Q&A - PSLE English

[emerald]

Thanks to atutor2001 & Tang for responding, hope you could help me with the following too:


1) In reported speech, are both 'the previous day'(yesterday) and 'the following day' (tomorrow) acceptable in PSLE or should I use the day before and the next day instead. Teacher said former but assessment books latter. Confused!

2) Reported speech: Jane asked Peter if he (was/were) the one who had taken her book without permission.

3) A list of items takes on a singular verb but why a number of suggestions uses a plural one?

Thanks.

[atutor2001]

Tang:

2. The judge fined the actor despite him denying he was speeding.
or
The judge fined the actor despite the fact that he denied he was speeding.

[For (2), no change from past tense to past perfect tense - as this applies only when we change from direct to indirect speech]

Hi Tang

Thanks for joining in the 'confusion'. It is a fact that your first answer for Q2 is the preferred answer. I don't know why, just happened to come across such comments in some grammar books.

However, it is the second answer which I find interesting as it is confusing. I used to teach my girl to answer the same way as your 2nd answer but was marked wrong by the teacher. After much discussion with her teacher, I get to under stand that :

1. \"despite the fact that\" is the same as \"although\"

2. When we use \"despite the fact that\" we want to introduce a \"contrast\".

3. If the \"contrast\" involves talking about a \"past action\" in contrast to an \"earlier past action\", then we must use past perfect for the \"earlier past action.\" . Which is why the answer has to be :

The judge fined the actor despite the fact that he had denied he was speeding.

[atutor2001]

emerald:

Thanks to atutor2001 & Tang for responding, hope you could help me with the following too:


1) In reported speech, are both 'the previous day'(yesterday) and 'the following day' (tomorrow) acceptable in PSLE or should I use the day before and the next day instead. Teacher said former but assessment books latter. Confused!

2) Reported speech: Jane asked Peter if he (was/were) the one who had taken her book without permission.

3) A list of items takes on a singular verb but why a number of suggestions uses a plural one?

Thanks.

Let try and bluff again :

For (1), my girls usually use \"the day before\" and \"the next day\" - why? easier to spell :lol: . To me they are all Ok.

For (2) : Jane asked Peter if he were the one who had taken her book without permission.
After \"IF\" we need to use \"WERE\". Why? Don't know, just one of their silly rules.

PS
Sorry wrong! Should be \"was\" since the case is \"not certain\"

For (3) : The meaning of \"A list\" is \"1 list\" so it is singular. The meaning of \"A number of\" is \"more than 1 item\", so it is plural. Therefore, in deciding whether is singular or plural, the focus should be on the meaning of the phrase and not individual word.

[Full.010894Cream]

think "If I was…’ is also applicable sometimes!

[atutor2001]

Full.Cream:

think \"If I was...' is also applicable sometimes!

Sorry cannot. \"If I were...\"

PS

Sorry again you are right. \"If I was ....\"means the fact is true or \"not sure\".

Example :

\"If I was there when you called ....\" (I am not sure)
\"If I were there when you called....\" (very sure I wasn't there)

[Tang]

emerald:

Thanks to atutor2001 & Tang for responding, hope you could help me with the following too:


1) In reported speech, are both 'the previous day'(yesterday) and 'the following day' (tomorrow) acceptable in PSLE or should I use the day before and the next day instead. Teacher said former but assessment books latter. Confused!

2) Reported speech: Jane asked Peter if he (was/were) the one who had taken her book without permission.

3) A list of items takes on a singular verb but why a number of suggestions uses a plural one?

Thanks.

1) Both \"the previous day (to replace yesterday)\" and \"the following day (to replace tomorrow)\" are correct.

2) Jane asked Peter if he was the one who had taken her book without permission.

\"was\" is used here as it is something possible

\"were\" will be used when it is something not possible

Eg.

If I were here this morning, I would have helped to solve the problem.
If I were a millionaire, I would give everyone a treat.
If John were with me, he would not have been involved in the fight.

[emerald]

Managed to check with teacher and she said ‘was’ after ‘if I’ is incorrect and is only possible in informal conversation.


Hi Tang and atutor2001, any comments?

[Tang]

emerald:

Managed to check with teacher and she said 'was' after 'if I' is incorrect and is only possible in informal conversation.


Hi Tang and atutor2001, any comments?

I think so.

\"If I\" is always with \"were\"

'If he/she was\" is possible.

[mathsparks]

But there’s nothing wrong with this reported speech either:


My mother asked if I was going to school the next day.

[atutor2001]

emerald:

Managed to check with teacher and she said 'was' after 'if I' is incorrect and is only possible in informal conversation.


Hi Tang and atutor2001, any comments?

I disagree with the teacher. I agree with Tang. \"were\" is for event that is confirmed to be impossible to happen. \"was\" is for event that may be true.