Q&A - PSLE English

[pixiedust]

Ridcully, so glad to \"see\" you again !


Source : RGPS SA2 Grammar MCQ

_______ any of the twins know about the plan tomorrow ?
(1) Do (2) Has (3) Have (4) Does

Answer key listed answer as DO
but I find it odd...after research, my conclusion is Do and Does are both acceptable hence this is a badly set question.

May I have your opinion ? Thanks.

[ridcully]

pixiedust:

_______ any of the twins know about the plan tomorrow ?

(1) Do (2) Has (3) Have (4) Does

Answer key listed answer as DO
but I find it odd...after research, my conclusion is Do and Does are both acceptable hence this is a badly set question.

Thanks for the welcome back! :hugs:

The structure 'any' plus 'of phrase' has certain complications. However, for primary level students the simplest rule is that the form of 'do' agrees with the noun. Thus, the answer is (1) because 'twins' is plural.

It helps to rewrite the question into a statement and see the resulting subject-verb agreement:

The twins do know about the plan tomorrow.

We would not write:
The twins does know about the plan tomorrow.

I agree that it is a badly set question. In fact, we normally say:

Does either of the twins know about the plan tomorrow?

'Any' on the other hand usually refers to three or more people.

Yes, 'do' and 'does' are terribly mixed up on the internet... However, it is true that sometimes a singular verb sounds better:

Does any of these magical pointed hats belong to you?

Here, the singular 'does' sounds better because it is likely that only one of the magical pointed hats belongs to a given pixie.

Rgds
R

[tisha]

ridcully:

These questions of S&T test a child's knowledge of prepositions versus conjunctions.

A short-hand way of thinking about these issues is to see that a preposition is followed by a noun or noun equivalent (such as a gerund) whereas a conjunction is followed by a clause.

Note:
Due to his perseverance .... = correct: preposition followed by noun

Due to Tom persevered .... = nonsense: cannot follow preposition with a clause

Due to the fact that Tom persevered ... = permissible: 'the fact' is a noun phrase; hence, prepositional integrity is maintained, although it is a bit of a fudge.

As a result of his determination ... = correct: preposition followed by noun

As a result of being determined ... = correct: preposition followed by a gerund

Rgds
R

:thankyou: very much

[zsqchx]

ridcully:

zsqchx:

Please help for the following question:


Ques: She put on a disguise. She did not want her friends to recognise her.

MY Dd's answer: To avoid her friends recognising her, she put on a disguise.

Thank you!

Interesting question! Your answer is certainly acceptable in colloquial English, but I feel that it is not quite grammatically correct. My preference would be for:

To avoid being recognised by her friends, she put on a disguise.

I feel that you should follow 'avoid' with the object receiving the action, which can be an -ing form. In your daughter's answer, it initially appears that she is avoiding her friends rather than, strictly, their not recognising her. She may in fact want to meet her friends in disguise and then surprise them. This is almost splitting hairs.

Rgds
R

Thank you very much!

[ridcully]

Vanilla Cake:

Hi ridcully,


How about this answer: \"Owing to Jack's forgetfulness, he left his wallet behind in the cinema.\"? Is this acceptable? Pls advise and thks for your help.

Hi Vanilla,

I would say no. See my answer to vidhyalog.

The main idea is the one about leaving the wallet behind in the cinema; consequently, it takes the noun. The secondary idea about forgetfulness states why; consequently, it takes the pronoun. Hence:

Owing to his forgetfulness, Jack left his wallet behind in the cinema.

Rgds
R

[ridcully]

Vanilla Cake:

Q67

Helen drank her coffee. The waitress offered to refill the cup.
No sooner ____________________________________________

'No sooner' is paired with 'than' and we usually use the past perfect. Thus:

No sooner had Helen drunk her coffee than the waitress offered to refill the cup.

Vanilla Cake:

Q68
\"Did you visit your grandfather like I have asked you to?\" Mrs Lee asked her son.
Mrs Lee asked _______________________________________________________

Key issue about rewriting direct speech questions into indirect speech is to change the word order into statement form. Thus:

Mrs Lee asked her son whether he had visited his grandfather like she had asked him to.

Rgds
R

[PiggyLalala]

ridcully:

Vanilla Cake:

Q67

Helen drank her coffee. The waitress offered to refill the cup.
No sooner ____________________________________________

'No sooner' is paired with 'than' and we usually use the past perfect. Thus:

No sooner had Helen drunk her coffee than the waitress offered to refill the cup.

Vanilla Cake:

Q68
\"Did you visit your grandfather like I have asked you to?\" Mrs Lee asked her son.
Mrs Lee asked _______________________________________________________

Key issue about rewriting direct speech questions into indirect speech is to change the word order into statement form. Thus:

Mrs Lee asked her son whether he had visited his grandfather like she had asked him to.

Rgds
R

Hi Ridcully,
Nice to see you on KSP again.
:thankyou:

[ridcully]

adbie:

Hi, I'm looking for the authoritative guidebook on grammar for the PSLE standard, if it exists. Appreciate any help here.


Apparently, there are differing grammar rules. I've come across examples in assessment books, past test papers and internet that aren't consistent.

Some grammarians prefer to sit on the fence and claim that certain grammar rules are flexible. This is not good because there's only 1 correct answer in the exam!

I remember reading one or two years back that a series of books on grammar called 'About Grammar' was being produced by MOE and NIE. I am not up-to-date with what's what. If anyone knows about this, please share.

See for instance:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1088105/1/.html

Rgds
R

[Alchemist]

thanks ridcully for your explanation. Its a pleasure to read them.

[Alchemist]

Hi - More S&T queries.


1) The security guard told the children, "Do not play in this area".
The security guard told the children ________________________________.
DS ans : The security guard told the children to not play in that area.
Answer key : The security guard told the children not to play in that area.

(My instinct was to go with the answer key, as that is how I would say it. But any views on whether DS answer could be acceptable?)

2) As he came late, he missed the first part of the concert programme.
If he had _________________________________________________________.

DS: If he had not come late, he would not have missed the first part of the concert programme.
Answer key : If he had come early, he would not have missed the first part of the concert programme.
(meaning is the same, but any implication due to the doube negative - apart from making a cumbersome sentence?)

Please advise and thanks in advance.