Q&A - PSLE English

[Michaelia0816]

so most of them agreed to Zack7, hehe!

[Michaelia0816]

_______ the fact that it was difficult, the test also included question that we had never studied before.

1) Beside
2) Besides
3) Despite
4) In spite of
(. )

[Michaelia0816]

The answer sheet said 2

[Michaelia0816]

Can explain why? I do not understand the define of each clearly ok not I don know

[mumworks]

Thanks to all who had helped in my earlier question.


One more question :

Since last Christmas, the diligent boy (disciplined/been disciplining) himself to study for at least two hours everyday.

Answer key is "disciplined". Why not "has been disciplining" ?

Thanks for all the help.

[Michaelia0816]

According to the question, it did not add has or anything! It was "been disciplining". I sure u know before been was always from the be family,has, have and had.

[atutor2001]

mumworks:

Thanks to all who had helped in my earlier question.


One more question :

Since last Christmas, the diligent boy has(disciplined/been disciplining) himself to study for at least two hours everyday.

Answer key is \"disciplined\". Why not \"has been disciplining\" ?

Thanks for all the help.

There is a missing \"has\" probably a typo error.

I find this link useful http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/presentperfectcontinuous/menu.php

The link listed the following uses of present perfect tense :
1. Sometimes it refers to an action that has finished but where you can still see evidence
2. Sometimes it refers to an action that has not finished.
3. Sometimes it refers to a series of actions.

In your question, the \"action\" that we are referring to is \"the act of disciplining himself.\" Therefore, using \"has disciplined\" would fit into option (1). That is, he has completed the action of disciplining himself and we can see evidence of it as he has been studying at least 2 hours everyday.

If we use \" has been disciplining\", it would mean that he is still not a disciplined person. \"disciplining\" may not be an appropriate word in such situation. A possible sentence may be : \"Since last Christmas, the boy has been struggling to study for at least two hours everyday.\"

[mumworks]

Thanks for highlighting the typo error, question should be


Since last Christmas, the diligent boy (disciplined/has been disciplining) himself to study for at least two hours everyday.

Answer key is "disciplined" and not "has disciplined".
Why not "has been disciplining" ?

I thought the answer is "has been disciplining" because it happen in the past and the action still continue till now ?

[atutor2001]

mumworks:

Thanks for highlighting the typo error, question should be


Since last Christmas, the diligent boy (disciplined/has been disciplining) himself to study for at least two hours everyday.

Answer key is \"disciplined\" and not \"has disciplined\".
Why not \"has been disciplining\" ?

I thought the answer is \"has been disciplining\" because it happen in the past and the action still continue till now ?

Thank you for the clarification.

In this case I fully agree with you that \"has been disciplining is the correct choice. \"disciplined\" is simple past tense should be used with a stated past time in a sentence while \"since\" is used with present perfect.

[atutor2001]

mumworks:

Thanks for highlighting the typo error, question should be


Since last Christmas, the diligent boy (disciplined/has been disciplining) himself to study for at least two hours everyday.

Answer key is \"disciplined\" and not \"has disciplined\".
Why not \"has been disciplining\" ?

I thought the answer is \"has been disciplining\" because it happen in the past and the action still continue till now ?

Thank you for the clarification.

In this case I fully agree with you that \"has been disciplining is the correct choice. \"disciplined\" is simple past tense should be used with a stated past time in a sentence while \"since\" is used with present perfect.