Q&A - PSLE English

[Herbie]

hi, i hv two s and t questions which needs help.


1. John must seek the principal’s approval. He cannot lezve the school early.

Ans john cannot leave the school early unless he seeks the principal’s approval.

Ans script says. John cannot leave the school early unless he had sought the pincipal’s approval.

2. This is the diamond ring. The thief stole the diamond ring.

This is the diamond ring stone by the thief.

Are both the answers correct?

[CayennePepper]

tianzhu:

CayennePepper:

However, I've just checked with my nephew again. Apparently his teacher has clarified that for a synthesis question (John had finished eating. He got up from the table.) the correct answer should be (a) When he had finished eating, John got up from the table.

What is his teacher’s explanation on the choice of (a)?

Happy CNY everyone.

tianzhu, thanks for your response.
I was told that the teacher's answer was
- When he had finished eating, John got up from the table.
because:
[1] the main idea in this clause is \"John got up from the table\".
[2] in a complex sentence the dependent clause and the independent clause can switch places, but the whole clause moves as one. Thus, since we can also write:
\"John got up from the table when he had finished eating.\", when the answer is supposed to begin with When, the entire subordinate clause moves as one chunk and the pronoun doesn't change.

[tianzhu]

Herbie:

2. This is the diamond ring. The thief stole the diamond ring.

This is the diamond ring stone by the thief.

Hi

Let me give it a try.

This is the diamond ring which was stolen by the thief.

or in reduced form

This is the diamond ring stolen by the thief.

Please refer to this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ZJKS7NqAE

Best wishes

[tianzhu]

CayennePepper:

I was told that the teacher's answer was
- When he had finished eating, John got up from the table.
because:
[1] the main idea in this clause is \"John got up from the table\".
[2] in a complex sentence the dependent clause and the independent clause can switch places, but the whole clause moves as one. Thus, since we can also write:
\"John got up from the table when he had finished eating.\", when the answer is supposed to begin with When, the entire subordinate clause moves as one chunk and the pronoun doesn't change.

Hi

Thank you for your update.

Please take a look this book, English as it is Broken, Book 2, pg 55/56.

http://www.popular.com.sg/jsp/product/product_detail.jsp?vca001=207&vpd001=84041

It helps to explain the position of pronouns in main and subordinate clauses.

Best wishes

[tianzhu]

Herbie:

1. John must seek the principal's approval. He cannot lezve the school early.

Ans john cannot leave the school early unless he seeks the principal's approval.

Ans script says. John cannot leave the school early unless he had sought the pincipal's approval.

Hi

Let me make an attempt to answer your question.

Actually, I am quite hesitant to post my view because I’m afraid to lead you the wrong way.

Please bear with me if I’m wrong.

But if you're brave enough, please read on.
[quote]Ans script says. John cannot leave the school early unless he had sought the pincipal's approval.[/quote]I find the ans script strange.

I think there’s an error in the sequence of tenses .The main clause is in present tense while past perfect tense (had sought) is used in the subordinate clause.

The past perfect tense is used to show an event which happened at an earlier time before a point in the past.

I’d go for either of these sentences.

John cannot leave the school early unless he seeks the principal's approval.

John cannot leave the school early unless he has sought the principal’s approval.

Please seek confirmation from your teachers.

Best wishes

[tianzhu]

leexue_dwx:

Synthesis:


Regardless of the cost, I am buying this latest mobile phone in the market.
It has had lots of advertisements on it.

Answer A,
Regardless of the cost, I am buying this latest mobile phone in the market which has had lots of advertisements on it.

Answer B,
Regardless of the cost, I am buying this latest mobile phone which has had lots of advertisements on it in the market.

Any parent can tell me which one is correct and why?

Thanks a lot.

Hi

I found one video which might help to shed some light on your question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfLDlaWBaV8

Quite interesting, please take a look.

The advice from the video is put the modifying words or phrase as close as possible to the word it intends to describe.

Regardless of the cost, I am buying this latest mobile phone in the market.
It has had lots of advertisements on it.

It has had lots of advertisements on it. -------- It further describes the latest mobile phone in the market.

Hence, I’d go for

Regardless of the cost, I am buying this latest mobile phone which has had lots of advertisements on it in the market.

Please double confirm with your teacher.

Best wishes

[whitety]

Hi,

Need help on this grammer.

Qn: So you believe that my idea is workable,___________?
(1) do you
(2) don’t it
(3) don’t you
(4) doesn’t it

My dd answer is (3) but answer script is (1).

Thanks!

[KRR]

Hi


Question: We are going to cycle at East Coast Park. We are going to have our dinner there too.

Answer: (1) We are going to cycle as well as have our dinner at East Coast Park.
OR
(2) We are going to cycle at East Coast Park as well as have our dinner there.
Which one is correct 1 OR 2 and why.

Thank u very much.
KRR

[tianzhu]

whitety:

Hi,

Need help on this grammer.

Qn: So you believe that my idea is workable,___________?
(1) do you
(2) don't it
(3) don't you
(4) doesn't it

My dd answer is (3) but answer script is (1).

Thanks!

Hi

I think the paragraph on “tag questions --- special features” will help to answer your question.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/youmeus/learnit/learnitv208.shtml

Best wishes

[whitety]

Hi tianzhu,


Thanks for the link. My dd’s answer is correct and the answer script is wrong.


Thanks!