acting as object to verb 'heard']
I heard Ridcully. ['Ridcully' is a noun acting as object to verb 'heard']
I heard Ridcully singing. ['Ridcully' is a noun acting as object to verb 'heard' but 'singing' is a present participle describing the noun 'Ridcully'.]
[quote]Further, I am having great difficulties trying to explain when to use who and when to use whom, to my son. I checked various websites and books but it seems in \"modern\" English, often both are acceptable?[/quote]In informal English 'who' is often used instead of 'whom', but formal English requires more rigour.
'Who' is a subject pronoun and 'whom' is an object pronoun.
Ridcully, who is a lousy singer, looks prettier than Lady BaBa.
['who' is a subject governing 'is']
Ridcully, whom we met on stage yesterday, looks prettier than Lady Baba.
['whom' is object of 'met'; 'we' is a subject governing 'met']
Who is Ridcully?
['Who' is a subject interrogative governing 'is']
Whom were you talking to on the phone?
['Whom' is an object interrogative acting as object of ' talking to']
Hope that helps.
I am taking a little break for a few days from kiasuparents. Best wishes to all.
Rgds
R -
To expand a little on the Arch-Chancellor’s explanation,
As he said, "who" is for subject pronouns (I, he, she, they) and "whom" is for object pronouns (me, him, her, them).
When the word in question can be replaced by I/he/she/they, use "who".
When the word can be replaced by me/him/her/them, use "whom".
His above examples suffice to demonstrate this.
Cheers! -
ridcully:
In informal English 'who' is often used instead of 'whom', but formal English requires more rigour.pixiedust:
I answer is (3) too but my reason is that \"saw\" is a verb of preception so the following verb should be gerund form (or infinitive). Is my guiding rule correct ? or maybe the same as you explained but expressed differently ?
It is a common mistake to confuse gerunds and present participles.
You usually have the following pattern after verbs of perception:
verb + object + present participle
Remember that gerunds act as nouns whereas present participles act as adjectives. For example:
I heard singing. ['singing' is a gerund acting as object to verb 'heard']
I heard Ridcully. ['Ridcully' is a noun acting as object to verb 'heard']
I heard Ridcully singing. ['Ridcully' is a noun acting as object to verb 'heard' but 'singing' is a present participle describing the noun 'Ridcully'.]
[quote]Further, I am having great difficulties trying to explain when to use who and when to use whom, to my son. I checked various websites and books but it seems in \"modern\" English, often both are acceptable?
'Who' is a subject pronoun and 'whom' is an object pronoun.
Ridcully, who is a lousy singer, looks prettier than Lady BaBa.
['who' is a subject governing 'is']
Ridcully, whom we met on stage yesterday, looks prettier than Lady Baba.
['whom' is object of 'met'; 'we' is a subject governing 'met']
Who is Ridcully?
['Who' is a subject interrogative governing 'is']
Whom were you talking to on the phone?
['Whom' is an object interrogative acting as object of ' talking to']
Hope that helps.
I am taking a little break for a few days from kiasuparents. Best wishes to all.
Rgds
R[/quote]Have a good break. Do come back.
We need your clear explanation to the complicated Grammar in English. :thankyou:
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Pls kindly help to provide answers for these 2 P6 English S&T qns from:
Catholic High Sch (Pri) 2010 P6 Prelim Q66
Samuel studies hard and is also active in sports.
Not only ____________________________________
Anglo-Chinese Sch (Junior/Pri) 2010 P6 Prelim Q69
My father rarely shows any sadness.
Rarely ______________________________________
Thks in advance for your response.
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