Q&A - PSLE English
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ms_lim:
'Got round to' is a phrasal verb. The preposition 'to' needs to be followed by a noun or noun equivalent such as a gerund. 'Doing' is a gerund and so fulfils the role. 'Do' is a verb.Please help to explain this qn from Pei Chun 2011 Prelim, ans key is (4) but why not (1) :
My elder sister has been so busy with her work the past week that she has not got round to ______ her laundry.
(1) do
(2) does
(3) done
(4) doing
Rgds
R -
htn:
'Heard' is a verb of perception. We normally have this pattern of usage:Hi,Ridcully
Can u please help me with these:
She could not bear to leave when she heard the little girl _____loudly.
answer given is scream and not screamed, can explain.
verb of perception + object + base form/gerund
Rgds
R -
r2010:
'Fearing' requires an object. An object is a noun or noun equivalent, not a prepositional phrase. Hence, 'the dark' is a noun phrase and so is fine, whereas 'of the dark' is a prepositional phrase and so is not fine.Qs Tim is afraid of the dark. He does not want to sleep alone.
My DS answer - Fearing of the dark, Tim does not want to sleep alone.
Answer given - fearing the dark, Tim does not want to sleep alone.
Rgds
R -
ridcully:
DS's answer is acceptable: There is no change in meaning.vidhyalog:
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?)
Your DS's answer is an example of a split infinitive. The old chestnut that you cannot split an infinitive is buried. However, to my ears, it sounds better not to split [or is that 'to not split'?!]. Thus, I personally prefer the answer key's 'not to play'.
The preferred form is not to split an infinitive unless there is a compelling reason, such as for emphasis:
Teacher Ridcully wishes to boldly go where no grammarian has gone before.vidhyalog:
No implication for PSLE's purposes.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?)
In terms of audience, you will find that people whose first language is Chinese sometimes have problems comprehending double-negatives.
Rgds
R
Thank you Ridcully. Grammar can be enjoyable too when taught effectively! -
ridcully:
'Fearing' requires an object. An object is a noun or noun equivalent, not a prepositional phrase. Hence, 'the dark' is a noun phrase and so is fine, whereas 'of the dark' is a prepositional phrase and so is not fine.r2010:
Qs Tim is afraid of the dark. He does not want to sleep alone.
My DS answer - Fearing of the dark, Tim does not want to sleep alone.
Answer given - fearing the dark, Tim does not want to sleep alone.
Rgds
R
Thank you very much. -
ridcully:
Dear ridcully, thank you for your explanation.
'Got round to' is a phrasal verb. The preposition 'to' needs to be followed by a noun or noun equivalent such as a gerund. 'Doing' is a gerund and so fulfils the role. 'Do' is a verb.ms_lim:
Please help to explain this qn from Pei Chun 2011 Prelim, ans key is (4) but why not (1) :
My elder sister has been so busy with her work the past week that she has not got round to ______ her laundry.
(1) do
(2) does
(3) done
(4) doing
Rgds
R -
Please help.
8. Alice was cycling at East Coast Park with her family where she saw her classmate, Susan ___________ a picnic with her family.
(1) has
(2) had
(3) have
(4) is having
TIA. -
Please help.
70. Adrian was bored. He went to catch a movie with his friends.
_______________________ out of _________________.
Adrian out of boredom went to catch a movie with his friends.
Adrian went to catch a movie with his friends out of boredom.
Please advise if both answers are acceptable?
TIA. -
Please help.
66. Sarah does not want to study medicine as much as she does law.
________ prefers ____________.
Sarah prefers to study law to medicine.
Sarah prefers to study medicine to law.
Please advise if any of the answers is correct…
TIA. -
P5G:
Please help.
66. Sarah does not want to study medicine as much as she does law.
________ prefers ____________.
Sarah prefers to study law to medicine.
Sarah prefers to study medicine to law.
Please advise if any of the answers is correct..
TIA.
Hi - I think it should be the 1st option : Sarah prefers to study law to medicine.
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