Q&A - PSLE English

[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.

[Full.010894Cream]

Perhaps they try to keep it simple for pr school's English.


Remember we were taught I/We shall and he/she/they/anyone else will? (or something like that?)

[Muffins]

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.

Hi emerald, for Q1, I'll have to go with the teachers! The day before/the next day are, some teachers say, slang.

For Q2, It is was, as you only use were for \"wishful thinking\", as in \"If I were a rich man.\"

For Q3, a list of items only refers to ONE list, so it is singular, as we are only talking about one list. A number of suggestions is not pertaining to the number, but rather, the suggestions, which are plural.

Hope I helped!

[Muffins]

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.

Hi emerald (again!),
I also agree with Tang and atutor2001, as in my above message, I said that were refers to \"wishful thinking\", but was refers to an event that may happen.

[Vanilla Cake]

Hi All,

Pls help to answer and explain these two questions involving synthesis and transformation:

Q1
I bought a pen. It is expensive.
A1
..............................which...............................

Q2
Clement said, \"I went to the library today.\"
A2
Clement said that .........................................

Many thanks in advance for your time in answering the above questions.

[lovingmum]

I will try to give you the answers:

1) I bought a pen which is expensive.

2)Clement said that he had gone to the library that day.

[Muffins]

Vanilla Cake:

Hi All,

Pls help to answer and explain these two questions involving synthesis and transformation:

Q1
I bought a pen. It is expensive.
A1
..............................which...............................

Q2
Clement said, \"I went to the library today.\"
A2
Clement said that .........................................
Many thanks in advance for your time in answering the above questions.

Hi Vanilla Cake,
Answer: The answer for Q1 is \"I bought a pen which is expensive\"
Explanation: As the 2 sentences are not in speech the \"is expensive\" would stay the same as it is a fact, and you do not have to report it, it is in direct speech.

For Q2, the answer is \"Clement said that he had gone to the library that day.\"
The explanation is that It is in speech, so the \"went\" would change to \"had gone\" as it would, as some teachers say, \"jump back\" a past tense. \"Today\" would become \"that day\" for the same reason.

Hope I helped!