English - Quoting a Sentence in OE Comprehension
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Writing from a different perspective. This problem of ambiguity will constantly nag students and parents. The problem is inherent in the subject itself. Languages, especially English, have rules that are more fluid than say Mathematics or Science. 1 + 1 will also give you 2, but in English the rules cannot apply so cleanly; especially in things like pronunciation and grammar.
If we apply a prescriptive approach to grammar when we teach students, it will help those who are weak in the language, ESL learners to pick up the language fast. However, if applied too strictly and for too long, the risk is that they will approach the language like a science and lose the ability to "play" with the language creatively. Take for example how some schools/centers force students to commit a whole list of "descriptive phrases" and "vocabulary" to memory and then have it regurgitated onto a composition. Is this really good writing? -
Hi, I happen to chance upon this thread and thought I’d give my two cents worth:
the examples provided by Bookwormkids are sound. It’s really not so much about memorising the rules as understanding the function of the punctuations.
A ‘sentence’ is an idea encased within a complete line thus beginning with a capital letter and a definite punctuation (?, ! or .). So, when quoting a sentence, we should include everything from the capital letter to the full-stop. However, the quote itself is set within another sentence thus there should be another full-stop after the quote.
I hope my explanation is useful in confirming what Bookwormkids has helpfully provided. -
The question ask "Quote the sentence that tell you that John is famished."
If u are the student and during the test, u are not sure whether to write
a) The sentence is "John ate like a pig.".
or
b) The sentence is "John ate like a pig."
then u should just write
The sentence "John ate like a pig." tells me that John is famished.
By the way, it has to be double quotes, not single quotes. -
ridcully:
(a) is weird but I know of some school teachers and even assessment books that advocate this.
Option a. is unacceptable. You do not repeat the same endmark.AgonyMum:
eg. Which sentence in paragragh 2 tells you that John is famished?
Should the answer be
a. The sentence is \"John ate like a pig.\".
b. The sentence is \"John ate like a pig\".
c. The sentence is \"John ate like a pig.\"
Option b. is correct. The full stop belongs to the whole sentence, not the quoted sentence contained within the bigger sentence.
Option c. is incorrect for the reason I state in Option b. However, it is the preferred form in American English, and increasingly Singaporeans seem to follow American English.
I always advise students that American English differs in many respects from British English, not simply in spelling.
Rgds
R
I beg to differ where (b) and (c) are concerned. A sentence by definition contains a full stop so when quoted, the full stop should be inside the closing quotation mark. http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pun1.htm -
ridcully:
This is incorrect because \"John ate like a pig;\" is not a sentence anymore. Due to the semi-colon, it is part of a longer sentence.
Not all sentences end in an endmark such as a full stop: They can end in, for instance, a semi-colon because they are being connected to a subsequent sentence. Let's say we have:
John ate like a pig; it's really disgusting to watch him.
Would you write?:
The sentence is \"John ate like a pig;\"
You should write: The phrase is \"John ate like a pig\". -
call a spade a spade:
The sentence is \"John ate like a pig.\". --> I've checked with some native speakers who are English teachers and they too say that this is definitely wrong.
A 'sentence' is an idea encased within a complete line thus beginning with a capital letter and a definite punctuation (?, ! or .). So, when quoting a sentence, we should include everything from the capital letter to the full-stop. However, the quote itself is set within another sentence thus there should be another full-stop after the quote.
The sentence is \"John ate like a pig.\" --> correct -
Can someone who has taken PSLE, or a current P6 school teacher, confirm the correct way of quoting a sentence?
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didnt know of such a thread… thks for bumping this up…
i’m not too sure of who said the right thing here… but i’m very sure that all my dc are marked the same way, that is, teachers do hv a certain rule out there…
the answer is always marked as
The sentence is "John ate like a pig".
having single or double quotation marks are not penalised at all… i see both single or double marked as correct 2 full marks for my dc…
i think it is always the case when it comes to eng, where many ppl have been taught either different ways, or from different countries… i would say they may be all correct in their context, but the moe only follows their set… so it should be best to check with their hod in sch… whether they are experts or not, they are responsible for answering that to parents… -
oliveminx:
Just because they are native speakers doesn't necessarily make them correct. While I'm not saying that they must be wrong, I do feel that we should get out of the antiquated mindset that they must be right.
The sentence is \"John ate like a pig.\". --> I've checked with some native speakers who are English teachers and they too say that this is definitely wrong.call a spade a spade:
A 'sentence' is an idea encased within a complete line thus beginning with a capital letter and a definite punctuation (?, ! or .). So, when quoting a sentence, we should include everything from the capital letter to the full-stop. However, the quote itself is set within another sentence thus there should be another full-stop after the quote.
The sentence is \"John ate like a pig.\" --> correct
The original issue, if I remember correctly, is on whether there should be double full-stops when there is a quote within the context of a larger sentence and not, on whether the full-stop is inside or outside the quotation marks in a single speech act.
That was my basis for my answer. However, if I've mis-read the entire basis for the discussion, my apologies. -
verykiasumummy:
I fully agree with you here. Most parents who compare will also find out that teachers from different schools give different answers. So, at the end of the day, the school teachers are accountable to the students and parents for whatever answers they give.didnt know of such a thread... thks for bumping this up...
i'm not too sure of who said the right thing here... but i'm very sure that all my dc are marked the same way, that is, teachers do hv a certain rule out there...
the answer is always marked as
The sentence is \"John ate like a pig\".
having single or double quotation marks are not penalised at all.. i see both single or double marked as correct 2 full marks for my dc...
i think it is always the case when it comes to eng, where many ppl have been taught either different ways, or from different countries... i would say they may be all correct in their context, but the moe only follows their set... so it should be best to check with their hod in sch... whether they are experts or not, they are responsible for answering that to parents...
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