Q&A - PSLE English

[ning_akn]

Zack7,


My example is only to show that unless not necessarily followed by present tense. I m not trying to say that is the answer to the question. In fact, I agree that the answer should b cannot leave… Unless… Seeks in this question. I am just trying to figure out why the answer key states ‘had sought’ instead of seeks. Apart from the possibility that the answer key may be wrong, could it be that it is following some other grammar rules which I am not aware of.

[Zack7]

ning_akn:

Zack7,


My example is only to show that unless not necessarily followed by present tense. I m not trying to say that is the answer to the question. In fact, I agree that the answer should b cannot leave... Unless... Seeks in this question. I am just trying to figure out why the answer key states 'had sought' instead of seeks. Apart from the possibility that the answer key may be wrong, could it be that it is following some other grammar rules which I am not aware of.

well ok, i wasn't specific enough

'unless' in this type of sentences (type 1) always follows the present tense.

but like i said, your example is not correct and hence it does not show why unless is not necessarily followed by the present tense.

and may i add, the answer key is wrong. even if it was grammatically sound, it is an uncommon form of phrasing.

[elkniwt]

Hi ning_akn and Zack7,


The paper is Rosyth 2011 CA1 Qn 67.

Thank you for all the help. We are all learning from each other and supporting each other along the PSLE journey of our kids.

Regards.

[mumworks]

Hi


I am confused for this question :

The chairman of the debate competition advised the two teams to speak (loud/loudly/louder/ more loudly) in the finals as the audience gave feedback that the debaters did not speak loud enough in the semi finals.

The school teacher told my son that both "louder" and "loudly" can be the answer but not "more loudly" ?

Anyone can help ? Thanks

[Zack7]

mumworks:

Hi


I am confused for this question :

The chairman of the debate competition advised the two teams to speak (loud/loudly/louder/ more loudly) in the finals as the audience gave feedback that the debaters did not speak loud enough in the semi finals.

The school teacher told my son that both \"louder\" and \"loudly\" can be the answer but not \"more loudly\" ?

Anyone can help ? Thanks

languages normally don't have right and wrongs. most of it are just conveying different meanings.

in my opinion, loudly/louder/more loudly are all correct.

but if i were to be more picky, i would say loudly is wrong too

because the 2nd part of the sentence implies that a comparative word is needed in the 1st part of the sentence.

so louder and more loudly would be 'more correct'

but if it was up to me, i would use louder

because louder makes the sentence more concise and smooth flowing.

[atutor2001]

mumworks:

Hi

I am confused for this question :

The chairman of the debate competition advised the two teams to speak (loud/loudly/louder/ more loudly) in the finals as the audience gave feedback that the debaters did not speak loud enough in the semi finals.

The school teacher told my son that both \"louder\" and \"loudly\" can be the answer but not \"more loudly\" ?

Anyone can help ? Thanks

Hi mumworks
I am surprised by what the teacher had told your son that \"more loudly\" is not allowed.

\"more loudly\" is an adverb which is used to modify a verb e.g. \"you need to speak (speak is a verb) more loudly\"

\"louder\" is an adjective, which is used to modify a noun e.g. the noise (noise is a noun) is louder now. However, in informal writing, we can use \"louder\" as an adverb to replace \"more loudly\".

Therefore, \"more loudly\" would be the only correct choice if this is an exam question because it is grammatically (formal form) correct and it also conveys the right message.

For English, some managed to get by through \"sound\" to predict the correct grammar. However, when it comes to situations where all options sound ok, we need to fall back on actual grammar background to decide.

There used to be an English expert in this forum, \"Ricully\" who explains really well. Unfortunately he is missing now. You may like to go back to the old posts from him. I always refer back to his posts.

[Zack7]

atutor2001:

mumworks:

Hi

I am confused for this question :

The chairman of the debate competition advised the two teams to speak (loud/loudly/louder/ more loudly) in the finals as the audience gave feedback that the debaters did not speak loud enough in the semi finals.

The school teacher told my son that both \"louder\" and \"loudly\" can be the answer but not \"more loudly\" ?

Anyone can help ? Thanks

Hi mumworks
I am surprised by what the teacher had told your son that \"more loudly\" is not allowed.

\"more loudly\" is an adverb which is used to modify a verb e.g. \"you need to speak (speak is a verb) more loudly\"

\"louder\" is an adjective, which is used to modify a noun e.g. the noise (noise is a noun) is louder now. However, in informal writing, we can use \"louder\" as an adverb to replace \"more loudly\".

Therefore, \"more loudly\" would be the only correct choice if this is an exam question because it is grammatically (formal form) correct and it also conveys the right message.

For English, some managed to get by through \"sound\" to predict the correct grammar. However, when it comes to situations where all options sound ok, we need to fall back on actual grammar background to decide.

There used to be an English expert in this forum, \"Ricully\" who explains really well. Unfortunately he is missing now. You may like to go back to the old posts from him. I always refer back to his posts.

No. Louder in here is a comparative adverb. It modifies the verb speak. So is more loudly. And both are acceptable in formal writing.

[atutor2001]

Zack7:

No. Louder in here is a comparative adverb. It modifies the verb speak. So is more loudly. And both are acceptable in formal writing.

Extracted from http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/loud_2

\"Louder is also used in informal styles to mean ‘more loudly’: Can you speak louder?\"

Extracted from http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question97662.html

In speech, 'quicker' would be the most commonly found. In formal document writing, 'more quickly' would be found

In this link http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1335298 they even disallowed \"louder\".

[Zack7]

atutor2001:

Zack7:

No. Louder in here is a comparative adverb. It modifies the verb speak. So is more loudly. And both are acceptable in formal writing.

Extracted from http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/loud_2

\"Louder is also used in informal styles to mean ‘more loudly’: Can you speak louder?\"

Extracted from http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question97662.html

In speech, 'quicker' would be the most commonly found. In formal document writing, 'more quickly' would be found

In this link http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1335298 they even disallowed \"louder\".

So which of your first two extracts says that louder is wrong in formal speech?

And also, I can quote you a ton of other sources that says otherwise.

And the last link first comment by lis, louder is an adverb, not an adjective. she is wrong.

English is not a one way street. It is not rigid. Different sentence structure can mean totally different things and a fine line normally separates the right from the wrong if there is even a right and a wrong in the first place.

What might be wrong now may be accepted in future. Language evolves.

And louder seems wrong there because of the sentence structure. It is different from the question here.

Can you speak louder vs can you read all the new words more loudly.

In fact the better choice Is can you read all the new words aloud.

Because there is no hint of comparison there as opposed to the question here. So it is not as good to use comparative adverbs there.

[Michaelia0816]

I agreed to Zack7 too.